Table of contents:
- Why do some people feel more sensitive?
- So, how do you deal with overly sensitive feelings?
- 1. Understand what you are feeling
- 2. Avoid criticizing your own feelings
- 3. Determine the steps to be taken
The feelings and emotions that each person feels are different. There are those who are more indifferent but there are people who have more sensitive feelings. People who are more sensitive tend to get irritated easily and even think about what other people say or do. Then, how to deal with feelings that are too sensitive to keep a calm mind?
Why do some people feel more sensitive?
It turns out, some people are born with feelings that are more sensitive than most individuals.
Reporting from Psychology Today, people with high sensitivity have a slightly different brain and are easily triggered by external stimuli.
This form of stimulation is not always emotional, but can also be in the form of sensory information. This makes him much more sensitive to sound, light and even smells.
Why does this happen? The brains of sensitive people have a very active insula. The insula is the part of the brain that deals with the perception of things around you.
It is not surprising that this characteristic is found in many artists and writers because it is closely related to creativity and a high sense of empathy.
At the same time, overly sensitive people are prone to mental problems because they are often overwhelmed by their own feelings.
This relates to the results of research in Personality and Individual Difference in 2014.
In the study, feelings of over-sensitivity could be linked to the presence of the 5-HTLPR gene, which is often found in psychological conditions such as depression.
So, how do you deal with overly sensitive feelings?
Sometimes, having feelings that are more sensitive than others can benefit you in a number of ways. For example, have feelings of empathy and high tolerance.
However, it also makes it easier for you to experience stress, which can come from a variety of things.
Conflicts with friends, criticism from superiors at work, even high expectations from family members can also trigger stress.
Fortunately, you can deal with this condition and overcome it by taking a few steps. Here are ways you can deal with sensitive feelings:
1. Understand what you are feeling
The most important first steps begin with yourself. Try to identify what feelings you are feeling when a problem, conflict, or any stressor arises.
Are you feeling angry, disappointed, sad, or have other feelings?
Once you have found the word that best describes your emotions, move on to the next way to deal with the emotions that result from your sensitive feelings.
Ask yourself. Why do these feelings arise?
For example, you might feel angry and disappointed after chatting with a friend. Did these feelings of anger and sadness arise as a result of what your friend said that was offensive?
Recognizing and naming the types of emotions you are feeling, and understanding what triggers are, can help you take the next steps to deal with the emotions you are experiencing.
2. Avoid criticizing your own feelings
What sensitive people often do is criticize their own feelings.
For example, when they are faced with a problem, they will say, "I shouldn't feel this sad or angry."
One thing you need to understand is, any emotion or feeling cannot be eliminated completely. Everyone will definitely feel any kind of emotion, be it angry or sad.
If you don't try to identify the feelings you are experiencing and instead "get rid of" the existing emotions, you will become accustomed to thinking that feeling angry and sad is a form of failure.
In fact, this method just doesn't help you deal with the sensitive feelings you feel.
3. Determine the steps to be taken
Another way you can deal with sensitive feelings is to think about whether you need to take a specific step about the problem.
If a friend or family member has hurt your feelings, you may feel angry and resentful if you don't talk about the matter with that person.
In this condition, you can talk about the problem well, and of course, in a calmer condition.
You can also do positive activities to divert your thoughts first. When your mind is distracted, you will feel calmer, so you can see problems from a new perspective.
Some activities you can do are take a walk in the fresh air, call friends, read a book, or do other hobbies that you enjoy.