What Will It Take to Grow Thick Skin?

I've always been someone who takes everything personally. As a kid it was more acceptable, but it permeated throughout my teenage years and to a lesser extent now at 22.

I figured the solution would be that anything a stranger would say online when playing would just go in one ear and out the other, and when a friend jabs at me just smile and laugh along with the joke.

Yet, inside, no matter what, I always get this knot in my stomach and gripping feeling in my chest. Inside, my head's going through all the different things to try and explain to me that it's not a big deal, just take the hit, suck it up; but the pain's always there.

It's particularly harmful when it comes to talking with friends, because sometimes I'll inadvertently (and admittedly sometimes advertently) create big arguments out of a harmless jab or diss or whatever. I know that the more I grow older, the more I will experience things like this and I want to be as prepared as I can.

I'm 22 man, this can't keep going on. I feel especially concerned about this now that I'm in a relationship and don't want my insecurities/over-emotionality to negatively affect it. My gf's the best thing that's happened to me in awhile and she deserves better than a man who has a hard time assessing his emotions.