Growing up sensitive meant getting upset and overanalyzing everything, from the way people joked to the way that people looked in my direction. It meant constantly hearing about how I was overly sensitive and how I shouldn’t take everything so seriously and “it was a joke, I swear!” The criticism of my sensitivity didn’t help me get any less sensitive. It wasn’t until the beginning of high school that I realized I could keep my sensitivity and learn to take a joke all at the same time.

My high school friend group was built of some of the most sarcastic people I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. Their comments were savage and their insults came often. I’m sure I felt really victimized being the target of their sarcastic outbursts at first. It wasn’t until about a year later that I was shooting these comments right back, comfortable with the environment and had learned a lot about the culture that creates sarcasm.

1. Sarcastic friends rub off on you

The best defense is offense, so in order to survive in a group of sarcastic friends, you have to be sarcastic right back. This is instinctual, like the way you immediately countered 'yo mama' jokes with more 'yo mama' jokes back in middle school.

2. You learn rapid-fire

Even within the first few months, you notice yourself answering back naturally. Your comebacks become quicker and thinking on the spot becomes automatic. This is a skill that comes in handy if you’re super socially awkward in general.

3. Growing a thick skin

Speaking as someone who still sometimes gets really upset at jokes that are a little on the harsh side, having sarcastic friends really helps with negative sensitivity. Having a bond with the people who are constantly making jabs at you makes you feel more secure in the fact that they are in fact joking. They aren’t just passively aggressively telling you they hate you (no matter how often they’ll joke that they do).

4. Sarcastic people are softies

It’s helpful to watch your overly sarcastic friend group all laid up on a couch together, watching sad movies and having deep, supportive emotional talks. These are the people who teach you not to take yourself too seriously; the people who tell you that you missed a spot of ugly when you ask them if your makeup looks okay. But these are also the people who will hold you when you get in your feels after a rough day, even if they do call you a crybaby when you’re done. It’s love, I promise.