Posts about Coping

Gift Guide for Highly Sensitive People & Introverts

Gift Guide for Highly Sensitive People & Introverts

Are you looking for a gift for an introverted, highly sensitive friend, co-worker, or family member? Then this list is for you. Featured are presents for people who are overwhelmed by social and environment stimuli, are empathic, sensitive to beauty, and cherish privacy and peacefulness. (And don’t forget to treat yourself!)

How to deal with houseguests

How to deal with houseguests

There are times when you might find yourself with friends or family staying under your roof. Depending on the situation, you might be excited and happy about this–and a bit stressed out. Look, it’s not normal to spend 24 hours a day with someone. Ok,...
HSP Podcast #69: Curious about meditation?

HSP Podcast #69: Curious about meditation?

http://media.blubrry.com/hsp/www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/highlysensitiveperson/69._Meditation.mp3Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS This episode is for those who have never tried meditation, are curious about it, or who have tried it but felt like...
HSP Podcast #55: Easily Grossed Out

HSP Podcast #55: Easily Grossed Out

http://media.blubrry.com/hsp/www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/highlysensitiveperson/55._Grossed_Out.mp3Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSIn this episode, I share stories about things that have grossed me out–a cow lung, pinning insects, and...

Sensory Deprivation: Try a float session!

Have you ever heard of floating? In the therapeutic, spa-sense? A float session consists of lying naked (or in a swimsuit) in an individual tank of warm water that is super-saturated with Epsom salts. The door of the tank can be closed so you are in complete darkness...
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy…heard of it?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy…heard of it?

Lately, I have been hearing about cognitive behavioral therapy all over the place. From a close friend, HSPs who’ve emailed me to talk about it, in blog posts, and more. A friend told me in detail about her experience in cognitive therapy sessions, and I was...
HSP Podcast #37: Self-Criticism

HSP Podcast #37: Self-Criticism

This episode 37 is about criticism, which goes hand-in-hand with publishing a book and reading reviews! I talk about how HSPs often criticize themselves in order to avoid the trauma of criticism from others.

Eating outside is overrated

Eating outside is overrated

It gets really hot in New York in the summer. 90 degrees isn’t unusual. When I lived and worked in Westchester County, just outside NYC, my coworkers always seemed to want to eat lunch in the courtyard outside our workplace. Even when it was like 90 degrees and...
Do you use high sensitivity as a crutch?

Do you use high sensitivity as a crutch?

I’ve mentioned several times about how my husband Jim has tried to understand my high sensitivity. At first, he didn’t buy into the idea at all. Slowly, over time, I could tell he was accepting it more. He was able to observe, realtime, my visceral...
Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory Grief

Anticipatory grief is a grief reaction that occurs before an impending loss, typically, the death of someone close to you. Anyone can experience it. But for HSPs, anticipatory grief can be extremely intense.

HSP Podcast #17: Sensory Processing Sensitivity

HSP Podcast #17: Sensory Processing Sensitivity

http://media.blubrry.com/hsp/www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/highlysensitiveperson/17-_Highly_Sensory_People.mp3Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSEpisode 17 of the Highly Sensitive Person Podcast is brought to you by the word sensitive. A blog reader,...
Aging, Inevitability, and the Loss of Uniqueness

Aging, Inevitability, and the Loss of Uniqueness

When I was a young kid, I remember wondering why women on TV and in movies would make jokes about lying about their age or not wanting to admit their age. I thought it was so stupid; who cares how old you are? I completely, totally did not comprehend why it was a bad...
How to Explain Being an HSP to Your Partner

How to Explain Being an HSP to Your Partner

When I first learned about what it meant to be an HSP and an introvert, it was life changing. But I had to find a way to explain it to the person who has to deal with me the most, my partner. How could I explain that there’s nothing wrong with me, but that I’m just different, and my desires and needs are just as valid as a non-HSPs?

I’m not lazy…HSPs just need more sleep.

I’m not lazy…HSPs just need more sleep.

