Lets use the example of someone who experiences hyper-sensitivity to criticism to illustrate the Twelve Nidanas of dependent origination.

1. Ignorance (avijja): The person might lack the understanding that criticism is a normal part of human communication, and that it is not necessarily personal or intended to harm them.
2. Mental Formations (sankhara): Due to ignorance, the person forms habitual patterns of reacting strongly to criticism and taking it personally, leading to feelings of hurt, anger, or sadness.
3. Consciousness (viññana): The person’s consciousness is conditioned by these mental formations, making them more prone to experiencing negative emotions when met with criticism.
4. Name and Form (nama-rupa): The persons body and mind manifest in a way that is vulnerable to sensitivity to criticism.
5. The Six Sense Bases (salayatana): The persons sense organs interact with the external world, including hearing and interpreting criticism.
6. Contact (phassa): The person encounters a critical remark or a negative evaluation.
7. Feeling (vedana): The person experiences unpleasant feelings as a result of the contact with criticism.
8. Craving (tanha): The person develops a strong desire to avoid criticism in the future.
9. Clinging (upadana): The person becomes attached to protecting themselves from criticism, possibly through defensive or self-protective behavior.
10. Becoming (bhava): This clinging to sensitivity can perpetuate habitual patterns of reactivity and exacerbate the cycle of sensitivity to criticism.
11. Birth (jati): The persons sensitivity to criticism may manifest in the form of over-reactive behavior such as becoming defensive, feeling personally attacked or withdrawing from social situations.
12. Old age and death (jara-marana): Over time this hypersensitivity to criticism could lead to long-term emotional strains and perpetual negative life consequences, increasing the likelihood of psychological and social problems.

This example shows how dependent origination operates in the experience of hypersensitivity to criticism. Understanding the Twelve Links and cultivating mindfulness can help break the cycle of reactivity and hypersensitivity to criticism, leading to greater personal freedom and well-being.

How to break cycle at each point:

Here are some ways to break the cycle at each point of dependent origination in the context of hypersensitivity to criticism:

1. Ignorance (avijja): One can break the cycle at this point by developing awareness of the true nature of reality regarding criticism. By learning that feedback and critique can be constructive rather than a direct attack on ones worth as a person, one can begin to cultivate a more open-minded and less reactive response to criticism.

2. Mental formations (sankhara): Breaking the cycle at this point involves identifying and changing habitual patterns of reacting strongly to criticism. This can be achieved by developing positive intentions, engaging in virtuous actions, and cultivating mental qualities like patience, resilience, and non-judgmental awareness.

3. Consciousness (viññana): Developing mindfulness and concentration through meditation can help one become more aware of how consciousness is shaped by mental formations. By cultivating a clear and stable mind, one can reduce the tendency to react with hypersensitivity to critique.

4. Name and form (nama-rupa): Breaking the cycle at this point involves identifying and transforming the physical and mental factors that contribute to hypersensitivity to criticism. This may involve developing a more balanced and realistic self-esteem, letting go of perfectionism or attachment to external validation, and cultivating inner sources of strength and confidence.

5. The six sense bases (salayatana): Practicing restraint of the senses and developing mindfulness of sensory experiences can help one avoid getting caught up in unhelpful patterns of reacting to criticism. By cultivating awareness of the senses and their input, one can develop a healthier relationship with feedback and critique.

6. Contact (phassa): Mindfulness of contact can help one become more aware of the ways in which sensory experiences lead to reactive patterns. By recognizing the triggers that lead to hypersensitivity to critique, one can develop the capacity to pause and respond wisely.

7. Feeling (vedana): Developing mindfulness of feelings, including unpleasant ones such as sadness, hurt, or anger, can help one become less reactive to them. By cultivating a more balanced and equanimous relationship with feelings, one can respond to feedback and critique with greater flexibility and resilience.

8. Craving (tanha): Breaking the cycle at this point involves developing awareness of the tendency to avoid criticism or seek only positive feedback. By letting go of this attachment and embracing the value of constructive feedback, one can cultivate a growth mindset that supports professional and personal development.

9. Clinging (upadana): Cultivating non-attachment and reducing the tendency to cling to hypersensitivity to critique can help one become more open-minded and flexible. This may involve developing trust in others, increasing social support, and developing self-compassion to reduce the fear associated with receiving feedback.

10. Becoming (bhava): By letting go of being highly reactive to critique and feedback, one can undermine the habitual patterns that reinforce hypersensitivity. This can create space for new ways of thinking, feeling, and responding that support positive change and growth.

11. Birth (jati): Reducing reactivity to critique can help one respond to feedback in a more balanced and constructive way. This can improve communication and relationships, leading to more positive outcomes in professional and personal contexts.

12. Old age and death (jara-marana): By breaking the cycle of hypersensitivity to critique, one can reduce long-term emotional stress and the negative consequences associated with fear of receiving feedback. This can support sustained personal and professional growth, leading to greater fulfillment, satisfaction, and mental wellbeing over time.