10 Statements to Avoid with Highly Sensitive Individuals

They’re probably a Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP for short.

About 1 in 5 people are HSPs, and they bring a lot of good stuff to the table like empathy and a keen understanding of emotions.

But they can also get hurt easily by words that might seem harmless to you.

So how do you talk to them without stepping on a landmine?

This article breaks it down for you, listing things you should definitely avoid saying and offering better ways to get your point across.

It’s all about treating everyone, HSP or not, with the respect and kindness they deserve.

1) “You’re too sensitive.”

When you tell an HSP they’re too sensitive, you’re essentially asking them to be someone they’re not
And that can put an HSP in a difficult position, where they feel:

Saying this to an HSP is bad because:

• It invalidates a core part of their identity, making them feel like something is inherently wrong with them.
• It can lead to feelings of shame or inadequacy, possibly affecting their willingness to share feelings in the future.
• It undermines trust, as the HSP may feel that you’re not…