Do you know your sore spot? This is how you learn to respond confidently.

It only takes a few seconds: sometimes a short sentence or a gesture is enough to profoundly shake our self-esteem. Feeling offended means questioning oneself as a person. These are deep emotional wounds that cause us to retreat into our shells, develop feelings of inferiority, or overreact and lash out.

In her guide, psychotherapist Dr. Doris Wolf explains, with many everyday examples, why certain things hit us particularly hard. With her tips, you can positively influence your thoughts and feelings and successfully fend off attacks on your self-confidence.

• Am I too sensitive? How feelings of offense arise and how to protect yourself from them.
• Where am I particularly vulnerable? A detailed questionnaire for self-analysis.
• Practical exercises against typical shock reactions and negative thoughts.
• Effective strategies for dealing with difficult people, insults, and destructiveness.
• How to control your emotions, better handle criticism, and resolve conflicts.

Effective self-help from Dr. Doris Wolf, co-author of the Joy of Life calendar. So that offense doesn't make you sick: tips for more serenity and self-confidence.

Whether our counterpart unintentionally insults us or deliberately uses destructive criticism: we have power over our emotions and our reactions. Step by step, you will learn a new perspective on your feelings and can stop self-destructive thoughts. In this way, you will become immune to demeaning remarks, gain self-respect, and face rejections, verbal attacks, and critical comments with greater ease.