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Coping As an HSP
Feb. 20th, 2010 04:18 am![[personal profile]](http://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sakurablossomCoping As an HSP
If you're told that you are too sensitive, it's good to have a prepared rebuttal available. You could tell the non-HSP, "According to research by Dr. Elaine Aron, HSPs are thought to be found in approximately 20 percent of the population (equally divided between male and female). This population has a more finely tuned central nervous system, so we are more susceptible to environmental stimuli, both positive and negative. The stimuli could be noise, fragrance, bright lights, beauty, time pressure, or pain. We tend to process sensory stimuli more deeply than most people. It can be an enjoyable and challenging trait to have." One note of caution is that it's important to use your discrimination when telling others about your sensitivity. If you think the other person would ridicule or discount your sensitivity, it's best not to share the information. I've had some HSP students tell me that their family or coworkers disregarded their explanations about their sensitivity, making them feel worse.
Since you are living in a majority non-HSP culture, it's important to learn the art of compromise and not expect people to always make major lifestyle changes to accommodate you. One HSP reported that she had some neighbors in her urban apartment building playing their music loudly every evening. She told me that she negotiated a compromise with them so that the music would be low during the week, but on Friday and Saturday nights they could play the music louder during certain hours.
( Coping As an HSP )
If you're told that you are too sensitive, it's good to have a prepared rebuttal available. You could tell the non-HSP, "According to research by Dr. Elaine Aron, HSPs are thought to be found in approximately 20 percent of the population (equally divided between male and female). This population has a more finely tuned central nervous system, so we are more susceptible to environmental stimuli, both positive and negative. The stimuli could be noise, fragrance, bright lights, beauty, time pressure, or pain. We tend to process sensory stimuli more deeply than most people. It can be an enjoyable and challenging trait to have." One note of caution is that it's important to use your discrimination when telling others about your sensitivity. If you think the other person would ridicule or discount your sensitivity, it's best not to share the information. I've had some HSP students tell me that their family or coworkers disregarded their explanations about their sensitivity, making them feel worse.
Since you are living in a majority non-HSP culture, it's important to learn the art of compromise and not expect people to always make major lifestyle changes to accommodate you. One HSP reported that she had some neighbors in her urban apartment building playing their music loudly every evening. She told me that she negotiated a compromise with them so that the music would be low during the week, but on Friday and Saturday nights they could play the music louder during certain hours.
( Coping As an HSP )
