posted March 22, 2008 03:01 PM         

by Dr. Ginger Blume

While growing up, did people oftentimes refer to you as “too sensitive?” As an adult, do you oftentimes experience a heightened sensitivity to strong noises, lights, certain foods, groups of people, other people's emotions, etc.? Do you have frequent experiences of depression and/or panic? If so, you may be what Dr. Elaine Aron calls a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Her research is documented in her book, The Highly Sensitive Person. This article will describe the HSP and perhaps, provide you with a new understanding of how some people experience their world as physically and emotionally, overly stimulating and painful.

A syndrome is composed of a number of symptoms that commonly manifest together in a group. However, each of the symptoms by themselves is not indicative of a syndrome. The unique combination of symptoms is the key factor. Lets look at some possible indicators of a person who may experience ultra sensitivity. Such an individual would probably relate to most, but not necessarily all, of these symptoms:

easily tired

have states of depression

feel panic/anxiety when there is no clear danger

labeled as too "sensitive" or "thin skinned" or "emotional"

overwhelmed by being "out in the world"

overly attentive to what is going on around them

feel an urge to hide in a quiet, sometimes dark, room to escape over stimulation

often cancel or don't even make plans with others

highly affected by other people's moods

highly allergic to foods and environmental conditions

exceptionally intuitive and artistic

overly sensitive to noise and light
The ultra-sensitive individual picks up on most of the subtleties in their environment, no matter what they are. When the stimuli begin to feel too much, a state of feeling overwhelmed can occur, causing the individual to go into automatic "survival" mode. Survival oftentimes involves the primitive fight and flight response. Hence, to cope with the situation, it is not uncommon for the HSP to retreat to be alone in a quiet and/or darkened room. This is a place where they can regroup and calm down their over-activated nervous system.

Ultra-Sensitive People simply experience things more intensely and are more aware of the subtleties in the environment than non-USPs. Some people are Ultra-Sensitive in only a few arenas of their lives, like flying in an airplane, being in a noisy mall, or being in a small, cramped space. These types of sensitivities are commonly referred to as phobias. Other HSPs are ultra-sensitive in most or all areas of their lives. The causes for this appear to be multi-determined, including such things as genetic predisposition, developmental growth, and life experiences.

Growing up as a Highly Sensitive Child is not easy. Such children are criticized and shamed for the way they cringe in certain situations. Kids and adults may have called them too sensitive, emotional, thin-skinned, a complainer, never satisfied, etc. The classic story, The Princess and the Pea is a perfect description of the HSP (most often related to women). For a highly sensitive male child, they would have been taunted as a "crybaby," “acting just like a girl,” etc. These shame-laden labels can contribute to emotionally tarnishing one's self-esteem.

In reality, the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) plays an important function in the world. The HSP has a heightened sensitivity to the environment and may use this awareness to spearhead social movements to protect the earth. HSPs are highly intuitive and oftentimes know what other people are feeling. Their ability to be empathic is exceptional. Unless they learn to shut out this awareness at times, however, they can feel as if they have no body boundary between themselves and others. Also, given an over sensitivity to stimuli such as light, noise, and temperature, the HSP may feel a massive input of stimuli in crowded places such as a shopping mall resulting in anxiety and a desire to retreat. Non-HSPs may only be mildly distracted in a similar situation. Once overwhelmed, the HSPs survival response (fight or flight) is triggered and can result in a panic/anxiety attack. Unfortunately, in an attempt to quell these feelings, some HSPs turn to drugs/alcohol/food/etc to gate the resulting feelings out of awareness.

Why are some people ultra-sensitive? There is no single answer, only speculation. Some people come into the world with a neurological system that is pre-wired as highly sensitive. Others are traumatized early in development and become hypersensitive as a result of abuse. Also, others may have these sensitivities due to a physical abnormality (i.e. mitral valve prolapse) or resulting from various chemical and food allergies. In whatever area(s) of your life you are ultra sensitive, you are vulnerable to feeling overwhelmed unless you learn to put a dimmer switch on your central nervous system and sensory awareness. This can be done through imagery work while in a very relaxed state.

