how can i interact with people if i tend to take things personal

You've taken the first step by recognizing a problem exists. Sounds like it's downhill from there. When you get the eventual urge to punch "someone's lights out because i took a joke they made personally", try and put yourself in their moccasins and sense how [i]you[/i] would feel. I've felt exactly the same way many times and figure other people must do the same thing, but this does help. Start with that.