Highly Sensitive Persons

What is high sensitivity?

Basically, it’s a pattern of heightened awareness to various physical, emotional/mental, and relational elements in a person’s life. Each highly sensitive person (often abbreviated HSP) displays a unique constellation of areas where they experience an above-average responsiveness to their environment. Some common sensitivities include:

Physical

• overwhelmed by intrusive stimuli—bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, etc.
• low pain threshold
• highly distracted by certain clothing textures, temperatures, surfaces you come into contact with

Emotional/Mental

• strongly bothered by violence in books, shows, or in real life
• deeply moved by things you consider beautiful
• a rich and complex imagination

Relational

• very attuned to and affected by other people’s moods
• aware of nuances and nonverbal communication
• frazzled by too many expectations from others

Because there are so many possible combinations, it can be hard to say for sure who is a HSP. I use the rule of thumb that if you think you are, you probably are.

Do you feel like you need a force field at times to protect you from feeling overwhelmed by your surroundings?

I’d like to help.

We’d start by mapping out what your window of tolerance is so you can respect your capabilities and limits. We’d create 2 sets of coping skills for your toolbox: expanding your window of tolerance and getting back in your target zone when life’s events push you off-balance.

If this sounds like a useful start to managing your high sensitivity, my contact information is on the right side of this page.