How does a highly sensitive person survive?

HSPs who live with others need to create a quiet, safe place they can retreat to within their own home. Ear-protecting headphones can give an HSP control over their personal sense of peace in what's all too often a noisy, intrusive world. Giving up caffeine can help HSPs feel more collected and calm.


How do highly sensitive people live?

How to navigate life as a highly sensitive person
  1. Get rid of any preconceptions. ...
  2. Follow the science. ...
  3. Work on your self-awareness. ...
  4. Set healthy boundaries. ...
  5. Find a work-life balance. ...
  6. Engage in self-care.


What do highly sensitive people struggle with?

Living with High Sensitivity

HSPs may struggle to adapt to new circumstances, may demonstrate seemingly inappropriate emotional responses in social situations, and may easily become uncomfortable in response to light, sound, or certain physical sensations.


How do you overcome being a highly sensitive person?

10 Tips for Highly Sensitive People
  1. Set a bedtime and morning routine. ...
  2. Identify your triggers. ...
  3. Plan ahead. ...
  4. Work around triggers. ...
  5. Investigate current stressors and solutions. ...
  6. Remember your gifts. ...
  7. Take mini retreats. ...
  8. Engage in gentle exercise.


What happens in the brain of a highly sensitive person?

Highly sensitive people activate brain areas to a greater extent to interpret in great depth and detail the information of the affective and emotional states of the people around them, especially those close to them.


A Survival Guide for Sensitive People



Are highly sensitive people mentally ill?

Being a highly sensitive person is not a diagnosis or a medical condition and does not require treatment. However, HSPs may find relief from this label for their experiences. They may receive meaningful support from therapy and resources or books about HSP.

Are HSP highly intelligent?

HSPs are typically highly intelligent, and seek out opportunities to do deep work. Many HSPs are academics, artists, researchers, scientists and technicians with high level proficiency. HSPs are deep learners, and so enjoy going deep on their chosen subjects, and often gain proficiency early in life.

What hurts a highly sensitive person?

Highly sensitive people may be more affected by certain situations such as tension, violence, and conflict, which may lead them to avoid things that make them feel uncomfortable. You might be highly touched by beauty or emotionality. Highly sensitive people tend to feel deeply moved by the beauty they see around them.


How much sleep do HSPs need?

Sleep is crucial for HSPs, so make sure its highly quality and your night-time sleep is long. Most HSPs need at least 8 hours, and many sleep over the average -- 9 or 10 hours nightly. If you're not getting enough sleep you WILL burn out and edge towards depression, anxiety and become less capable of functioning.

What kind of partner does a HSP need?

A verbal safe haven: HSPs thrive in relationships where they feel seen, heard, and valued. Since highly sensitive people feel things more deeply than most, their feelings often get hurt more quickly than others'. HSPs thrive in relationships where they feel seen, heard, and valued.

Do highly sensitive people get angry?

Turning anger inward is especially common amongst highly sensitive persons and empaths. Their natural compassion has caused them to focus excessively on others' needs and emotions, at the cost of proper emotional and energetic boundaries for themselves.


Do highly sensitive people overthink?

Overthinking and worrying is common with highly sensitive people. You notice every detail and overthink what should be a simple decision, like where to go for lunch. You are prone to getting stuck in the rehashing of the “what-if” rut.

What is the secret superpower of highly sensitive people?

Most highly sensitive people display rare strengths in key areas of emotional intelligence, also known as emotional quotient (EQ) — the ability to recognize and understand emotions in themselves and others. These strengths including self-awareness and social-awareness.

What makes a HSP happy?

Close, meaningful relationships

HSPs crave deep connections with others. In fact, according to Aron, they may get bored or restless in relationships that lack meaningful interaction.


What causes a person to become highly sensitive?

Aron's research found being an HSP is an innate trait, identified in over 100 species. However, others might learn to be sensitive for several reasons. A traumatic event might put them on high alert, for example. Being sensitive to stimuli is also a symptom of conditions like ADHD and autism.

Do highly sensitive people have friends?

Healthy HSP friendships deeply support each other, using listening as a two-way street. HSPs often put others' needs above their own, doing whatever they can to help a friend feel better. A highly sensitive person needs friends who appreciate their care, won't abuse it, and are happy to reciprocate.

What jobs are best now for HSPs?

The 9 Best Careers for a Highly Sensitive Person
  1. Counselor/therapist. ...
  2. College Professor. ...
  3. Artist/Designer. ...
  4. Health Practitioner. ...
  5. Writer/Songwriter/Editor. ...
  6. Librarian/Museum Curator. ...
  7. Freelance anything. ...
  8. Animal trainer/groomer/sitter.


Does HSP get worse with age?

Stress & Sensitivity Can Worsen With Age for HSPs. Here's How to Prevent That. If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP) you might be growing larger stress centers in your brain without even knowing it, and if you don't do anything about it, they will become even bigger.

Do highly sensitive people cry a lot?

Not only are HSPs extra sensitive to environmental stimulation, they're also sensitive emotionally. According to Dr. Elaine Aaron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person, sensitive people tend to cry more easily than others. “Sensitive people can't help but express what they're feeling,” she told the Huffington Post.

What personality type is most likely to be a highly sensitive person?

Most HSPs are either INFJs or INFPs — the ones that don't tend to be ENFJs or ENFPs. Whether you're one or both, it's important to know what stresses you, what overstimulates you and what makes you feel calm, relaxed and happy.


How should a highly sensitive person rest?

While some things are out of your control when it comes to your sleep environment, there are plenty of ways to set yourself up for better sleep as an HSP.
...
Allow 1 to 2 hours of wind-down time
  1. reading.
  2. journaling.
  3. light stretching.
  4. listening to music.
  5. self-massage.
  6. watching a calm, familiar TV show.


Are highly sensitive people rare?

It is believed that HSPs are not rare, and that about 15-20% of the population are thought to be an HSP. There are also thought to be no significant differences in sex, with equal numbers of males and females being an HSP. Being an HSP is an innate trait, with biologists finding high sensitivity in over 100 species.

Do HSP make good parents?

There's good news if you are a highly sensitive parent – you usually make very good parents. You might be more sensitive to things 4. But it also means that you recognize what makes your child special and unique. You can sense your child's needs and respond quickly.


Do highly sensitive people run in families?

For example, we know that sensitivity seems to run in families – if someone had one highly sensitive parent, they are more likely to be highly sensitive. However, this doesn't mean we've found a specific gene that is linked to sensitivity.

Do HSP have better memory?

HSPs have greater memory connections.

It makes sense that HSPs would spend more time processing memories; doing so helps us manage the world around us. Reflecting on past experiences can help us prepare for future events, feeling more confident in handling them.