Why are you so upset?

It's not that big of a deal.

You're overreacting, calm down.

You're just too sensitive.

If you're reading this, you've probably heard one or all of those phrases at least once before. And it's stuck with you. These phrases may not have seemed like a big deal to the person saying them but you have not been able to shake them. They have sat in the back of your mind since you were told "you're too sensitive". They keep telling you that maybe you are being ridiculous, that sure, your feelings are hurt but it's your fault because you're too emotional.

These phrases are unhelpful and hurtful. And I'm sure some people will tell me that by just writing this piece I'm being too sensitive. But no one deserves to have their emotions invalidated because of how someone else perceives them. No one else knows how you are feeling except you. They don't know how you see a situation or how you feel about it, or even how those feelings effect you. What gives them the right to pass that judgment?

When people label your emotions as "overreactions" or "too sensitive," they invalidate the way you're feeling. It tells you, "you shouldn't feel this way" and "you're wrong to feel this way." These thoughts can be really harmful to people and no one should be made to feel inferior for their reactions to the world.

Everyone has a different perception of the world and the events that occur in it. You are impacted by these events in a way that those around you may not be. For someone to say that you are overreacting to these things just isn't accurate or fair. You have the right to feel however you want about things, whether that's feeling a lot or a little. No one has the right to dictate or control your feelings or reactions.

Someone commenting that you're overreacting doesn't help the situation; it doesn't comfort the person who is experiencing the emotions, it doesn't fix or relieve the problem that brought those emotions about. The only role those words serve is to make the person who is told them feel like there's something wrong with them for feeling that way. And that's not okay.

You have the right to feel the way you do. Don't let anyone make you feel bad for that.