Thursday, June 07, 2007

Am I too sensitive?

This is something that I have been wrestling with as of late.

While I understand that being highly sensitive can have some very positive aspects...

....("Highly sensitive people are compassionate, have wonderful imaginations, are very creative, curious.....great problem solvers. They are also blessed with an incredible aesthetic awareness and appreciation for nature, music, and the arts.")
...I am coming to realize that they can also be detrimental if carried to an extreme. Apparently, that is what I tend to do at times.

I manage to take on everyone's problems and get emotionally involved with their issues to the point that it actually can affect me and my mood.

This particular trait of being overly sensitive can put me into emotional overload as I try to make the world a cheerful place with no sadness and tension....full of happy smiley people. I would like everyone to be kind and loving and full of joy. Not realistic, I know.

With this in mind, I began my quest for some insight into this aspect of my personality...I found a few facts on the Internet:

1. This trait is normal (whew)--it is inherited by 15 to 20% of the population...

2. Being a highly sensitive person (HSP) means your nervous system is more sensitive to subtleties. Your sight, hearing, and sense of smell are not necessarily keener (although they may be). But your brain processes information and reflects on it more deeply (oh yeah...that is me...deep, deep, deep).

3. Being an HSP also means, necessarily, that you are more easily overstimulated, stressed out, and overwhelmed.

4.Being HSP means that you are acutely aware of other's emotions.

5. You are intuitive and you feel that you can usually sense if someone isn't telling the truth or if something else is wrong.

6. You most likely have a deep, rich, inner life, are very spiritual and may also frequently have vivid dreams, and possibly nightmares (yes, that's me--lots of dreams).

While many of the traits listed were 'dead on' in describing me....there were also several that did not apply to me at all....For instance: "You are considered quiet, shy and introverted." Nothing could be farther from the truth than that statement! People who know me will strongly attest to that one, I believe! Remember, I am the person who can engage an electrical pole....and I share myself with anyone and everyone.

OK....so now I know a little more about being an HSP....so, what do I do about it? Toughen up? Become a little indifferent? Try to stop taking on the world's problems on as my own?? Ignore my inner feelings? Understand that I can't fix everyone's issues for them?

I haven't the foggiest idea!

Any suggestions would be welcome....but, remember---be gentle....after all I am very sensitive.

: )

3 comments:

always abby said...

very nice blog, missy......grammie, my advice for you is to "revel" in the fact that you are an "HSP" and are sooooo tuned in to others' needs.....and when someone does or says something to upset you, it is your responsibility to respond to it then......the result is not stewing about it and letting the appropriate person know that your feelings have been hurt......love, always abby

Bert Bananas said...

Grammiekins, I can totally help you. But first I need to know your sign and cusp, how many letters are in your first name and in your last name, and what "order" child you are, as in first of five, second of three... get it? I will also need to know your blood type and your age, in years and months, when menses hit you. Finally, are you left handed, right handed or clumsy...

Once I have all this information, and have the time to sit down and properly shuffle my tarot deck and warm up my Ouija board, I'll let you know what to do about it.

In the meantime, as a holding action, when these inner feelings hit, ask yourself, "Is there something I can actually do that won't bankrupt me, financially, morally or schedulely?" If the answer no, just be sad, but keep moving. If the answer is yes, give it a shot. But keep checking back and asking the question.

Once I get a final reading, I'll write you an Rx for the rest of what will be a happy, contented robotic life...

See how easy life is once you ask the right questions?

L. said...

I am left-handed, Bertsky....does that tell you anything?

Let me know when your Ouija board is warmed up.