Virtually all of us have at some point been the object of gossip or jokes, some less funny than others. When these types of situations happen, many manage to handle the moment with complete calm. However, not everyone reacts the same way and some people tend to get irritated or offended when someone makes a comment that they don’t like.
Who doesn’t have at least one friend who gets offended by everything? The reasons behind this way of reacting are diverse and can significantly influence the relational aspects of the individual. In this Psychology-Online article we will see how to treat a person who does offend you for everything.
Why are there people who get offended by everything?
Why are people so offended? People who are offended by everything tend to be easily resentful of gestures or words that are generally harmless to other people. Some main features that these people present are:
- Difficulties accepting criticism.
- Susceptibility.
- Resentment in cases of disagreement.
In most cases, behind this type of reaction lies a general lack of self-esteem which will make the person look to others for a sense of acceptance and gratification. When that gratification is not achieved, the susceptible person will react in an inappropriate and unpleasant way.
Likewise, people who get offended by everything often perceive any criticism as a failure or an attempt to discredit their own work.
How to deal with a person who is offended by everything
The best way to deal with a person who gets offended by everything is communicate with positive language, avoiding ambiguities, double meanings, allusions and sarcasm. Likewise, it is important to try to identify the points where he/she is particularly sensitive to avoid colliding with him/her.
Here’s how to deal with a person who gets offended by everything in different situations:
How to deal with a partner who gets offended by everything
What can I do if my partner is offended by everything? Susceptibility in the couple can lead to frequent misunderstandings and generate the doubt of not being loved enough. In these cases, taking offense is a way of verifying the other’s attention and acceptance, a kind of hidden blackmail that must not be reinforced, but rather deactivated with gentleness and understanding.
Therefore, in these cases it is best to reassure the couple about the strength of the relationship and about the fact that certain criticisms are limited and always refer to a specific behavior or situation, and not to their person. If you want to know more about this topic, you may also be interested in the article.
How to deal with a friend who gets offended by everything
Friendship is freedom, even when it comes to “criticizing”, although you have to learn to do it appropriately so as not to hurt the other person. For this reason, any disapproval should always be compensated by affection and demonstration of esteem.
On the other hand, we can try to help him understand that he is too touchy and vulnerable to give you tools to protect yourself from those who may want to hurt you or criticize you.
How to deal with a coworker who gets offended by everything
If you work side by side with a coworker who gets offended by everything, you have to get ahead of yourself, since deep down what he or she wants is to earn our esteem. For this reason, don’t skimp on compliments when he does something good and show him that you want to work with him, for example by asking for opinions and advice.
If you are offended by something you have said or done, there is no need to make this a matter of principle. In these cases, it is better to apologize and tell him that you did not mean to hurt him, rather than worsen the atmosphere in the office.
How to deal with a boss who gets offended by everything
In the professional field, a boss who is offended by everything usually appears to be a tyrant who can turn work into a real minefield. For this reason, in these cases it will be very important respect your limits and your roleand if something goes wrong, avoid personalizing and arguing too much.
What to say to a person who is offended by everything
Interacting with a susceptible person who is offended by everything can become an obstacle course because, since the susceptible person does not tolerate criticism or feeling questioned, a single mistake will be enough to provoke a disproportionate reaction.
As we mentioned above, the best way to talk to a person who gets offended by everything is use positive language, be kind, avoid ambiguity, double meanings, insinuations and sarcasm. On the other hand, it is important to identify the points in which our interlocutor is particularly sensitive so as not to clash with him or her. The susceptible person should never be attacked, denigrated or ridiculed, but we must help them trust us and understand that we can talk about any topic without necessarily referring to it.
What not to say to a susceptible person
With a little diplomacy, intelligence and the desire to establish good communication, it is possible to manage the susceptibility of the people we love. In any case, there are some phrases for people who are offended by everything that you should avoid, such as:
- “If I were you I would do this.”
- “This time you’ve gone too far.”
- “You never take criticism.”
Likewise, interacting with a person who is offended by everything is not a question of always criticizing them, but of establishing a .
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to How to treat a person who is offended by everythingwe recommend that you enter our category.
Bibliography
- Gabbrielli, B. (2022). Permalosi: istruzioni per l’uso. Retrieved from: https://www.starbene.it/benessere/psicologia/permalosi-come-trattarli/
- Pazienti.org (2021). Perché si è permalosi? Retrieved from: https://www.pazienti.it/news-di-salute/perche-si-e-permalosi-29082017
- Sironi, A. (2021). Come if you manage a troppo permaloso partner? Retrieved from: https://www.donnamoderna.com/amore-relazioni/partner-permaloso-come-comportarsi