Being overly sensitive can rule your work or personal life. It's time for a new mindset
With job uncertainty affecting millions of workers in nearly every field, you may have noticed that your colleagues at the office or your husband or partner are a little more thin-skinned than usual.
Jane Maloney, a New York consultant to human resources executives, says her clients have been increasingly telling her that employees are jumping to conclusions when they get constructive criticism. The employees assume they're getting downsized, Maloney says, and are then less able to relate well to the feedback. ''It gets blown out of proportion,'' she says.
How does high sensitivity differ from other emotional patterns, such as anger, shyness or, for that matter, insensitivity? For all the articles, self-help books and talk shows dedicated to confronting psychological problems, there's a lack of real discussion about those of us who are quick to take offense. An Amazon search turns up less than five books on how not to take things too personally.
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Over-sensitivity seems to be the last unexplored--but very real--social problem.
''It's absolutely painful,'' says Elayne Savage, a relationship and workplace coach who goes by the tag line ''The Queen of Rejection.'' ''When we take something personally, it's usually related to rejection in some way. It goes back to a time when we felt shamed as a kid.''
Feelings of rejection then segue into a sense of being judged, criticized and made fun of, says Savage. ''At some time when we were growing up, we didn't feel good about ourselves.''
Text and images: Copyright Forbes.com Any unauthorised reproducton is prohibited.
Image: If Nothing Else Works ...
With job uncertainty affecting millions of workers in nearly every field, you may have noticed that your colleagues at the office or your husband or partner are a little more thin-skinned than usual.
Jane Maloney, a New York consultant to human resources executives, says her clients have been increasingly telling her that employees are jumping to conclusions when they get constructive criticism. The employees assume they're getting downsized, Maloney says, and are then less able to relate well to the feedback. ''It gets blown out of proportion,'' she says.
How does high sensitivity differ from other emotional patterns, such as anger, shyness or, for that matter, insensitivity? For all the articles, self-help books and talk shows dedicated to confronting psychological problems, there's a lack of real discussion about those of us who are quick to take offense. An Amazon search turns up less than five books on how not to take things too personally.
In Pictures: Stop Taking Everything So Personally
By The Numbers: What Women CEOs Are Earning
By The Numbers: Well-Paid Women
By The Numbers: Biggest Bonuses
By The Numbers: Highest-Paid Bosses
Over-sensitivity seems to be the last unexplored--but very real--social problem.
''It's absolutely painful,'' says Elayne Savage, a relationship and workplace coach who goes by the tag line ''The Queen of Rejection.'' ''When we take something personally, it's usually related to rejection in some way. It goes back to a time when we felt shamed as a kid.''
Feelings of rejection then segue into a sense of being judged, criticized and made fun of, says Savage. ''At some time when we were growing up, we didn't feel good about ourselves.''
Text and images: Copyright Forbes.com Any unauthorised reproducton is prohibited.
Image: If Nothing Else Works ...
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