i’ve found better results just calmly laughing at the ridiculousness being hostile irritates most situations although assertiveness definitely is important   i’ve also been reading into a bit of jung and talked to this guy who has studied him more than me  he told me when the shadow a message from the personal unconscious tends to be scary appears you ask it what it wants how you can help it and the big scary monster becomes reduced to a simplified message that’s actually beneficial to you  that’s not to say “agree with your insecurities” more like play detective  figure out where they’re coming from