"One of the things that struck me was that Aron describes high levels of sensitivity as a neutral and inherited trait, like having blue eyes or blonde hair. She estimates that around 20 percent of the population has a highly sensitive nervous system, like mine. This means that HSPs like I was always a big, strong kid, but not a tough one."
"Being a big, sensitive boy made me a magnet for the gang of kids who terrorised me, making my 11th year a truly horrible one. Throughout that awful, traumatic year, I hated my dad for giving me such terrible advice. And I hated my sensitivity, wishing I could be like those tough kids, who were always the bullies, never the bullied."
"As I trained in psychotherapy and began seeing clients, this jaundiced view of my sensitivity gradually changed. I came to welcome the gifts my highly sensitive brain and nervous system offered, as did those I was helping. But my eureka moment came when I first read The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, by Elaine Aron."
"I vividly remember how I felt when reading this seminal book-that Aron was writing it just for me. I had never identified as a highly sensitive person (HSP) before reading it, but I certainly did from then on. Sensitivity: the bad One of the things that struck me was that Aron describes high levels of sensitivity as a neutral and inherited trait, like having blue eyes or blonde hair."
Around 20 percent of people have highly sensitive nervous systems, and sensitivity is described as a neutral, inherited trait rather than a flaw. High sensitivity can make everyday life harder and can attract bullying and hurtful name-calling, especially in competitive environments like school playgrounds. A sensitive child may feel insecure and long to be tougher, cooler, and more confident. Over time, training in psychotherapy and working with clients can shift this view, helping sensitivity feel like an asset. Reading guidance on thriving when the world feels overwhelming can lead to identifying as a highly sensitive person and recognizing gifts such as thoughtfulness, intuition, and strong attunement to others.
#highly-sensitive-person-hsp #nervous-system-sensitivity #bullying-and-social-harm #psychotherapy #personal-growth
Read at Psychology Today
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