The Highly Sensitive Person

The Highly Sensitive Person - HSP

Do you feel things more intensely than others? Are you easily overwhelmed by external and internal stimuli? Do you pick up on things that might go unnoticed to others? Do you need lots of alone time to cope with being highly sensitive? If you answered yes to these questions you may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

I am an HSP, I have always been hyper sensitive to other peoples emotions particularly others discomfort, noise and chaotic environments. I become overwhelmed when I have a lot to do and I do not like being under observation. When I meet you I study your face like an atlas, I make brief eye contact with you, the eyes are a window to our souls and I can find it overwhelming to make eye contact. I notice every micro-movement you make and if it doesn't marry up with what you are saying I find it hard to trust you. Your emotions stir up my emotions and I feel very deeply. If you are happy I am happy, if you are sad I feel sad and so on. As we are talking I become distracted by the birds chirping loudly or the bright sun and clouds in the sky. I soak up all this information quickly and have to work hard staying on track with our conversation. I am very empathetic and often take on other people's problems as if they were my own. I need a lot of down time to cope with being an HSP, I withdraw a lot and find comfort in quiet calm environments.

Studies suggest that 15-20% of the population is highly sensitive, it is not classed as a mental health disorder although many HSP's do live with anxiety and other mental health disorders such as Bipolar and Borderline Personality Disorder also known as Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder to name but a few.

High sensitivity is a real, research based characteristic In psychology, anyone who tests as having a high degree of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), a personality trait, is considered highly sensitive. SPS is the trait of deeply processing experiences and stimuli and a person with high SPS has differences at the neural level. - (Information sourced from The Highly Sensitive Refuge).

There are many advantages of being a Highly Sensitive Person.

1. Caring.

2. Empathetic.

3. Creative.

4. Intuitive.

5. In touch with your emotions and inner self.

6. Highly conscientious.

7. Make good therapists and teachers,

While there are many advantages there are also drawbacks to. Many people who are highly sensitive suffer with anxiety and burn out due to being overstimulated by the physical, social, or emotional demands to internal and external stimuli, without enough downtime.

Ways to cope with being a Highly Sensitive Person.

1. Set up boundaries.

2. Practice mindfulness.

3. Know your triggers,

4. Make sure you can get enough time to relax in a safe environment.

5. Practice self care.

“Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weak. To feel intensely is not weakness, it's a super power. It takes great strength of character to live as a Highly Sensitive Person in a world that is becoming more narcissistic" - Cassie.

Comments

Staying Balanced In My Emotionally Unbalanced World

If you struggle with balancing your emotions or indeed live with emotional dysregulation then you may find this post of some interest. Please note some people may find this post triggering. If you don’t feel in the mood to read you can just sit back, press play and watch the video instead. Many people who suffer from a mental health disorder can suffer from emotional dysregulation issues for many different reasons. It is said this symptom is not exclusive to Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder also known as Borderline Personality Disorder, many people who live with mental illness can suffer from this. This post covers what emotional dysregulation is, my experiences and how I cope with it. Please remember that we are all different and unique, some people may relate and other’s may not, so please do not use my post as a diagnostic tool. What is Emotional Dysregulation? Emotional Dysregulation refers to a person who finds it difficult to control or regulate their emotions to int...

Bipolar Type 2 Vs BPD / EUPD

It is easy to confuse Bipolar Disorder 2 with Borderline Personality Disorder -BPD (often known as Emotional Unstable Personality Disorder) as they are very similar. Differentiating between the two can be difficult even psychiatrists can find this tricky. However although they are very similar they are also very different too, and have different treatments. Bipolar 2 disorder is characterised by extreme mood swings. These can range from highs (hypomania) to extreme lows (depression). Episodes of hypomania and depression often last for several weeks or months. Hypomania: Elevated mood, decreased need for sleep (feels rested after only a couple of hours sleep), inflated self-esteem, racing thoughts, impulsivity, more talkative than normal or pressure to keep talking, distractibility. Depression: Fatigue, sleeping to much or to little, loss of interest, hopeless outlook, changes in appetite (eating too much or not enough), suicidal ideation and...

Q & A

Five most common questions answered. If you don't feel in the mood to read you can just sit back, press play and watch the video instead. Lets talk about everything mental health related by getting back to basics. What is mental health? Some people call mental health emotional health or wellbeing. Mental health is a level of psychological wellbeing which can vary over the years, and with the ups and down's of life. We all need to look after our mental health as it is just important to our wellbeing as our physical health is. Poor mental health can effect anyone. WHO (World Health Organisation) says: "mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community, it is not just the absence of mental disorder". What is mental health illness? People who have a mental health illness can exp...

Situational Depression Vs Clinical Depression

Depression is becoming more and more understood due to many factors such as the rise of people being affected by it or by knowing loved ones, family and friends who have had to battle with these symptoms, campaigns challenging the stigma and people openly talking about their illness. When hearing the word depression many people associate it with a clinical diagnosis such as bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder etc. Depression does not only affect people who have a clinical diagnosis. Situational depression can affect people who do not live with a clinical mental health illness too. Dr. Gronley Say's; Typically major stressors in life will bring on situational depression such as a divorce, death of a loved one, loss of a job, the economy or any factors that will negatively affect your life. Situational depression is always accompanied by traumatic events or stressful situations and will typically be short lived or continue with the presence of these events. SD can be...

Cassie Talks - Mental Health

Search This Blog