HSP Therapy

Your friends and family have always said you were a little too sensitive. You’ve been told that it isn’t as big of a deal as you’re making it seem, that you shouldn’t be crying, or to just get over it more times than you can count. If only it were that easy. You can’t just turn it off. You’re not choosing to be this emotional or sensitive, it just happens. It’s who you are. It’s part of your personality. You’re a highly sensitive person. You know you’re different from most of your loved ones with your sensitivity levels and emotions, but in what other ways are you different? Let’s learn more about how a highly sensitive person’s brain is different.

You have enough on your plate, but you feel the pull to help your friends, family, and co-workers when you know they need it. You can sense when they’re in a good mood versus a bad one. It’s almost as if how they feel radiates onto you and affects your mood as well. You love being able to help your loved ones, but you’d be lying if you said it wasn’t physically and mentally draining. You’re exhausted. If that sounds familiar, here’s how to cope with anxiety as a highly sensitive person.

Lights and sounds tend to bother you more than the average person. One cup of coffee seems to have the ability to caffeinate you for a week while your friends drink multiple cups each day. Crowds and large gatherings are overwhelming for you. And even though you enjoy spending time with your friends, family, and loved ones, you feel exhausted afterward. You know that no two people in the world are exactly the same, but you’re curious as to what it is that’s making you feel so different or so sensitive compared to your loved ones. After some research, you narrowed it down to being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or having Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) hypersensitivity. Is an HSP the same as someone with ADHD hypersensitivity?

Your sensitivity levels seem extreme compared to most of your friends and family. They’re not even limited to your thoughts, feelings, or emotions, either. You’re sensitive to lights and sounds. Caffeine and medications seem to hit you a lot harder. Even after hanging out with others, you feel exhausted.

Sensitivity is often seen as a weakness. But the reality of the matter is that highly sensitive can often mean highly powerful. Here are some of the benefits of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

Do you have a hard time saying no? Are you afraid of disappointing loved ones? Have people told you that you’re too sensitive? If you answered yes to all the above, there’s a good chance you’re a Highly Sensitive Person or HSP. Before you start to worry, being a Highly Sensitive Person is not a bad thing! That being said, everything has positives and negatives associated with them.

Like many things in life, the way you talk to yourself can become a habit. Unfortunately, it’s sometimes easy to get into a habit of negative self talk, especially if you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP). If you’re a highly sensitive person, you may: notice small details others do not, feel a strong sense of justice, feel more anxious about conflict, struggle to make decisions, and find yourself constantly being a source of emotional support for others. Understandably, this can all be very stressful for the HSP. Over time, you might absorb all the stress and get into a pattern of negative self talk.

Self-care isn’t selfish. It’s a necessity for everyone. That’s especially true when you’re highly sensitive. But, as a highly sensitive person, your self-care practices might have to look a bit different from what other people commonly do. Things like going out to a restaurant with friends or even heading to the spa might seem overwhelming to you, rather than relaxing.

Do you hate feeling rushed or like you have too much on your plate? Do you feel more comfortable when your life is organized in such a way that lets you avoid overwhelming situations? Have people ever called you sensitive or shy? If so, you might be a highly sensitive person.

When you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), everyday situations can overwhelm you. Not only do you take on the feelings of others, but you might also struggle with sensory issues.  As an HSP, everything from loud noise, crowds, and even feeling rushed in whatever you’re doing can cause you to become anxious.