You feel things very deeply, may even cry often just out of overwhelm.
A lot of sound at one or if too loud maybe make you feel overstimulated, aggravated, irritable or want to just be alone in a quiet space.
You may need and want a lot of alone time just to decompress.
You may feel anxious or have perfectionistic tendencies. Hold yourself to very high standards and get mad at yourself iv you don’t meet them.
Nothing is wrong with you…your sensitivity is meaningful and it can be overwhelming. You can learn ways to manage it so life feels a little more manageable.
High sensitivity is a trait and not a disorder–and it’s NOT the same as introversion (30% of HSP’s are extroverts and 20% are introverts). The judgment around being sensitive and its connection to weakness. However, scientific research shows real brain differences in HSP’s.
On the positive side, HSP’s are more empathetic, more aware, and more compassionate. Common for the HSP mother is to put themselves at the bottom of the priority list and take care of others first. Trained HSP vs. untrained HSP Self-care—a conscious action you take to lower your stress and bring you to a balanced state.
A key for HSP’s is getting enough sleep in order to understand and meet specific needs An HSP mom’s default setting is to be hard on themselves and focus on everyone else’s needs. Certain parts of the brain in HSP moms will be overactive, like merging into everyone else’s moods and experiences.
Many people who seek treatment for anxiety will also have the HSP trait. How HSP contributes to overall perinatal depression and anxiety, since everything changes in mind, body, and spirit. Why HSP’s need creative ways to get two hours of alone time each day. The tendency to measure everything in ourselves and others against the standard of perfection. Self-talk, with low levels of self-compassion and criticism of themselves.
Common characteristics of HSP’s: perfectionism, sleep-deprived, overstimulated, and misunderstood.
Check out this episode on Mom & Mind to learn more in my talk with Julie Bjelland.