Campusalam

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- People react quickly – sometimes before the other person has finished speaking
- They see things in black and white terms and can’t seem to see the shades of grey
- It’s all or nothing – ‘always’ – ‘never’; ‘totally right’ – ‘absolutely wrong’
- They don’t listen to others, or even don’t seem to hear
- They take a different opinion as a challenge or a threat
- They seem to misunderstand what others are saying, and often in the worst possible way
- They seem to take things personally even when they aren’t intended to be

Other people, when feeling emotional and perhaps feeling like they’re under attack, react differently. They want to escape, or even seem to freeze:

- They withdraw, become silent
- They switch off, look out the window
- They may be physically restless, as if they wish they could get away
- Their mind may go blank, especially if challenged aggressively by sentences like: ‘Tell me WHY…’ ‘Give me ONE GOOD REASON…’

Some people become emotional more easily than others. But anyone can (and will) get emotional in certain circumstances, especially if they perceive a threat to themselves or if they feel under attack. Remember that a threat to our self-esteem is a very real threat.

Share your views or experience of emotional highjack...