Are you aware of when you're being oversensitive?

Or do you only realize it after you've reacted and/or retreated to your shell?

Also do you ever verbally apologize and acknowledge what you did or will an apology only be said through actions?

For me it is both ways. Sometimes I realize Im being overly sensitive, and manage through my feelings and figure out my reasons internally. Other times, yes I have overreacted and only realized it afterwards.

I am all for apologizing and acknowledging those types of things, and to step forward first. It doesnt always take a lot for me to apologize, but there are times even if I overreacted generally there was a lot of feeling and passion behind it, I wont apologize. Not if someone overstepped their boundaries, were rude/mean, etc.

For me it is the wrath they receive, my reaction to their behavior and/or words. Then it is up to them to come forward, and acknowledge something and their part in it before I can or will even consider backing down on my reaction.

well said Oceandeep, I would concur. I think all signs have a sort of zodiac mental "software" for their actions. Most, if not all cancers exhibit the action/reactions to circumstances. And quite frankly it's hard to break out of that shell unless you've the tools of astrology and higher learning to break out of that shell and look at yourself from a sort of "third eye" persona.

I usually react then reflect.

I'm very much in control of my expression, but not my emotions. I almost NEVER lash out at someone in anger. I used to all the time when I was young, yelling first and quickly escalating to physical violence anytime someone pushed my buttons. My family quickly trained me out of the habit by punishing me regularly (I honestly can barely remember a time I wasn't being punished or reprimanded for something throughout most of my adolescent years) and sending me to anger management therapy.

Now, I almost have the opposite problem; I NEVER lash out, so all those emotions and oversensitivity get bottled up inside and fester like an infected wound. I live up to the Cancer reputation of hurting oneself through never letting go of past hurts and insults, forever brooding and gnashing my teeth when the person who hurt me has forgotten about it long ago.

That being said, I do still show my emotions. I try not to, but they're too intense to hide and when I'm angry or upset I can get snippy and rude. When that happens and if I offend someone, I'm very good at apologizing. Another skill learned from being constantly in trouble; I know how to give a proper apology. No excuses, no explanations of why I acted the way I did, I simply say "I'm sorry for XYZ" and leave it at that. THAT is a real apology, and it's SO INFURIATING when people apologize to me when I get hurt by saying "I'm sorry BUT XYZ." The moment you explain WHY you did what you did, your apology becomes meaningless.

I usually realize I've been over sensitive during my alone 'reflective' time. Then my issue becomes, how to justify the reaction...(I'm not one to easily apologize, unless it's to someone in my inner circle)

I always know what I'm doing. Sometimes I genuinely wanna be a dick to someone for what they've done in the past. It just so happens that given moment is the excuse I've been waiting for. If it gets out of hand I'll apologize cause I already got my bust off and the apology is more for social norms than contrition.