Credit: Loni McKenzie
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We live in a world where highly sensitive people (clinically, called Sensory Processing Sensitivity) are the minority. Doctors suggest approximately 15 - 20 percent of the population. Since we make up a much smaller part of the whole, it's our job learning how to not only get by, but thrive in an insensitive world. Taking care of our delicate selves is our responsibility. Knowing this changes everything.
What Is High Sensitivity and Sensory Processing Sensitivity? By definition, sensitive people are more delicate physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Highly sensitive people (HSP) experience sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) as increased sensitivity to their environment through the five senses; taste, touch, sight, smell, and hearing. The sensory information we take in from the external world directly affects our health, feelings, and state of mind. Sometimes we have a greater depth of immediate cognitive processing and due to this, usually feel more emotional vulnerability in our environment. People who experience SPS have higher levels of stress, are more easily overwhelmed, experience increased rates of depression, anxiety, headaches, sleep disturbances, and more physical health problems. |
SPS is not defined by the structures or matter of our brain’s organic chemistry, but what actually happens for us (inside our own subjective experience) as sensory information processes through our brain. It has been hypothesized by some researchers and educators that because of the deeper initial processing of sensory information, HSP’s may have a decreased reaction time in learning environments as more time is spent on integrating information (learning cues and feedback) from their environment.
Walking around in the world not knowing we are highly sensitive brings confusion, exhaustion, and overwhelm. At the extreme, sensory overwhelm may even feel like shock. The body processes it as an emergency situation and will respond in a few specific ways.
1.) It will flood the body with cortisol, a hormone which helps aid us in a crisis, but will erode health in the long run.
2.) It will shut down different areas of the body in order to maximize energy for survival (fight or flight response).
3.) The body will take what nutrients/energy are available and immediately expend them in an effort to flood the musculature for quickness and strength.
These reactions to sensory overwhelm are ancient survival instincts which when used properly help us survive in life threatening situations. They quite literally will save our life. Except, when we feel these physical symptoms in the absence of real danger. When we experience perceived danger due to sensory overwhelm, the body becomes taxed in unhealthy ways.
SPS is most likely an underlying personality trait that connects many other different kinds of functionality. In terms of deepening our understanding of SPS, often times, experts try to understand Sensory Processing Sensitivity by what it is not. SPS is not a disorder. For example, it is not Sensory Processing Disorder, autism, shyness, or sensation-seeking. For clarification, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) involves the senses, vestibular system, proprioception, motor control, balance, and spatial awareness. It is considered a disorder due to the dysfunction in processing sensory information.
Everyone's different so understanding how sensitivity works is a great starting place. Step one, Am I a Highly Sensitive Person? View the list below and this will help you understand if you are a sensitive. Step two, work within environments to create a sense of safety, tranquility, peace, and balance.
Walking around in the world not knowing we are highly sensitive brings confusion, exhaustion, and overwhelm. At the extreme, sensory overwhelm may even feel like shock. The body processes it as an emergency situation and will respond in a few specific ways.
1.) It will flood the body with cortisol, a hormone which helps aid us in a crisis, but will erode health in the long run.
2.) It will shut down different areas of the body in order to maximize energy for survival (fight or flight response).
3.) The body will take what nutrients/energy are available and immediately expend them in an effort to flood the musculature for quickness and strength.
These reactions to sensory overwhelm are ancient survival instincts which when used properly help us survive in life threatening situations. They quite literally will save our life. Except, when we feel these physical symptoms in the absence of real danger. When we experience perceived danger due to sensory overwhelm, the body becomes taxed in unhealthy ways.
SPS is most likely an underlying personality trait that connects many other different kinds of functionality. In terms of deepening our understanding of SPS, often times, experts try to understand Sensory Processing Sensitivity by what it is not. SPS is not a disorder. For example, it is not Sensory Processing Disorder, autism, shyness, or sensation-seeking. For clarification, Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) involves the senses, vestibular system, proprioception, motor control, balance, and spatial awareness. It is considered a disorder due to the dysfunction in processing sensory information.
Everyone's different so understanding how sensitivity works is a great starting place. Step one, Am I a Highly Sensitive Person? View the list below and this will help you understand if you are a sensitive. Step two, work within environments to create a sense of safety, tranquility, peace, and balance.
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Some Types of Sensitivity
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Protect Your Sensitive Self.
You could argue we are all at times extremely sensitive (especially during traumatic or life changing events), but HSP's have a consistent experience with it. Being highly sensitive doesn't go away. It could be argued that we all have sensitivity if we considered it a full spectrum, with some of us on the extreme end, others in the middle, and different kinds of sensitive people all through out the spectrum. Basically, we sensitives are highly attuned to our environment in different ways. We are more sensitive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Because we need to escape the highly stimulating and overwhelming world at times to repair our senses, we must find refuge in quiet spaces, 'tune out' or off, by finding peaceful and comfortable ways to sooth the intensity we feel. Other people might not understand this necessity for feeling safe and grounded and interpret it as being aloof, off-putting, or reclusive. It may create difficulty in our relationships. We feel isolated and outside of society because we need to 'turn off' in order to deal with our intense feelings from the constant sensory stimulation of the world. Cell phones, TV's, and the rapid way we consume massive amounts of information alone are overwhelming. That's not including the complexity of relationships, grief, loss, and illness.
Once we recognize sensitivity and start unraveling what it is and how it operates in our life - we can relax a little. Knowing is better than not knowing because we can take steps to intentionally protect ourselves.
Be protective of yourself and your one life you've been given.
For right now, today, in this moment let’s just say there are no do overs. The life you've been given today is what you were blessed with. Life is a great gift, and not to be underestimated or undervalued. It is precious, sacred, and we are only given so much life - lets not waste it. By protecting and valuing our space, time, and energy we honor our own life and the precious purpose of it.
You could argue we are all at times extremely sensitive (especially during traumatic or life changing events), but HSP's have a consistent experience with it. Being highly sensitive doesn't go away. It could be argued that we all have sensitivity if we considered it a full spectrum, with some of us on the extreme end, others in the middle, and different kinds of sensitive people all through out the spectrum. Basically, we sensitives are highly attuned to our environment in different ways. We are more sensitive physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Because we need to escape the highly stimulating and overwhelming world at times to repair our senses, we must find refuge in quiet spaces, 'tune out' or off, by finding peaceful and comfortable ways to sooth the intensity we feel. Other people might not understand this necessity for feeling safe and grounded and interpret it as being aloof, off-putting, or reclusive. It may create difficulty in our relationships. We feel isolated and outside of society because we need to 'turn off' in order to deal with our intense feelings from the constant sensory stimulation of the world. Cell phones, TV's, and the rapid way we consume massive amounts of information alone are overwhelming. That's not including the complexity of relationships, grief, loss, and illness.
Once we recognize sensitivity and start unraveling what it is and how it operates in our life - we can relax a little. Knowing is better than not knowing because we can take steps to intentionally protect ourselves.
Be protective of yourself and your one life you've been given.
For right now, today, in this moment let’s just say there are no do overs. The life you've been given today is what you were blessed with. Life is a great gift, and not to be underestimated or undervalued. It is precious, sacred, and we are only given so much life - lets not waste it. By protecting and valuing our space, time, and energy we honor our own life and the precious purpose of it.
Plants for Protection
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These powerful plants have been used traditionally for their life giving and protective qualities. They are listed here. Each plant listed has unique and specific actions for providing support, growth, and spiritual protection for those who wear them.
You can choose to diet on them for several weeks, wear them as lotion, take them in a tincture or medicinal tea, or even wear them on your person for energetic health.
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