"How can you learn to regulate your overly sensitive nature?" Usually, a naturopath physician can be very helpful in understanding HSP and provide recommendations that are holistic in approach. Homeopathy and Acupuncture are also supportive approaches. Learning to attend to your past and current emotional states is also crucial, not only from the point of healing old wounds but to learn the skills that will allow you to embrace your gift. Ultra-sensitivity is not something to get rid of but to learn how to regulate and use more wisely.

posted March 22, 2008 03:41 PM         

Sometimes I think everyone is highly sensitive,
but we just deal with it in different ways, you know?

Those people who snap "you're too sensitive!" --
Isn't their volatile reaction indicative of sensitivity?
and, perhaps, a violent urge to repress and deny that sensitivity?
And to resent and silence anyone who does not follow suit,
and who instead indirectly reminds them of their own tender places?

We compensate and overcompensate in various ways, dont we?
Some people turn to drugs, some turn to ideologies,
some people even turn to violence and aggression.

Angry, violent people...
we think they are not sensitive to conflict,
but just look at how angry it makes them.
They are nervous wrecks too.
They may react differently to the stimulus,
but make no mistake, they react.

And people who seem numb,
think of what they must have sacrificed.
I could probably mask and drown my own sensitivity if I wanted to.
But I think it might be at the cost of my soul; so, no thanks.

Maybe the people who appear the most sensitive are really not.
Perhaps, if we were more sensitive than we are,
we would become violent or narrow-minded or numb or something.
Just a thought.

Anyway, nice thread, nice links.

posted March 22, 2008 04:58 PM         

I have all those symptoms expect the allergic symptom.

Since i was a child that everyone sees me as too sensitive and usually i get depressed with sth that no one understands why.
When i was younger i got panic attacks with no "racional" reason and even if now i consider myself "cured" from that psychological disturbance,sometimes i still have to make a huge effort to recover myself and not have one when i am in a place that´s new for me,or with people i dont know.

I am very intuitive and most of the times i do sense what others are feeling or thinking,by being with them.

I get easily tired and always had to stop beofre all my classmates in the Sports class.

Many times i feel that im not of this world;like if im missing sth when im relating to others, i feel very different from all the rest and wish to be more strong.

Usually my friends/family/bf say im overly sensitive to the others,that i must distance myself from others problems (of beloved ones) cause i tend to make them as my own ones; that i seem to capture other´s pains and joys and feel their moods

I didnt knew that there was a name to this and that it was studied and documented.

I feel better knowing that im not as alien as i though of

I hope others talk about their own experiences here

Thanks for that article

posted March 22, 2008 05:34 PM         

You are definitely not alone, Diandra.

posted March 22, 2008 05:38 PM         

I do believe, HSC, that there are highly sensitive people in the way you describe. Some people are highly sensitive to certain emotional state, ie anger, and will react in that emotional state more easily.

I believe this article is describing the introverted sensitive type, that get overwhelmed by sensory stimulus, noise, lights etc quite easily...but I agree there are many ways to categorize sensitivity.

As an aside, HSC stands for "highly sensitive child," mentioned on a few web pages.

posted March 22, 2008 05:40 PM         

You dont say.

posted March 22, 2008 05:48 PM         

quote:

---

I think perhaps this article is depicting a certain kind of sensitive person.

I believe this article is describing the introverted sensitive type, that get overwhelmed by sensory stimulus, noise, lights etc quite easily...

---

Yeah, that much was clear to me.

quote:

---

but I agree there are many ways to categorize sensitivity.

---

Which is why I took pains to suggest that it is misleading to just say "HSP".

The article, and maybe the entire website, and its philosophy,
does not make clear that there are other forms of sensitivity.

We should be mindful of that, I think.

You might dig this site:
http://www.theintrovertzcoach.com/index.html

posted March 22, 2008 06:07 PM         

We are all in need of love.

BR,

quote:

---

I believe this article is describing the introverted sensitive type, that get overwhelmed by sensory stimulus, noise, lights etc quite easily...but I agree there are many ways to categorize sensitivity.

---

So I will admit, that I too, can relate completely to this article.

Hopefully now I have read it, the insight gained may help me work through some of my problems.

Many thanks.

posted March 23, 2008 07:39 AM         

The same with your gf - but in this scene i think that your relationship have had a high amount of pain versus healing. A very dificult but yet rewarding experience for you both,as youve learned both to care and treat each other better and with respect.
I bet that now she is a much more better person both psysichal and emocionally than she was before meeting you

Fortunately i also have my dear love that helps me and understands me and loves me for what I am.