Oh, sweet, sweet, sleep. Dr. Elaine Aron recommends that HSPs “spend 8-10 hours in bed each day, sleeping or not.” (source) I totally agree! I love my sleep. “Getting enough sleep” is never a question for me. It is essential. I love feeling...
Responding to Haters, Yet Again

Responding to Haters, Yet Again

A friend posted a link to my new podcast on her Facebook wall and someone had some not-so-nice things to say. Here’s some of it: I think someone ‘realizing’ they are highly sensitive is about the worst thing that could happen to them.  It’s the...
HSP Podcast #3: Decision-Free Living

HSP Podcast #3: Decision-Free Living

http://media.blubrry.com/hsp/www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/traffic.libsyn.com/highlysensitiveperson/HSP_decision_free_life_Ep4.mp3Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSSWe face dozens if not hundreds of decisions every single day–from big decisions to tiny ones, and...
Bad news: we can’t change the world to fit our needs

Bad news: we can’t change the world to fit our needs

Learning about introversion and high sensitivity has helped me accept myself so much more. And since then, I’ve tried to build my life in a way where I can avoid situations that stress me out and upset me. I attend fewer social events (and I don’t beat...

Anger is an emotion, too

With all this talk about how us HSPs feel emotions so deeply, I’m reminded that not all these emotions are sanguine. I had a run-in with anger the other day. Sigh. I don’t want to admit what I’m about to admit, because, of course, in retrospect, it...
How Can I Meet Other Highly Sensitive People?

How Can I Meet Other Highly Sensitive People?

I’m glad you asked! Now that you know you’re a Highly Sensitive Person, wouldn’t it be great to meet other people like you? Who also hated small talk? Who didn’t want to hang out at a noisy bar all night? Who were conscientious and good...
Why do we equate “sensitive” with “weak”?

Why do we equate “sensitive” with “weak”?

Why do so many of us think that being “sensitive” means you are “weak”? Sensitive is supposed to mean “quick to detect or respond to slight changes, signals, or influences.” That doesn’t sound weak at all…it sounds observant! It...
Highly Sensitive Person Travel Survival Kit

Highly Sensitive Person Travel Survival Kit

I enjoy traveling, but it isn’t without its challenges as an HSP. Here are a list of the essentials (and, well, not-so-essentials) that will help make your trip much more comfortable and enjoyable. Sleep Mask: Block out any offending light sources when you are...
Airplane turbulence scares me so much

Airplane turbulence scares me so much

Something weird has happened to me over the past ten years or so. I’ve slowly gotten more and more scared of turbulence on airplanes. It’s now to the point where I’m barely fighting off a panic attack. When I was younger, I enjoyed turbulence. I would snicker when I...
Worrying about Worrying: Anxiety Management

Worrying about Worrying: Anxiety Management

We’ve all heard about anger management–what about anxiety management? Now, not every highly sensitive person struggles with anxiety, but many of us do. Anger management teaches people how to understand and acknowledge their feelings and anger. Us anxious...
HSPs and Depression

HSPs and Depression

Is there a connection between being a highly sensitive person and depression? According to Dr. Elaine Aron’s research: Yes and No; it depends. To super-simplify: If an HSP grew up in a non-supportive environment, they are more likely to be depressed. If an HSP...
Decision-Free Living

Decision-Free Living

Decision-free living. Did that phrase give you goosebumps? It did for me. Do you realize how much of your energy and power that decision-making takes from you over the course of a day? Let’s look at how HSPs approach decision making. We thoroughly examine (and...
Find a Work-Around for Your Fear

Find a Work-Around for Your Fear

Amy over at Nomadtopia is spending a few weeks in Bali and has discovered lots of menacing stray dogs hanging out near her apartment. She found herself feeling fearful and stressed about having to walk by and encounter these scary canines. Her anxiety would rise...
Highly Sensitive Person Travel Tips

Highly Sensitive Person Travel Tips

People who know me are sometimes surprised that I travel as much as I do, since I don’t seem like the most laid-back person ever. Since little things tend to bother me more than the average person, you’d think independent travel would be more difficult...
Finding the “stasis of peace”

Finding the “stasis of peace”

I’m learning every day how to better manage my needs as a person with high sensitivity and introversion. Like I always say, folks, it’s about acknowledging, accepting, and adjusting! I do feel frustrated and even mad at myself sometimes because I have to...
Deadlines, Schedules, and Commitment Stress Me Out

Deadlines, Schedules, and Commitment Stress Me Out

Yesterday I was talking to my mom on the phone and she described a super-HSP moment. She was a regular during the drop-in times at the local tennis club. One day, the club announced that instead of just showing up to play (the definition of “drop-in”),...
Working at Night = Complete Control

Working at Night = Complete Control

I’ve always thought of myself as a “night” person. Not because I like to party, but because I like staying up late after everyone else in my house is asleep. Last night, when I was typing away at 2am, I realized why I’m a night owl. Because...