This is true - I agree with this. Disassociation is a scary thing. And you're right - I think our (my?) culture values "not letting stuff get to you" over real strength, and puts emphasis on that, and tells people if they don't have thick skin that they are weak and deserve to be stepped on and victimized. But having thick skin isn't really that hard - it doesn't take strength, it takes lack of compassion, empathy, thoughtfulness, gentleness. I value all of those things.

It reminds me of this quote I saw once - I don't remember who said it or what the exact wording was, but it was something like, "Being well-adjusted is not a sign of health in a profoundly sick society."