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Hello! An impressionable person usually perceives what is happening around him too vividly, emotionally reacting to those events that, in general, do not cause vivid reactions in other people.
This feature is not a negative or positive character trait. As always and everywhere there are pros and cons. But if it interferes with your life, complicating it, then this article is written just for you, as we will look at ways that will help you become more restrained and stable.
Types
congenital
If from the very childhood it was easy to make you laugh, upset, touch, then impressionability is, as it were, built into the structure of your personality, being a character trait.
This means that you know how to empathize, get excited about any little thing and get upset over any trifle.
Acquired
Usually appears after any traumatic events, severe stress, serious illness. For example, a person survived a car accident, now, fearing for his life, he may worry in a crowded place so as not to catch a cold.
He will minimize communication, reconsider his diet and even his attitude to religion. Any unpleasant word addressed to him can hurt so much that he will lose his peace of mind for a long time.
Recommendations
You will not be able to get rid of it completely, if only because you simply turn into an insensitive person, unable to experience a whole range of emotions. And, as you understand, such a state does not arise as a result of pleasant events. The psyche, in order to protect a person from a serious shock, simply “turns off” emotions.
A person turns almost into a robot, as he does not experience feelings, while retaining the ability to think rationally. It is based on it that he lives on, makes decisions, makes choices. But joy, serenity, tenderness, as well as pain with anger, will not be available to him until he decides to work on the trauma he has received.
Therefore, it does not matter whether it is good or bad for you to have impressionability, if you try to completely eradicate it — understand that this will affect your sensitivity and intuition.
Well, to slightly reduce the level when anxiety becomes excessive and leads to panic, I recommend the following methods:
Toggle switch
Imagine that you have a button in your body, by pressing which you turn off feelings, but turn on rationality. Take a deep breath, slowly exhale and, discarding emotions, begin to think, look for and find answers to questions that are not from the realm of fantasy, but quite scientific, real.
For example, you caught a cold, the temperature rose to 38 degrees. There was a fear that now you will die? Instead of justified horror at such thoughts, try to remember if you had a high fever before.
Think, what is the probability that you can really die from a cold? How many real cases do you know, only not from the news, but among acquaintances? When emotions subside a bit, think of a plan of action. Let’s say you go to the doctor, get to the pharmacy for medicines, warn the boss about the need to issue a sick leave, and so on.
Control
If you know your weaknesses, in order not to get into awkward situations, try to avoid moments when you lose control of yourself.
For example, in order not to reproach yourself for weak character and not be ashamed of tears, it is better to refrain from attending a corporate dramatic theater performance. Or watching a melodrama, a horror movie on a first date.
In general, keep the situations in which you are likely to burst into tears to a minimum, especially if this does not have a particularly good effect on your reputation later.
Let off steam
The psychology of a person is such that if he keeps experiences inside himself, they will eventually destroy his health and deprive him of vital energy. Just imagine how much strength will go to waste just to hold back emotions. Instead of releasing the tension and forget about it.
So, if you want to cry — cry if the conditions in which you are at the moment allow you to do this. Are you annoyed? Try to talk about what you don’t like, instead of building up anger until it turns into rage.
The main thing is not to accumulate in yourself.
Self-concept
Work on your self-esteem, as suspicious individuals who take any events too close “to the heart” are distinguished by the fact that they often doubt themselves. Any remark addressed to them can destroy ideas about their character, skills and talents.
Adequate self-esteem will give confidence and stability.
Sport
If you don’t know how to get rid of unnecessary emotions, go in for sports. After running even 5 km or working out hard in the gym, you will have little strength left to sit and think about something that causes a strong emotional reaction.
Engage in meditation, so you learn to dive into a relaxed, calm state.
And in moments when you realize that you are losing control of yourself, use the breathing techniques that are indicated in this article. With their help, you will quickly return to normal, calm down and switch your attention.
Work on yourself
Do you know that almost all children are impressionable? But because they have little knowledge and experience. They do not understand what will happen if, say, they cut their finger. They are hurt and the scale of the tragedy can be incredibly large. Up to the point that now you have to cut off your hand.
Such thoughts usually make adults laugh, especially if, with a splinter, the baby asks if he will survive now.
So think about what scares and terrifies you the most. Make a list and start studying material that will give you answers. Again, rationality is the best remedy, as it returns to reality and helps to pacify the hurricane of feelings.
Develop and work on yourself, only in this way you will be less and less like a small child. Who does not understand at all how he himself, or this world, works. Why is he afraid of the slightest scratches.
What not to do if your acquaintance is an impressionable person
Impossible
Call to do what is currently impossible for him. Let’s say the phrases: «Pull yourself together», «Yes, you should not pay attention to it» do not help to calm down and stop worrying at all. Feelings flooded in and abruptly stop the flow, in fact, it is very difficult.
A person may stop crying, but this does not mean that he has ceased to feel pain, sadness, and so on. This means that at the moment, without being freed from them, your loved one runs the risk of completely unexpectedly “exploding”, when there is simply not enough strength to hold on and suppress them.
Therefore, instead of not very real calls, just hug. Don’t know what to say? Then do it silently. But make it clear that you are there and empathize.
Remember when you feel bad, what can support you? Hardly phrases that devalue the state.
Criticism
Your criticism is unlikely to be received adequately. Since impressionable personalities are very vulnerable. Therefore, be careful in handling them. At the very least, do not expect to be heard if you allow yourself harsh statements. Even if they are true.
Try to choose your words when it becomes necessary to convey that they are doing something wrong.
And, by the way, to cause sports anger, to provoke competition so that he shows all his capabilities is not an option. Because the result will not be what you expected. It will “close” and completely “fall out of the rut”.
Therefore, if you have such emotional personalities among your colleagues or subordinates, provide them with more comfortable and calm conditions for productive work. Devoid of competitive spirit or deadlines.
Pace
Haste, like criticism, is not the best option. Therefore, try to be more tolerant of the fact that your friend or relative makes a decision for a long time, doubts and does not know what to do.
Otherwise, breaking loose, you risk worsening the situation. And delay the time it will now take to calm down about a quarrel with you.
Completion
Fill your life with something pleasant, notice the beauty in the objects and people around you.
Perhaps by learning to think positively, you will achieve harmony and balance, ceasing to worry about insignificant trifles. Then you will not be disturbed by thoughts of how to stop being yourself and learn to be cool.
We also recommend reading an article about the development of your strategic thinking.
The material was prepared by a psychologist, Gestalt therapist, Zhuravina Alina