It´s like Zanya says : those who have relationships where the loved one respect us and mostly,doenst judge us ( it´s impossible to really know what we pass through sometimes without having experienced it,like the panic attacks or the irracional fears that passes through our mind in a minute),are really blessed ...because those who end being with a person who isnt empatic enough to care and love,end up also being abused in all sorts of way.

Many times we dont think about this but the HSPcould veru well be the ones we see in the streets,addicted,alchoolics,abused and violented by the world and Life itself - just because they didnt had the luck to have found someone who understood them in their uniqueness ( translated into a unique response to the stimulus of others/situations).

i had the luck to have a wonderful family and principles that made me see that it´s not by drugs or violence that i would feel better;instead it´s by LOVE and EFFORT to fight my own ghosts.
All HSP have the strengh enough to fight over,its only needed to believe that we are worth of be happy and not living with fear all the time.

posted March 23, 2008 08:35 AM         

quote:

---

Many times we dont think about this but the HSPcould veru well be the ones we see in the streets,addicted,alchoolics,abused and violented by the world and Life itself - just because they didnt had the luck to have found someone who understood them in their uniqueness ( translated into a unique response to the stimulus of others/situations).

i had the luck to have a wonderful family and principles that made me see that it´s not by drugs or violence that i would feel better;instead it´s by LOVE and EFFORT to fight my own ghosts.
All HSP have the strengh enough to fight over,its only needed to believe that we are worth of be happy and not living with fear all the time.

---

posted April 21, 2008 10:42 PM         

I figure it has to do with my water planets in my birth chart.....

posted April 22, 2008 11:52 AM         

thanks BR for this thread

posted April 23, 2008 08:07 AM         

{{{HUGS}}}}

posted April 25, 2008 12:06 AM         

My high sensitivity is overall physiological...I feel that it's connected to my neurodivergence too. Neurodivergents are usually ultrasensitive types any way.
Just check out many of the children in special education,and you will see that they tend to be ultrasensitive children. I was in the special education system in early childhood,and I remember being called crybaby a lot...especially when people called me names and hit me. It was my special education experiences that factor in my treating others like I wanted to be treated - a fellow human being with a soul. I still cry easily, but I cry in private. I also just very reactive to external overall....like have to wear dark lenses outside because my eyes are sensitive to light. My ears highly sensitive to sound that I have been asked if I had to wear earplugs when I go to bed after a hearing test. I am very ticklish all over my body...so I have very sensitive skin. My stomach,digestive system is very sensitive too. Everything about is my very sensitive. I am even very sensitive to temperatures...I react strongly to cold and heat more than others. I have a history of sensory integration issues like many neurodivergents.I care a lot about people in general,and I want to help people. Of course,I special caring for special needs children. I am very sensitive to what people say to me....I strongly react to gestures and tone of voice. I have strong sense of smell.
I also have a strong creative,artistic bent. I am very sensitive to feelings of others.
My sensitivity is my greatest asset but also my greatest weakness. It's a two-edged sword.

Both my mother and my late father ultrasensitive neurodivergent people like me.....ultrasensitivity,neurodivergence runs in my mom's family......so do watersigns...
I have Moon in Pisces like my maternal grandfather and my father. My mother has Moon in Scorpio.

Examining Sensitivity
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Part One - The Connection between Ultra-sensitivity and LD/ADD
Part Two - The Affects of Ultra-sensitivity on Our Lives
Part Three - The Gifts of Ultra-sensitivity (In Progress)
Websites and Links

Part One - The Connection between Ultra-sensitivity and LD/ADD

By Elizabeth Bogod

Do you sometimes feel that you unusually overreact to everyday situations? For instance, do you find yourself easily frustrated, moved to tears, overwhelmed while others in the same situation seem to be unaffected? Do you think of yourself as a sensitive person? Well, you may have good reason to think so. There is some evidence to back up the fact that people with learning disabilities and/or Attention Deficit Disorder are typically more prone to sensitivity and, for sure, the topic of oversensitivity comes up frequently In IADA support groups.

Being ultra-sensitive is not necessarily a bad thing. Most of us like to think of ourselves as being caring, thoughtful, sensitive folk and LD/ADD hyper-sensitivity may even be a strength, but I will talk about this in a later newsletter.

