10 Signs You're Too Sensitive & Ways To Develop Thicker Skin
From Feeling Everything To Mastering Anything
Let's get this straight: we love balling our eyes out to The Notebook as much as the next person, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with being moved to tears by a Rothko painting. That's just part of being human. However, problems arise when you're unable to make it through your workday without feeling like you need to cry, or are unable to cope with any semblance of confrontation. But fear not, feeling person. There are many things you can do to master your emotions and develop a thicker skin. Here are 10 signs you're too sensitive and 10 ways to manage your emotions more effectively.
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1. You Cry Easily
We all need a good cry every now and then. While there's nothing wrong with shedding a tear, if you find yourself crying very often from light triggers, it can be problematic.
2. You Shy Away From Conflict
Most of us don't love conflict. While we don't seek it out, budding heads with different people happens inevitably from time to time. If you find yourself so adverse to anything resembling conflict that you're quick to agree even when you don't, that's when it becomes a problem.
3. You're Strongly Affected By Criticism
Are you someone who is so strongly affected by criticism that you take it as a personal affront? Criticism is a normal part of life and should be taken instead as an opportunity to grow.
4. You Struggle With High Pressure
Some people thrive in high-pressure situations while others feel like curling up in a ball and crying. If you're the latter, it could be a sign that you're too sensitive.
5. You Often Feel Misunderstood
Your internal experience is so intense, you can't find the words to describe it. Sometimes that leads to others telling you not to worry so much about it, merely adding to the frustration because they can't possibly understand what you're feeling.
6. You Tend To Overthink
Because you feel things so strongly, you tend to project the same kinds of emotions onto others, leading you to overthink when someone exhibits any out-of-the-ordinary behavior. You'll assume you've said or done something wrong and that they're harboring negative feelings towards you when it most likely has nothing to do with you.
7. You Need To Recharge
It's exhausting going through life feeling so much. As a highly sensitive person, you need significant downtime to recharge, especially after social events.
8. You're Highly Perceptive
Because your senses are more sharp, you're highly perceptive to other people's subtle change of tone or a shift in a room's atmosphere. Being an emotional person usually translates to being highly emotionally intelligent.
9. You Have A Rich Inner World
You're a highly reflective and self-aware person. You can spend hours in your head, reliving scenarios or fantasizing about things to come, using your vivid imagination.
10. You Get Deeply Moved
As someone who feels a lot, you get deeply moved by the beauty and the hardships in the world. It's not uncommon for you to find yourself in tears while looking at a painting or listening to an orchestra.
Now that we've covered the signs you're a highly sensitive person, let's talk about how to develop thicker skin.
1. Put Things Into Perspective
Recognize that other people's actions and words are rarely about you and more about them. Don't let little things stop you in your tracks, and remind yourself that it's not the end of the world.
2. Build Confidence
Becoming a more confident person will allow you to let things like rejection and negative feedback bounce off of you more easily. Knowing your self-worth will make you more resilient, and naturally, you'll develop an ear for constructive versus unconstructive criticism.
3. Create A Good Support System
A great way to build confidence is to find yourself a great support network. This is a group of people who know you well, that you can count on to be honest and trustworthy, and that you can rely on.
4. Don't Take It Personally
It's easier said than done, but try not to take negative criticism too personally. No one is trying to attack you, and once you can convince yourself of that, it will be a lot easier to hear what others have to say without wanting to run away in tears.
5. Don't Dwell
We all get stuck in the feedback loops of our minds sometimes, but if you're a more sensitive person, you probably fall into this a lot more frequently. It's not constructive to dwell on the past too much. Try to reflect, learn from it, and move on.
6. Name The Emotion
Naming your feelings is a scientifically proven way to stop them from growing into unmanageable monsters. If you can label your emotion, it creates space between you and it, making it feel less overwhelming.
7. Learn From Criticism
Are you the type of person who just wants to roll up in the fetal position when someone gives you an honest critique? Take criticism not as a personal affront, but as an opportunity to learn and grow.
8. Make Your Voice Heard
Particularly in professional environments, it's important to make your voice heard to develop a thicker skin. Otherwise, how can you expect your needs to be met?
9. Simplify Your Life
Life is full of noise and chaos. Decluttering your world can help you feel a lot less on the verge of tears all the time. This can mean choosing who you spend time with more wisely, focusing more on self-care, and strengthening your connection with those who are positive presences in your life.
10. Think Positively
Instead of letting little things get you down, try to adopt a more optimistic outlook. Even when challenges arise, focus on the solutions, not the problems. Daily gratitude practices have been shown to help with creating a more positive mindset.
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