Self-talk is powerful. It can lead to a wonderful life … or self-doubt, a poor self-image, and lots of regret. What you consistently tell yourself programs your subconscious toward that reality. Before you know it, your positive or negative conversations with yourself lead to those kinds of experiences.

The highly sensitive person can use this natural law to their advantage. Ask yourself the following five questions when you are emotionally overwhelmed and overstimulated.

1. “What evidence do I have that what I believe is actually true?”

When your senses are usually on high alert, it might seem like an alarm goes off several times throughout the day. If this happens, ask yourself if there is any evidence that your chronic anxiety is the right response. Are your beliefs true, or are you possibly making a mountain out of a molehill?

2. “Am I totally sure that a result is going to be negative?”

Sensitive people often see a possible catastrophe rather than a wonderful outcome. Who’s to say that the experience you are stressed out about has to produce a negative result? Why can’t everything turn out well? Believe in a potentially good outcome, and you have a better chance of making that happen.

3. “What would I tell someone I care about if they were going through the same thinking process I am?”

This pulls your emotions out and gets you looking at them objectively. Treat yourself as you would a loved one. Say and do what is needed to calm yourself down and help you make a decision that isn’t based entirely on emotions.

4. “Am I taking the blame for something that isn’t my fault?”

Highly sensitive people feel so much pain. They feel the emotions of others very intensely as if they were their own. This empathetic nature might have you blaming yourself for things you couldn’t influence. Don’t blame yourself for outcomes or experiences you couldn’t control.

5. “If something bad happens, what are some ways I can cope with the outcome?”

As we just said, you can’t always control or influence an outcome. But you can certainly prepare for it. Look for ways to cope with a negative experience before dealing with it.

Remember, self-talk is powerful. The things you ask yourself influence your experience. These five questions can help the highly sensitive person cope when their senses are overstimulated, and their emotional response is exaggerated.

Reach the Author Dr. Veronica Anderson