To start, I want to clarify exactly what is meant by the term “Highly Sensitive Person”. The term “highly sensitive person” was first introduced into pop psychology by Dr. Elaine Aron, author of ““The Highly Sensitive Person - How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You”. Dr. Aron describing persons with this characteristic as having an extremely sensitive nervous system. In other words, she contends highly sensitive people are biologically more sensitive to external stimuli such as glaring lights, strong odors, and clutter, not just emotional stimuli (Aron, 1999). Most of us only think of the academic difficulties associated with LD and ADD, but if Dr. Aron’s theory holds good, then ultra-sensitivity will likely affect every aspect of our lives including all aspects of daily living, family, and work and school.

It is important to note that being highly sensitive does not mean you have a disorder. It is rather a characteristic or personality trait. Unfortunately, no research exists to link this particular theory to LD or ADD. However, Dr. Jean Ayres, Ph.D., with her concept of sensory integration, does present significant evidence of a link between ultra-sensitivity and LD/ADD (Sensory Integration International: FAQ). This theory describes dysfunction in processing information through the senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing). Some signs of this sensory integration dysfunction include:

Oversensitivity to touch movement, sights, or sounds

Distractibility
Hypo or Hyperactivity
Complaints about how clothes feel - especially tags, socks, and shoes
Difficulty making transitions from one situation to another
Inability to unwind or calm self
Impulsivity
Delays in speech, language, or motor skills
Delays in academic achievement
Frequent Mood Changes

Does any of the above sound familiar to you? Research indicates that up to 70% of children with learning problems experience characteristics of this sort (Sensory Integration International: FAQ). So it is conceivable that LD/ADD adults are more neurologically susceptible to being highly sensitive individuals.

So what does this research mean for you? It means that you can take comfort in knowing that high sensitivity is NOT a personality flaw. It means that it may help you come to terms accuse you of being "too sensitive", "overly emotional", "weak", or "thin-skinned". Comments like these may make you feel bad about yourself or shamed into change but knowing the reasons for the source of your hyper-sensitivity - that it is the result of the way your central nervous system copes with stimuli - may help you to cope with people who criticize you because they do not understand your sensitivities.

More importantly, though, you are beginning to understand a new side of your LD/ADD. In the next News Letter, you will find out about the gifts of being highly sensitive and more…!

Do you have any thoughts or experiences to share on the topic of ultra-sensitivity and LD/ADD? Send your comments to our mailing address or email us at iada-victoria@shaw.ca

Resources

Aron, Elaine. The Highly Sensitive Person: How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You . Broadway Books, 1999.

Sensory Integration International, “Frequently Asked Questions”. Available at: http://www.sensoryint.com/faq.html

Part Two - The Affects of Ultra-sensitivity on Our Lives

by Liz Bogod

The previous newsletter discussed the connection between ultra-sensitivity and LD/ADD. We now explore this connection further and take a deeper look at the affects of ultra-sensitivity on our lives.

Having LD/ADD may mean you are more sensitive than the average individual. In fact, many definitions of LD and ADD include “emotional instability” as a defining characteristic. Throughout history, gifted people such as artists, writers and musicians have demonstrated ultra-sensitive characteristics. Given the fact that so many people with LD and/or ADD are, in fact, creatively and intellectually gifted, it follows that they, too, are likely to be highly sensitive individuals.

Dabrowski, a psychiatrist who specializes in giftedness, proposes five areas of extreme sensitivity in gifted individuals which he terms as “over-excitabilities”. You may recognize some of the following areas in yourself:

Psychomotor - Need for extreme physical activity, movement, and sports activity

Hyperactivity, restlessness; inability to quell non-stop inner thought processes (often cause of sleeping problems); highly pronounced gesturing, fast talking

Sensual - Heightened sensory awareness

Over-reaction to sensory input (bad smells, bright lights, loud noises, etc); heightened tactile sensitivity (e.g. to textured fabrics); finds some sensory input intolerable and may need to leave location of stimuli

Imaginational - Thinks and lives in fantasy worlds

The poets, the fantasizers, the “space cadets” of this world; uses metaphorical speech; day dreams; remembers and reacts strongly to night dreams

Intellectual - A heightened response to intellectual questions and problems

Intense focus on particular topic, difficulty diverting away from topic (which may interfere with development of social relationships); often a highly ethical, moral topic requiring sustained analytical thinking abilities; difficulty letting go of the world’s problems without continual questioning

Emotional - Heightened emotional reactions and attachments to people

Emotions experienced in extremes; need to develop strong emotional attachments; self-examination; natural ability for empathy and compassion; often perceives others as not caring enough; susceptibility to depression and anxiety

Sound Familiar? Share your experiences: iada-victoria@shaw.ca

Next Newsletter: The Gifts of Ultra-Sensitivity!

