Sensitive people tend to perceive the world through the lens of their emotions. Being sensitive is a personality trait that exists from birth, it is not a choice and it is not a pathology. However, highly sensitive individuals should still learn to manage their emotions to avoid the troubles caused by their own personality.
What is social comparison and how does it affect our well-being?
Social comparison is the process of evaluating oneself based on the comparison with others. It is a natural tendency of human beings to compare themselves with others in various aspects of life, such as appearance, intelligence, social status, and financial success. Social comparison can happen both consciously and unconsciously, and it can have a significant impact on our well-being.
Social comparison can affect our well-being in different ways:
- Upward social comparison: Upward social comparison occurs when we compare ourselves to others who are better than us in certain aspects. This type of comparison can often lead to negative feelings, such as jealousy, envy, and feelings of inadequacy. For example, if a person compares their financial situation to that of a billionaire, they may feel like they are not successful or wealthy enough, even if they are doing well in their own right.
- Downward social comparison: Downward social comparison happens when we compare ourselves to those who are worse off than us. This type of comparison can lead to positive feelings such as gratitude, contentment, and feelings of superiority. For example, if a person compares their physical fitness to someone who is out of shape, they may feel good about their own fitness level.
- Lateral social comparison: Lateral social comparison occurs when we compare ourselves to others who are similar to us in certain aspects. This type of comparison can lead to both positive and negative feelings depending on the outcome. For example, if a person compares their work performance to a colleague who is doing better, they may feel inadequate. But, if they compare themselves to a colleague who is struggling, they may feel more confident.
1. Strength
Social comparison can have both positive and negative effects on our well-being. Upward social comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy and lower self-esteem, while downward social comparison can boost our self-esteem but may also lead to complacency. Lateral social comparison can help us understand where we stand in relation to others, but it can also lead to feelings of competition and jealousy.
To maintain a healthy well-being, it is important to be aware of our tendency to compare ourselves to others and to recognize the positive and negative effects of social comparison. We can try to focus on our own progress and achievements rather than comparing ourselves to others, and we can also practice gratitude and appreciation for what we have instead of always striving for more.
Sensitive people often tend to empathize with the thoughts and emotions of others.
2. Challenges
Despite having many strengths, sensitive individuals sometimes face certain challenges. For example, they may be easily stressed by conflict or become thrill-seekers.
Sensitivity can present the following challenges:
Being easily stressed by conflict: Highly sensitive people often try to avoid situations with strong stimuli or tense situations, such as confrontation or conflict. They tend to completely avoid conflicts, which can sometimes make relationships difficult. Furthermore, it can lead to dependence on others due to the limitation of expressing oneself and constantly trying to maintain peace.
Being thrill-seekers: Some sensitive individuals also seek out intense sensations. Part of you will struggle with feeling overstimulated, while the other part enjoys adventure and excitement. The overlap of these different traits is often a major challenge in dealing with them.
Self-criticism: Sensitive individuals tend to become the worst self-critics. They often remember mistakes for quite a while and feel more ashamed of them than normal people. This can increase the risk of psychological issues, especially depression.
10 signs that someone is highly sensitive
Sometimes, we may wonder whether we or someone around us is highly sensitive or not. To recognize this, it is important to know the most common traits that a highly sensitive person possesses. Here are 10 of the most noticeable signs of a highly sensitive person:
1.Easily overwhelmed
If highly sensitive people are given too much to do at once, they can quickly become overwhelmed. As a result, they may experience feelings of stress and anxiety. Psychologists note that highly sensitive people often struggle to perform well in high-pressure or chaotic environments.
Sensitive people are often easily overwhelmed when they have to deal with multiple tasks at once.
2.Sensory awareness
This is a very interesting characteristic in sensitive people. They can perceive small things that others often overlook. It could be as simple as noticing a small rearrangement of furniture in a home or workplace, or early recognition of someone’s new hairstyle. Many people are even more sensitive to certain smells or easily startled by unfamiliar sounds.
3.Taking a long time to make decisions
Sensitive people tend to delve deep into every issue. Therefore, they have difficulty making decisions without careful consideration. They often cannot get past all the possible outcomes in their head, so it takes them a long time to make a decision.
However, if they have made a bad decision, they will find it even more difficult. This creates a cycle that slows down their problem-solving process even further. In fact, the fear of making a bad decision is part of the reason they slow down from the start.
4.Avoiding violent programs or movies
If you pay attention, you can easily see that sensitive people tend to avoid programs with violent content or horror movies. Because they know that negative and violent images can make them uncomfortable. Avoidance is a choice they make to protect their own thoughts and emotions.
5.Difficulty accepting criticism
For normal people, being criticized may be an inevitable part of life. But for overly sensitive people, it is difficult to accept criticism, even constructive criticism that is not too harsh.
For them, accepting criticism can become a pain that is difficult to fade away. They tend to hold onto negative complaints from others in their hearts. It is difficult for them to keep their emotions from being hurt when someone criticizes them.
People who are sensitive often have difficulty accepting criticism from others.
Although initially they may react overly emotional, sensitive people can later think maturely about everything and explore them deeply. This can bring long-term benefits, helping them make appropriate changes for themselves.
6.Good team players
Sensitive individuals have a unique ability to consider the emotions of others. Moreover, they also consider different aspects, see many sides of an issue, and pay attention to small details. This makes them extremely valuable in a team environment.
