We all face an embarrassing situation when someone - whether it is a family member, a co-worker or a stranger - makes a sarcastic or bold comment. without becoming sharp with him.

Because of the frequent exposure to such comments, you may become like them without feeling, and a study published in 2016 concluded that rudeness can be contagious, and once we witness or experience rude situations, we are more likely to act rudely as well, so how should we act so as not to make Things get worse?

Here are 3 strategies:

Look at the big picture

Before we learn how to respond to spam comments, we must pause and take something important into account, which is the need to wait before responding and try to take into account the bigger picture of what happened, and understand the situation.

"Even if the behavior is unjustified, understanding the other person's perspective helps us understand their behavior," psychotherapist Leah Aguirre told Psych Central. This doesn't justify the behavior, but enables us to understand if it's impersonal.

Aguirre advises that you first ask yourself about possible reasons why someone might be behaving in an uncomfortable way. "Having this awareness and empathy can help you de-escalate your emotions before you respond to them," she says.

Think before you waste your energy

Some people do not deserve to give your psychological energy to respond to them, before anyone's opinion is taken into account, this person must have a balance with you, and he deserves this position, and therefore think about your relationship with the person, before responding to him, and the amount of time and energy that you want to invest in your relationship with him.

Don't take things personally

If you decide to remain silent or respond to the insult, always remember that the words of the offending person reflect his morals and behavior, and you have every right to feel disturbed by what you heard, but realizing that these words are not true, and do not express you, but rather express who said them, softens your feelings, and does not allow It is insulting to tamper with your self-confidence.

Sometimes ignoring rude comments is effective, especially for troublemakers (Getty Images)

But what if the situation deserves a response, there are several ways to protect yourself and stop those who cross their limits with you, without getting infected with insolence and becoming like him.

  • Catch your breath

When someone says something painful, pause for a second, breathe deeply, calmly notice how you feel, and think about your reaction, which is an important step in arriving at an appropriate response.

When we respond to our initial impulses and our emotional mind, we usually don't act rationally, but when we pause, and take into account what our emotional and analytical minds are telling us, we are wiser and more objective, and we can talk, and have productive conversations.

  • separate yourself

Sometimes all you have to do is ignore rude comments, and this is especially effective for troublemakers, so don't take the bait.

"If the question or comment is intentionally hostile, don't get carried away and separate yourself," says psychological counselor Shemia Derek.

  • Express your feelings

If the relationship is worth preserving, the effort is being made to right the wrong, and there is room to express yourself, then you can express your discomfort with the inappropriate comments.

The therapist advises Aguirre to use the word "I" when expressing your feelings. Say, "I was offended and upset about your words," and this is how you express yourself without attacking the other.

  • Set your own personal boundaries

When you set some personal limits for your dealings, you do not have to explain the reasons for them, all you have to do is clarify them only to others, for example, "I don't like to be used to insulting me."

Or, when someone asks you a curious question, you can say outright, "Please don't ask me that question again," and escalate if it continues, by saying, "These questions will push me away from you and harm our relationship."

  • Don't waste your breath

Some people do not respond to discussions and do not respect the feelings of others, and your conversation will only lead to more trouble and problems, there is no point in wasting your breath.

You cannot control others, but you can control yourself, so you can limit dealing with them, or end your relationship with them if this is possible.

  • Take a silent stance

Sometimes a verbal response may not be the best response to a situation, instead, you can try to get them to see and feel how their words have affected you.

For example, you can walk away, leave the room, or even show your expression.

  • turn the table

One of the most effective ways to respond to annoying comments and curious questions is to respond with a question, such as "What do you mean? I didn't understand," and keep asking questions until the other person is busy thinking about answering your questions, or is embarrassed and shut up.

Or, focus your question on the ridiculousness of their words, such as "Do you think your comment is appropriate?", thereby expressing your dissatisfaction without having to respond rudely.

  • make excuses

Not out of your inability to respond or because you are a victim, but you can consciously choose to excuse those who have offended you, especially if you know they are going through tough times, are not feeling well, or know that they did not intend to harm you.