Six Ways to Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person
All Things Mental Health:
Thank you so much Alyssa Petersel from My Well-Being for contributing an article for this weeks newsletter on "6 Ways to Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person". Gen Z is known for being "highly sensitive", how to tackle that into a superpower? We learn more from this article contributed by My Wellbeing.
"Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) are people who experience increased sensitivity and a stronger response to stimuli. The term Highly Sensitive Person was first coined by Dr. Elaine Aron and Dr. Arthur Aron, who together conducted the very first published studies on HSPs in the 1990s. Also called Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS), this is a biological trait that has been observed in over 100 species. It is estimated that about 20 percent of the population are HSPs.
HSP is not a diagnosis, illness, or disorder, but rather, it is a personality trait. If you or a loved one is an HSP, it can be a game changer to understand the specific needs of people with this trait. Being an HSP presents challenges, but also gifts. Understanding your specific needs and talents as an HSP can unlock your ability to thrive.
Dr. Elaine Aron has identified four traits HSPs have in common. No two HSPs are exactly alike, and these traits can show up in myriad ways depending on the individual, however, there are some commonalities that researchers have found among HSPs:
Depth of Processing
Overstimulation
Emotional Responsiveness and Empathy
Sensitive to Subtleties
In her book, The Highly Sensitive Person, Elaine Aron writes that a primary challenge for HSPs is overstimulation. Assess your level of stimulation and figure out what you need. Do you need more quiet time? Do you need to schedule fewer meetings each day? Do you need to limit the amount of time you spend at a party or networking event? Do you need to engage deeply with a good book or creative practice? Different HSPs may need different things at different times, so first start just by noticing the parts of your day when you begin to feel overwhelmed or overstimulated and consider what might support you. For example, you may need:
Rest
Quiet
To drink more water
A nourishing meal
Time in nature
Gardening or taking care of houseplants
Connecting with a pet
Taking more frequent breaks between work meetings
Time to engage in creative practices
Time with a good book, or taking in art or music
Turning off screens and going to bed early enough so that you have an opportunity to get the quality sleep you need
Try experimenting with changing up your habits to support your ideal level of stimulation. You may find that some simple adjustments may give you more bandwidth and help you maintain better equilibrium."
Web: https://mywellbeing.com/
Instagram: @findmywellbeing
Twitter: @findmywellbeing
Courtesy of Alyssa Petersel , My Wellbeing