However, it is important to remember that this may backfire if they are chosen to make the final decision. Because they are more suitable for providing input and analysis than making last-minute decisions.
7.Sensitives have excellent behavior
High emotional awareness of others makes sensitive individuals highly empathetic. They always pay attention to how their actions affect others. At the same time, they have good behavior to clearly demonstrate this. Additionally, they are particularly upset when others are rude.
Moreover, sensitive individuals can easily put themselves in the shoes of others. They have a unique ability to truly understand the feelings of those around them. Therefore, they tend to have incredible empathy, always worrying a lot about others and trying to harmonize with the feelings of those around them.
8.Easily feel insecure about themselves
Understanding one’s own goals and working towards them is considered great. However, when you don’t achieve your goals, it’s important not to be too hard on yourself.
For sensitive people, they often quickly judge or reflect on themselves if they do not achieve certain “standards.” It is sensitivity that makes them more insecure about themselves when they do not meet their previous expectations.
9.Sensitive individuals tend to cry
Sensitive people can overreact to small issues around them. And one of the common ways they react to this is by “crying.” High emotions and sensitivity make them cry more often than others.
Sensitive people are very prone to crying in response to seemingly small stimuli.
Sensitive individuals may show more emotions in response to small life events compared to non-sensitive individuals. However, this also makes them more vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed and stuck. Crying can be a way for sensitive individuals to release their emotions.
10.Concern about what others think
Many people assume that highly sensitive individuals are introverted. However, experts suggest that 30% of highly sensitive individuals are actually extroverted. They may constantly immerse themselves in social situations, but still worry about what others think of them. They fear disappointing others and always strive to please those around them.
Tips for managing sensitivity
Being emotionally sensitive is a normal and healthy personality trait. However, if it reaches a certain level, it can become harmful. Therefore, if you recognize yourself as a highly sensitive person, it is important to manage your emotions in order to turn them into an ally instead of an enemy.
Being too sensitive may make you believe that actions were intentional or that your own interpretations are correct. This can be dangerous, as misinterpreting daily interactions can hinder your ability to live a healthy and happy life.
Here are some solutions to help manage sensitivity:
1.Mindfulness meditation helps sensitive individuals manage emotions effectively
Mindfulness meditation, especially vipassana meditation, can help you react better to your own emotions. Additionally, it can improve your brain’s response to stressors. Vipassana meditation focuses on accepting your current emotions without judgment. This helps you manage your sensitivity more effectively.
Meditation can help sensitive individuals manage their emotional reactions better.
You can meditate by following these instructions:
Find a quiet place, sit with a straight back on a cushion or a chair. The sitting posture should be correct to support proper breathing. Begin by focusing on individual movements during breathing. For example, the sound produced while breathing or the sensation of the chest rising and falling. Maintain focus for a few minutes while breathing deeply and evenly. Next, pay attention to other things such as what you hear, smell, or touch. When meditating, close your eyes to avoid visual distractions. Accept your own thoughts and emotions without judging them. If you feel distracted, try to refocus by focusing on your breath. Allocate 15 minutes each day for meditation practice.
2.Learn to be assertive in communication
In some cases, sensitive individuals may become too passive in communication. You may also have difficulty saying “no” and expressing your thoughts and emotions honestly and clearly.
Learning to be assertive in communication can help you easily express your needs and emotions. This will help you feel heard and respected by others. The following tips may help:
Use the first-person pronoun when conversing to express your emotions. Ask questions during conversation, especially when the dialogue becomes emotionally charged. Avoid giving commands when conversing and use gentler language instead. Avoid making hasty assumptions or conclusions. Accept that different people have different experiences and avoid arguing to prove who is right.
3.Sensitive individuals need to stay calm
Your emotions can affect your behavior and reactions. Meanwhile, sensitive individuals often overreact to everything around them. Actions taken when emotions are overwhelming can often lead to regrets later on.
Sensitive individuals should take a break to regain their composure when overwhelmed by emotions.
Therefore, allow yourself to take a break, even if it’s just a few minutes of rest before dealing with an emotionally overloaded situation. Be mindful of considering different outcomes, both positive and negative, before taking action.
4. Look for the good things
Sensitive people tend to avoid stressful or unpleasant situations. You may think that any mistake in a relationship will be the cause of its breakup. Therefore, you avoid all relationships in general or only have some superficial relationships.
However, it is necessary to look for the good things in others, especially those who know you. If you feel hurt, don’t assume it was intentional. You should understand that everyone, including your friends or loved ones, can make mistakes. So, try to empathize instead of criticize.
5. Seek psychological counseling when necessary
Sometimes, you have tried your best to manage your sensitivity but still feel overwhelmed. At this point, seek help from a mental health professional. The expert will help sensitive people understand their emotions and reactions in a healthy and safe environment.
Sensitive people may need additional support to learn how to manage negative emotions and develop better coping skills in various situations. This does not mean that you have a mental illness. It’s just one way to help you acquire the skills to solve problems.
Some people are born very sensitive, and it’s just a personality trait. However, if you were not sensitive before, but suddenly become overly sensitive, easily irritated, and tearful, you may have a real problem. At this point, seeking help from mental health professionals is essential.
With the information shared in this article, I hope you can understand what sensitive people are like. In reality, sensitive people have the ability to perceive things deeply, whether they are negative or positive. However, being too sensitive can affect your stress level, relationships, and emotional control. It’s best to plan your emotional management to ensure that you don’t become “overloaded.” If it becomes too difficult…
