Summarize:

If the environment is too loud or busy, the person may not be able to focus on interacting with you. Find quiet places to hang out, so that you can get the person's full attention.  Try to avoid surprises in general. A sensitive person might be bothered or even hurt by things that don't seem like a big deal to you. Assume that the problem is very real to them, even if you don't see it the same way. It's not kind to dismiss, invalidate, or accuse a sensitive person because of who they are. Keep in mind that sensitivity is not a choice, and the person is probably doing the best they can to cope with the situation they're in. Avoid rude comments like:   "Why are you so sensitive?" "You're too sensitive!" "You're just doing this for attention." "Get over yourself." "Stop being so dramatic." "You need therapy to fix this problem." and give them patience. Making reassuring and understanding comments can help calm the person. Try labeling their feelings, and treating their feelings as understandable. Here are some examples of helpful things to say:   "I can tell you're pretty stressed." "I'm not surprised you're overwhelmed. It is pretty loud in here." "It's okay to cry. I don't mind." "Take as long as you need to calm down. There's no rush." "Of course you're hurt. It wasn't right of her to call you names." "I'm here for you while you deal with this." "You're allowed to be upset." A sensitive person may get overwhelmed more easily. Keeping your cool, and doing your best to help them through it, can help calm them a little. If you can see them getting stressed or overwhelmed, remind them how they can handle it. Suggest that they take some deep breaths, take a break, or go somewhere quiet for a while. They may appreciate knowing that you're okay with them taking a break to manage their feelings. Sometimes, you may feel frustrated, confused, or upset about the way the person acts. You're allowed to feel this way. Take some quiet time to sort through your emotions, or talk to a trusted mentor about what's going on.   Never take out your feelings on the sensitive person. They're doing the best they can (just like you are), and it's important to stay kind. If you do mess up and treat them unkindly, don't beat yourself up. Instead, apologize and say you'll try to be more considerate next time. The two of you may not always get along, especially if you have very different temperaments. Talk about any issues that arise, and try making "I" statements to communicate your feelings. Here are some examples:   "I know that noise from the laundry bothers you. It's hard for me to figure out a time to do laundry that works for both of us. Could we talk about a good laundry schedule?" "It hurts my feelings when people tease me about my bald spot. I know we do friendly teasing sometimes, and I'm okay with that. Let's just keep that part off-limits, okay?" "I'm sorry that I hurt your feelings when I made that comment about your picture. It was thoughtless of me. I'll try to be more considerate of your feelings in the future."
Help find a quiet and relaxing environment. Assume that a problem is real, even if you don't notice or understand what the person is talking about. Avoid making insensitive comments. Validate their feelings Be a calming and reassuring influence in times of stress. Try encouraging them to take action to calm themselves. Handle your own difficult feelings in private. Talk to the person about any interpersonal conflict.