Resources

Sharon Lind, “Overexcitability and the Gifted”. SENG Newsletter, May 2001
Available at: http://www.sengifted.org/nl.htm#may2001

Part Three - The Gifts of Ultra-sensitivity

(In Progress)

Websites and Links

hsperson.com - Elaine Aron’s “Highly Sensitive Person” website to accompany the book.

thomaseldridge.com – The Center for Highly Sensitive People

ultra-sensitive.com - Roger Easterbrook’s site offering support and counseling for Highly Sensitive People as named and defined by the research of Dr. Elaine Aron

sinetwork.org – Sensory Integration Resource Center
http://home.earthlink.net/~sensoryint - Sensory Integration International

sengifted.org/ - S.E.N.G - A non-profit organization supporting the needs of gifted individuals

hoagiesgifted.org/ - Hoagies' Gifted Education Page. Also see Hoagies Sensitivity Page for more about this topic.
http://www.ldpride.net/sensitivity.htm

3. Environmental and Emotional Sensitivity

Environmental Sensitivities

Adults are often overwhelmed by too much environmental stimuli (e.g. background noise, more than one person talking at a time, side conversations, reading and listening at the same time). Many people with LD and ADD have specific sensitivities to their environment such as certain fabrics they cannot wear, foods they cannot tolerate, etc.

Emotional Sensitivity

Many adults with learning disabilities see themselves as more emotionally sensitive than other people In its most extreme form, high levels of emotional sensitivity are both a blessing and a weakness. The positive features of this trait helps adults with learning disabilities build meaningful relationships with others. For example, they are often very intuitive and in-tune with both their own and other people's emotions. Sometimes they are actually able to perceive other's thoughts and feelings. However, this strength also serves as weakness due to its propensity to overwhelm the individuals. Emotional difficulties occur when they are unable to cope with the onslaught of emotions they are feeling. Highly sensitive adults with LD may be moved to tears more easily or feel their own and other people’s pain more deeply. For example, Thomas West, writer of "The Minds Eye", not only gives a thorough explanation of Winston Churchill's learning disability, but also describes his sensitive nature. West details Churchill's tendency to break into tears quite easily" (West, 1997) even out in the public eye. He notes one incident in which Churchill was moved to tears after witnessing the devastating effects of a bomb.

This description of Churchill also serves to highlight the strong sense of justice that many adults with learning disabilities possess. Unfortunately, this sense of justice often serves as a double edged sword. On one hand, it is refreshing to behold the passion of many of these individuals in their fight to overcome injustice. While on the other hand, this very passion, when it crosses the line into aggression, can cause social rejection and/or emotional overload. Often the individual may be unaware that their behavior has turned aggressive. They only wish make their point known and have others understand it. This type of over reaction is not a purposeful attempt to hurt anybody. It is more likely to be caused by a difficulty with monitoring their emotions and consequent behavior. http://ldpride.net/emotions.htm

posted April 26, 2008 12:42 PM         

There is in every madman a misunderstood genius, whose idea, shining in his head, frightened people, and for whom delirium was the only solution to the strangulation that life had prepared for him.
– Antonin Artaud

In the psychopathic temperament we have the emotionality which is the sine qua non of moral perception; we have the intensity and tendency to emphasis which are the essence of practical moral vigor; and we have the love of metaphysics and mysticism which carry one's interests beyond the surface of the sensible world. What, then, is more natural than that this temperament should introduce one to regions of religious truth, to corners of the universe, which your robust Philistine type of nervous system, forever offering its biceps to be felt, thumping its breast, and thanking Heaven that it hasn't a single morbid fibre in its composition, would be sure to hide forever from its self-satisfied possessors? If there were such a thing as inspiration from a higher realm, it might well be that the neurotic temperament would furnish the chief condition of the requisite receptivity.

- William James