How to Thrive As A Highly Sensitive Person by Inga K.

Do you seek deeper purpose and meaning in everything that you do? Do you experience emotions more vividly than the people you know? Are you uncertain whether you are an introvert or an extrovert — you are alert and full of life at social gatherings, but then find yourself spending days in complete solitude and silence (and enjoying it)?

Chances are, you may be a highly sensitive person.

In the field of spirituality and coaching, we often talk about empaths and their challenges. A very basic definition of an empath is someone who feels the emotions of others as if they were their own. But a highly sensitive person is attuned to more than just emotions. If you are highly sensitive, your brain is wired to be extra vigilant to your surroundings. You pick up information in the form of sounds, colours, patterns, emotions or physical sensations. Often, there is simply too much information for your logical mind to process, but your intuition seldom fails you.

The Metaphysical Definition of Information

Let’s pause for a moment and define “information”. We may be accustomed to understanding information as a collection of facts. From that perspective, news and books are information, while sunlight, electromagnetic waves or the sound of gravel under your feet are natural phenomena. 

But from the point of view of physics, every cell and particle can carry information. 

For example, the colour of an object is defined by the frequency of light on the spectrum. Light carries information through its frequency, which is a combination of flashes and pulses, much like a morse code. Music and sound is also information, transmitted through sound waves. Every cell of your body carries information in the form of DNA molecules.

We process information in many ways. One is through our cerebral cortex. This is the logical, thinking mind that is able to reflect on itself. This part of the brain is a relatively late evolutionary development. It is able to process 40 bits of information per second.

Our cerebellum, the ancient “reptilian brain” as it is sometimes called, can process up to 1 million bits of information per second. The cerebellum is not a logical brain that gives you thoughts and sentences. It is, in fact, too fast for that.

In addition, each of our cells is a mini information-processor, responding to sound, light and frequency.

The intelligence of our body and our cerebellum is our unconscious cognition. It processes more information and is able to make quicker and more complex decisions than our logical mind. In other words, our gut feelings are also intelligence.

The Western obsession with rational, thinking mind over intuition may have caused us to discard the intelligence of our body. However, as a highly sensitive person, you are attuned to this body intelligence regardless whether you know it or not. Your body, mind and senses are all wired for fast information processing.

High Sensitivity is Your Superpower

Highly sensitive persons account for about 20% of the population. Some scientists believe that a similar proportion of high sensitivity is present in the animal kingdom and exists in over 100 species of animals.

From the evolutionary perspective, it is an advantage to be able to process large volumes of information in the shortest amount of time. As a highly sensitive person, you learn from your experience and surroundings better than most people. You are naturally more alert and observant. 

This also makes you prone to anxiety and hyper-vigilance.

But your sensitivity is a gift and a superpower. It is up to the highly sensitive being (human or animal) to warn the others of potential danger, to find a new water source or recognize an approaching storm, to decide whether a particular person is to be trusted or not. 

Let’s have a look at the qualities that most highly sensitive people have in common.

How Do I Know I’m a Highly Sensitive Person?

• You are a deep thinker.
• You tend to mentally withdraw from processing difficult information. For example, you may find yourself zoning out in a loud, busy place.
• You feel nervous when somebody is yelling or shouting, even if the argument has nothing to do with you.
• Multitasking is not your thing and deadlines overwhelm you. You hate being busy and rushed. That line in a job ad about thriving in a fast-paced environment is not about you.
• You avoid news and movies that feature war and violence.
• You feel anxious and uncomfortable in a competitive environment.

• You often find yourself saying ”I told you so” because you knew what was bound to happen.
• You feel it is more pleasant and rewarding to spend quality time with interesting people than to go to a party or a nightclub. You’re not averse to people. You simply prefer meaningful interactions over chit-chat and noise. 
• Making decisions is often overwhelming. You need more time and energy in your decision-making process, and tend to err on the side of caution. 
• You are sensitive to smells, bright lights, loud noises and strong tastes.
• Because you are so attuned to your environment, you are good at reading people.
• Change, even positive change, can be very stressful to you.

Self-Care Tips to Manage Your Energy as A Highly Sensitive Person

If you recognize yourself in the above, self-care is crucial. Your superpowers are useless if you are running on an empty battery. 

Allow self-care to be your most important boundary.

• Take time to recharge regularly. Schedule the time if you must. Silence, dimmed light and alone time are crucial. This is the way for your system to calm down after the impressions of the day.

• Declutter. Decluttering your home calms down both mind and body. You can feel the clutter in your mind, your body and your energy field. Having a messy space increases anxiety. This is especially true of a highly sensitive person. On the other hand, cleaning and dusting is another way of energy clearing.

• Make your home your sanctuary. Your home is your healing pod, the place to feel safe and nurtured. Be mindful of what you eat, what you read, what you decorate with. Remove distractions and “stuff”.

• Spend as much time in nature as possible. Nature is our mother and teacher. It contains all the elements that weaved us. It teaches us about rhythm and structure that we need in our own lives. 

• As a highly sensitive person, you may be more prone to disrupted circadian patterns, such as staying awake at night. The night may seem like an energetically more “quiet” time with less interference from people. This can lead to even more energetic imbalance over time. Long walks in nature, getting enough natural light, connecting to the magic of sunrises and sunsets helps reset your cells and hormones. 

• Create and follow routines. Repetitive actions are comforting to the nervous system and give you a sense of stability. Make sure you have a morning routine, or a routine to follow when you come home from work. As a personal example, I used to feel very stressed and overwhelmed when I’d get home from work. I would come in hungry, see all the things that needed doing around the house, and just wanted to escape. What worked for me was to sit down and breathe for 5 or 10 minutes, first thing on coming home. This (and a snack in the afternoon), allowed me to land and settle in before I went on with evening activities.

• Slow down. Force yourself to slow down several times a day. This may be a time when you choose to meditate or pray, or simply be with your emotions for a few minutes.

• Explore your creativity. Paint, dance, create. Most of the information you process is not coming through the logical, linear brain. Allow that information and deep body knowledge to express through creativity and art. 

• Make sure to get plenty of sleep. Chances are you need sleep to function. Sleep is soothing and emotionally stabilizing for you, and your day might be ruined if you go to bed a few hours later than usual.

Concluding Thoughts

Remember that high sensitivity is a gift. You are not crazy, selfish or “making it up”. You cannot just make it disappear. Instead, you can learn to dance with it and allow yourself to be who you truly are, without trying to push yourself into a mold that is not yours. You have superpowers. Use them!

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