how can i stop taking things so personally?

[turbocharged]

i take things very personally a lot even when i know the person is joking. for example, my friend lost $20 and she said "did you take it?" eying me an all. we laughed about it. and then i started thinking about it and realised i actually had taken it personally. its ridiculous i know but i cant help it. it always hits after the incident has happenedhelp me?

[photofreak]

sorry can't help you, im the same, I'll await some good advice too

[gregorius]

Next time something happens and you take it personally, look and recognize why you are feeling this way. Try to remind yourself of why you could be feeling this way, and try to tell yourself positive things like "Oh, she trusts me enough and thinks of me as a good friend to be joking around."The first step to solving a problem is admitting it. Since you have already done that, you can start moving on towards the actions that will change how you normally react.Humor will always help you in the long run, next time, just shake it off and laugh about it. Think about how 5 years from now you'll look back on that one joke and realize how silly it was that you took it personally! Smile and everything that comes your way and laugh!

[digishooter]

Compose yourself, whenever your with your friends, remember that always take things as a joke. If they accuse you of something, try to joke it off by being sarcastic. If they keep accusing you for something you did not do, then that's the only time you can take things personally. My advice, Be laidback when with your friends, act calm, cool, and friendly.

[unionjak]

hello,
to be honest my answer to your first incident is that anyone accused of theft would take it seriously....inocent or not.

You have to ask yourself are you living to please everyone else...all of the time or should you start to think more of yourself by slapping yourself on the back more often.

It is also human nature to feel imotion if comments or actions are not pleasing, so try not worry as everyone is in the same boat....its just they wont admit it.

Take care,
steve.

[thirtysecondsphoenix]

Just think that not everything others say is meant to offend. So I would start by thinking about that, perhaps someone says something that is meant one way, but it is interpreted by us in another way. Just think, no ones perfect and sometimes we are going to feel like it's personal. Try to think of the positive and just don't the little things bother you. If something someone says that you take personally, talk it out with that person - you'll feel better.

[unionjak]

...or go the gym and get really big, then you can start dishing it out ?

[Snappers]

I found that the more you let people see things upset you the more they will do it, so I changed my attitude when people said things and I felt a lot better for it.

It does not always work but it's worth a try.

Also sometimes thinking about something that happened too much can make it play on your mind and then you start to loose reality on what actually happened. Think about it sure but then let it go. Dont keep going over it in your mind. Life is too short.