Overly Sensitive

"For a highly sensitive person, a drizzle feels like a monsoon."

― Anonymous

April 2, 2023

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Lisa Ulshafer

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Are you tired of feeling like everything gets to you? Do you often find yourself feeling overly sensitive and emotional about things that others seem to brush off? Being overly sensitive can make life difficult, causing you to feel stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed.

If you are overly sensitive you can be easily upset or offended by even the slightest criticism or negative remark. This is a common trait where you often display a heightened awareness of your own emotions and are sensitive to others' emotions as well.

Being overly sensitive can come from a variety of reasons including biology, upbringing, and life experiences. While sensitivity can be seen as a strength in some ways, being overly sensitive can cause distress and conflict in personal and professional relationships.

Here are some common signs that you may be overly sensitive:

• Being easily hurt or offended by others' comments or actions, even if unintended.
  
  
• Feeling deeply affected or emotional by small things or criticism.
  
  
• Tending to take things personally, even if not directed at you.
  
  
• Reacting strongly to perceived slights, criticism, or rejection.
  
  
• Having a heightened sensitivity to social cues, such as tone of voice or body language.
  
  
• Frequently feeling overwhelmed by emotions or becoming highly reactive.
  
  
• Struggling with letting go of negative comments or criticisms.
  
  
• Avoiding certain situations or interactions due to fear of being hurt or rejected.
  
  
• Being overly self-conscious or self-critical.
  
  
• Finding it challenging to receive constructive feedback or handle conflicts without becoming overly emotional.

Here are 8 strategies to overcome being overly sensitive:

1. Engage in self-care: Prioritize self-care activities that help you manage stress, relax, and recharge, such as exercise, hobbies, and practicing good sleep hygiene.
   
   
2. Cultivate resilience: Build emotional resilience by learning coping skills, stress management techniques, and problem-solving skills to better handle challenges and setbacks.
   
   
3. Develop self-awareness: Pay attention to your emotions and reactions, and try to identify triggers that lead to sensitivity. Understanding your emotional responses can help you manage them more effectively.
   
   
4. Challenge negative thoughts: Work on identifying and challenging negative thought patterns that contribute to sensitivity, such as assuming negative intent in others' actions or assuming personal responsibility for everything.
   
   
5. Build self-confidence: Work on developing a healthy sense of self-worth and self-esteem through self-care and self-compassion practices.
   
   
6. Practice assertive communication: Develop assertive communication skills to express your thoughts, feelings, and needs in a respectful and clear manner without being overly defensive or reactive.
   
   
7. Set healthy boundaries: Establish and maintain healthy boundaries in your relationships to protect yourself from being overly affected by others' opinions or actions.
   
   
8. Practice perspective-taking: Try to see situations from different perspectives and consider alternative interpretations or explanations, rather than jumping to conclusions or making assumptions.

By building emotional resilience you can better handle emotionally charged situations which leads to more fulfilling relationships as healthy boundaries are established. Improved self-confidence and assertive communication can lead to greater self-esteem and a stronger sense of self-worth. With increased coping skills, challenges and setbacks may be approached with a more balanced perspective. Engaging in self-care and practicing mindfulness can promote a greater sense of calm and well-being. Overall, letting go of excessive sensitivity can lead to a more balanced, fulfilling, and empowered life, where emotions are managed in a healthy way and relationships are strengthened.