By Elaine N. Aron
Do you have a keen imagination and vivid dreams? Is time
alone each day as essential to you as food and water? Are you “too shy” or “too
sensitive” according to others? Do noise and confusion quickly overwhelm you?
If your answers are yes, you may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
Most of us feel overstimulated every once in a while, but
for the HSP, it’s a way of life. In this groundbreaking book, Dr. Elaine Aron,
a clinical psychologist, workshop leader, and an HSP herself, shows you how to
identify this trait in yourself and make the most of it in everyday situations.
Drawing on her many years of research and hundreds of interviews, she shows how
you can better understand yourself and your trait to create a fuller, richer
life.
I loved reading this book. I have only just begun to
understand what being a “highly sensitive person” means, and how it isn’t a
weakness or something to be ashamed of. There are differing degrees for
everyone, and I was happy to find out that I wasn’t the only one having the
experiences that are described in this book. This is all about how people who
are Highly sensitive are overstimulated and cannot handle the “normal” amount
of input that others can. We need quiet, we need space, we can’t handle the
same amounts of time at a party or the same amount of noise. It isn’t because
we’re defective, it’s because we are more aware of everything around us, we’re
constantly focused and deeply present. Not to say that other people don’t
experience these same things, it’s just that HSPs are like that the majority of
the time and find it hard to switch off. For example, some noises can hurt my
ears and bring tears to my eyes, like the sound of metal ringing. Some textures
make me have anxiety, and feel wrong. The cold is draining and I feel it more
keenly than most to the point where if I am not at a comfortable temperature I
get teary because it hurts. This book not only explores and explains HSP
traits, but helps those who experience them to cope and use them in a very
noisy world. It’s an eye-opening read and I enjoyed it immensely.
No comments:
Post a Comment