When the world feels overwhelming…

It may be because you are a highly sensitive person (a HSP). A new series of books by author Elaine Aron is challenging notions that some people are too sensitive, emotional or weak. Instead she says that a minority of the population are actually built with a more sensitive, finely tuned nervous system, making them more susceptible to a range of stimuli from lighting and noise, to emotions and music.

Highly Sensitive people are not failures, nor are they immature – although they are often made to feel this way. Instead, HSP’s are individuals who are more attuned to all kinds of stimuli in their environment. Sensitive people receive and respond to a much greater volume of information from the world around them than the average person. 

The result of all this extra stimulation is that sensitive people become easily and frequently overwhelmed by their environment. Their nervous system literally cannot take in any more information – it is inundated. In a positive situation, this means that sensitive folk are much more deeply moved by things like poetry, music and nature. On the other hand, stimulating environments and substances can quickly bring us undone. Meanwhile the vast majority of people are happily thriving in their crowded, noise-filled, fluoro-lit shopping malls.

Sensitive individuals are often mistakenly diagnosed with other conditions, or the fact that they are sensitive is central to the development (and relief) of conditions such as anxiety, depression, and social phobias. Sensitive men can find it especially challenging to exist in the tough culture of Aussie males, where qualities like quietness, introspection, compassion and emotiveness are viewed as undesirable. I have worked with numerous people who have been labelled (by self or others) as extremely introverted, highly anxious, shy or phobic publicly, depressed or overly emotional. Sometimes there is a diagnosable condition which exists, at other times the qualities of high-sensitivity are mistaken for the symptoms of a physical or emotional condition.

Being a sensitive person myself, it was a massive relief to find out that my reactions weren’t a weakness (or a disorder) but a quirk of my nervous system. It has enabled me to appreciate myself and to develop strategies to support myself in the circumstances that tend to engulf me. 

Aron says only 15-20% of people are highly sensitive. This means we are a minority, and that the culture around us tends to reflect the needs of the majority. These more robust individuals find it almost impossible to understand the sensitive individual. Quite understandably it is difficult for them to appreciate how it feels to be in our skin; how intense everything can become, how quickly we can lose our sense of calm, how irritating and stressful ‘normal’ environments are for us.

The modern world, with its traffic, sirens, lights, and pollution equals information overload for the HSP although we usually recover quickly if we can escape to places of beauty and serenity. The greatest challenge we face is learning to understand and manage our particular brand of sensitivity. No two sensitive folk seem the same. Some are impervious to noise and lights, but deeply affected by people and emotions. Others react strongly to foods and perfumes, but are happy in large groups. So it is important to investigate the ways that your sensitivity expresses itself. Then you can adopt strategies to care for yourself.

Over the years I have developed greatly in my ability to handle situations that were once impossible. Busy shopping centres, crowded beaches, loud music, intense lighting or strong smells could easily bring me undone, especially if I hadn’t eaten well, was over-tired or felt under pressure in my personal or work life. Now I have found ways to tolerate most conditions that previously had control over me.

Some things sensitive people can do:

•Acknowledge you are sensitive and educate those close to you

•Limit your exposure to places or people that trigger your sensitivity

•Develop mental strategies to keep you buoyant under stressful conditions

•Shift your attention or focus from irritating items such as strong lights, or noise (remember as teenagers we used our selective attention)

•Live in an area that is close to nature or escape regularly to find peace

•Get support for yourself to overcome negative aspects of your sensitivity

•Choose fabrics, products and textures that make you feel relaxed

•Develop personal boundaries so as not to be overwhelmed by moods, conflicts or tensions that others carry]

•Do all you can to ensure good sleeping and eating habits

•Find health practitioners who are also sensitive or who appreciate you as you are (rather than pathologise your sensitive nature)

•Carry good quality ear plugs with you in your bag or wallet

•Carry headache tablets if you are prone to these

•Enjoy and develop the positive aspects of your sensitive nature – it will help you stay positive when your nature becomes challenging…

Without sensitive people we wouldn’t have the arts, music, philosophy, medicine, therapy and so much more. This is because sensitive folks are able to attend to subtleties in their environment that average person cannot notice. HSP’s can attend effortlessly to qualities in their environment in a far more detailed manner than the more robust counterparts. Sensitive people tend to be deep and complex thinkers, often drawn to spirituality, philosophy, politics, psychology healing modalities and ecology or combinations of the above. HSP’s are often healers, spiritual ministers and shamans and naturally feel drawn to deeper understandings of the world around them. 

Sensitive adults can struggle to thrive in the modern world. They will often have a great deal to contribute to their profession, family or community but may struggle to overcome shyness, self-doubt and criticism to be fully themselves in such environments. Additionally, they may have to battle health or emotional issues in their early adulthood and through their lives which slow their path to success and challenge their relationships. I have met sensitive folk who find it impossible some days to get out of the house, they feel so overwhelmed by emotions or sensations they cannot manage or express. 

Many sensitive people are highly successful individuals with great influence. It’s not hard to spot them once you know how to find them. But whatever we are doing, as sensitive folk, we have a great deal to contribute to this society, just by being ourselves.

Warm wishes,

Michelle  

© Please request permission from author to reproduce. Acknowledgement to Elaine Aron for her pioneering work on HSP’s from which I have drawn much of the above.