Tag: overstimulation

Do you suffer from high stress or anxiety, have high expectations of yourself and get overwhelmed a lot? Do you find it hard to balance everything in your life? Do you wish you felt calm and had more energy? You might be part of the 20% of the population that is highly sensitive, also called sensory processing sensitivity. Highly sensitive people (HSPs) have a more finely tuned nervous system, and therefore, overstimulation levels tend to be so high that just getting through the day can be a challenge as a sensitive person. This trait evolved as a survival strategy of the population and offers many gifts that are needed in the world, but the gifts are often buried underneath the challenges of living in a modern world not set up for the sensitive.

For those of us with a highly sensitive nervous system—15-20% of the population processes nuances and stimulation at a greater level of intensity—the holiday season can bring extra trepidation. We feel the pressure to put ourselves out in the midst of the holiday hustle and bustle and we feel the need to protect ourselves from overstimulation.

This time of year puts many of us face to face with forced socializing, hosting, family drama and paradoxically, feelings of loneliness. Dr. Elaine Aron, author of "The Highly Sensitive Person," says we often feel we are "too out" or "too in."