What bike had you ridden before this one? I ask because a 53cm bike for your size really shouldn't be too small for that frame and maybe you're just not used to the geometry yet. My MASI took a while to get used to because I was used to being alot more upright, and I felt too "stretched" at first as well.
As for the bars being high, lowering them will put them further away from your shoulders, which should make you feel even MORE stretched, not the other way around