There are certain people who don't just enter a room—they arrive with weather. And if you're sensitive or empathic, their stress becomes your stress before you realize what happened. Today I spent time with someone I love but struggle to be around. My jaw clenched, chest tightened, stomach knotted. By day's end, my nervous system filed a formal complaint. Here's what actually helps when avoiding stressful people isn't realistic—imperfectly but intentionally.