Boundaries with yourself refer to the idea of drawing a line between what is okay for you and what is not okay. Sometimes we don’t know where the boundary needs to be until we cross it, and we feel angry …
Getting to Know the Highly Sensitive Person
An HSP, as described by Elaine Aron in her book “The Highly Sensitive Person”, is someone who is more sensitive to subtleties of the environment, has a more sensitive nervous system and has a more active insula (the part of …
Nurturing Yourself as a Highly Sensitive Person
A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), as described by Elaine Aron in her book “The Highly Sensitive Person”, is someone who is more sensitive to subtleties of the environment, has a more sensitive nervous system and more active insula (the part …
The Importance of Boundaries as a Highly Sensitive Person
Boundaries are a vital part of your self-care as a highly sensitive person. Having boundaries around what you do often involves having to say ‘no’ to some things. This can sound like: I have been feeling pretty tired; lately, I …
Self-Care for Highly Sensitive People
Identify that you are feeling overstimulated and need to calm Build a ‘safe place’ inside yourself that feels grounded, calm, and safe. A place you can connect to when feeling overwhelmed. Be the observer of your overarousal – know that …
Qualities of Highly Sensitive People
Highly sensitive people have a more sensitive nervous system; they are just born that way. Studies have shown that they use different parts of the brain in different ways to non-HSPs. One of the effects of this different way of …
Misinterpretations of Highly Sensitive People
HSPs have a more sensitive nervous system than 80% of the population. It takes less for them to become overwhelmed and need to go somewhere quiet. A visit to a busy shopping centre might become overwhelming, or give them a …
Do You Feel Valued as a Highly Sensitive Person?
Reading Elaine Aron’s wonderful book “The Highly Sensitive Person”, I came across this research. The study highlighted traits that made children more popular in different cultures. It revealed that Chinese children naturally value shyness more than Canadian children. In fact, …
Feeling Criticised as a Highly Sensitive Person
Aron (2016) estimates that 15-20% of the population is an HSP. Being HSP is no better or worse than not being an HSP, they are just different, and for an HSP growing up in a family of non-HSPs, it can …
Nervous System Sensitivities in Highly Sensitive people
What is it like to be an HSP? As an HSP, the world can feel overwhelming. Bright lights, loud noises, and itchy fabrics can be incredibly disturbing. For me, I have found the subtleties of relationships particularly intense. I have …