• Highly sensitive people often have vivid dreams and unfortunately tend to have many nightmares.
• They are very intuitive and can usually tell if something is wrong or if someone is not telling the truth.
• They often worry excessively.
• Most HSPs usually like to live in an orderly environment and like to rearrange things in the house. They are also uncomfortable in a cluttered environment as well as having a cluttered mind, so they like to organize things as well as their thoughts.
• "Sensitive does not equal weak. Many courageous and imaginative soldiers have been sensitives. Orde Wingate, leader of the Chindits in Burma during World War II comes readily to mind. And if it weren’t for the determined, pioneering efforts of sensitives many of our most cherished advances would never have happened. One has only to look at Abraham Lincoln or Mahatma Gandhi to see the effect that one tough sensitive can have." (Aron)

Tips for dealing with the psychological stresses of being a highly sensitive person:

Write It Out

"Just write it (or type it) out! This method doesn't work for everyone but when you start transmitting your thoughts from your mind to the written word you free up your mind for new information. It can be a healing experience of release to write out your thoughts. Many people find journaling to be an effective way of learning about yourself." (Mystic Life)

Thinking

"If you find yourself ruminating over the same problem over and over you may be practicing a subtle form of self-abuse. If a thought has been processed there is no need to go over it again. If you find yourself stuck on some negative thoughts it is best to introduce a new direction and listen to your inner guidance for a positive perspective. You may find ideas through reading or the media or conversation that can point you in a positive direction. Regardless of how you do it, change your thought direction when it is stuck in a useless cycle." (Mystic Life)

Simplify

"Stop running around. Be still. Instead of going out shopping all the time (unless you enjoy it) order things online and investigate sites like www.ebay.com and www.half.com to liberate yourself from the rat race. Running around can become a habit, and one that can be hard to break. People who are not sensitive (not yet opened to their underlying sensitivity) may fill their life with much "doing" so that they may feel something. Chances are if you are sensitive that you are already feeling quite a bit. Advertisements rarely portray people who feel whole, content, and not in need of goods or services! In American culture in particular you may have the idea to be an important person you always have to be doing something. Tune in to what feels right and don't do anything that feels incongruent. You may be perceived as antisocial or too introverted but throughout history many sensitive and aware people have chosen to take a break from the busy world. You may very well find that you are more content with a simpler existence." (Mystic Life)

Negate Negative Thinking

"Don't give too much energy to your negative thoughts. Virtually all sensitive people have thought about suicide and other dramatic thoughts that come from feeling like a tortured soul. Observe your negative thoughts but don't believe in them. In your past you may have felt like people had the power to punish you. You may have learned that not being perfect deserved punishment." (Mystic Life)

Expression

"Express your feelings. Many sensitive people keep their thoughts inside and are more likely to "be there" for others than request a listening ear. Usually there is someone you can express yourself to openly. If there is no one else in your life you can try meeting someone in your environment or on the Internet who is willing to listen. You can also journal your thoughts or use creative visual to express yourself. You can physically feel energy build up inside. Leading this can lead to suppressed energy that it is best to release." (Mystic Life)

Expectations

"Release yourself and others from expectations as best you can. Open yourself to the world of possibilities and try to not over-control your life. It is "natural" to try to make your future more predictable. However, when you learn to trust the flow of life you can let go of expectations. Additionally, when you are not dependant upon others for a sense of well being you won't need to hold them to your expectations. This feels extremely liberating." (Mystic Life)

Completion

" It is helpful to complete "things to do" and finish up lingering tasks. If you "leave a lot of things hanging" it will create more fodder for the mind to think about and keep you from the moment. It is best to get what needs to be done out of the way to free up your energy, rid yourself of distractions. It is also helps you to achieve your goals in all areas of life if you have good follow through." (Mystic Life)

Honesty

"The first stage of being honest is being honest with yourself. To do this you must strip away the illusions and "shoulds" you have accumulated by being part of a society. The second stage is to be honest with others about who you are, and how you are experiencing your life. This doesn't mean that you have to process everything that occurs to you. However, don't hold things inside. Take the risk of being seen as you are. You'll accumulate discomfort if you are not being honest." (Mystic Life).

References:

Elaine N. Aron and Arthur Aron, "Sensory-Processing Sensitivity and Its Relation to Introversion and Emotionality," Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1997, Vol. 73, No. 2, 345-368.

E. N. Aron (2000). "High Sensitivity as One Source of Fearfulness and Shyness," in Extreme Fear, Shyness, and Social Phobia: Origins, Biological Mechanisms, and Clinical Outcomes. Eds. L. A. Schmidt and J. Schulkin. New York: Oxford University Press,pp. 251-272.

E. N. Aron(1996). "Counseling the Highly Sensitive Person." Counseling and Human Development, 28, 1-7.

E. N. Aron, E. (In press). "The Impact of Temperament on Intimacy and Closeness." In The Handbook of Closeness and Intimacy. Eds. D. Mashek andA. Aron. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

Linda Markley, Yoga and Health, October 2002

A Guide to Harmony for the Highly Sensitive Person by Mystic Life