15 Life-Saving Survival Tips For The Highly Sensitive Person
In a culture that embraces a “no pain, no gain” philosophy, being a highly sensitive person feels like a huge disadvantage. However, there are several steps you can take to survive the “going gets tough” without sacrificing who you are. Emotions exist to keep us healthy and safe.
Highly sensitive people are mistaken as weak and broken by the majority of their peers. Yet this is a false perception, as they are just as strong while feeling their emotions more intently. They are not broken or weak, and in most cases are much stronger than meets the eye.
There are many gifts that come with being a highly sensitive person. You are much more in tune with yourself, having a built-in warning system that directs you away from harmful situations and stimuli. While not everything is harmful, the following tips will help you embrace your gifts as well as promote your health.
15 Life-Saving Survival Tips For The Highly Sensitive Person
15. Set and Maintain Regular Routines
Routines help reduce stress and triggers by creating a set time and place for activities to occur. A bedtime routine helps you get to sleep without stress encroaching into your dreams while a decompression time allows you to relax after work.
14. Have a Quite Sanctuary
Everyone needs a place to call their own where they can surround themselves with things they love. Having such a place of your own helps you relax after a hard day where you can be sure no triggers are lurking.
13. Identify your Triggers
It helps to know what sets your sensitivity on edge. Whether you are unnerved by loud noises, violent movies or bright lights, knowing what causes you to stress out can help you avoid it in the future and deal with it should you encounter it again.
12. Maintain a Healthy Diet
Eating right is one part of making sure you keep your mood in check. Healthy foods, such as fruits and veggies, will keep you fueled all day. The second part is not skipping meals and getting “hangry” (angry because hungry), which can lead to mood swings.
11. Consider Noise-Canceling Headphones
If noise is a trigger for you, be sure to find quiet locations from time to time. Likewise, noise-canceling headphones are a great investment to preventing stress from bothering you. They can block out most noises so you can focus on your work without having to worry about breaking down.
10. Forego the Cup of Joe
Most highly sensitive people tend to be sensitive to caffeine as well as outside stimuli. Giving up caffeine may help you reduce some of the stress you experience. However, this may be easier said than done if your morning coffee is vital to getting going.
9. Don’t Suppress your Emotions
Most highly sensitive people may shove their emotions down when they arise. However, this is the opposite of what you should do. Your emotions are trying to tell you something about the situation you are in. Listen to them and figure out what they are saying.
8. Let Mother Nature Help
When the stress builds up, there is no better soothing hand than that of Mother Nature. Surrounding yourself in a natural landscape can help reduce your stress and balance your emotions. Take a walk the next time you begin to feel overwhelmed.
7. Dim the Lights
Highly sensitive people tend to be bothered more by bright lights. Spending time in natural lighting or in dimmer lighting helps. In places where harsh fluorescent lights are the norm (such as big box stores), you may be a little more sensitive. At home, try using LED lights rather than CFLs.
6. Get a Good Night’s Sleep
Lack of sleep can lead to frayed senses, and with heightened senses this can be a disaster. Getting plenty of rest can sooth nerves and reset your mind, giving your sensitivity the rest it needs.
5. Listen to your Body
There is an intimate connection between the senses and the body. Experiencing too much stress due to heightened sensitivity can lead to physical ailments, such as ulcers or other pains. If your body hurts as well, it may be time for a life change.
4. Do Yoga or Gentle Exercise
Any sort of gentle movement practice can help relax your body, which in turn relaxes your mind and senses. Doing this on a regular basis helps maintain your heightened senses while conditioning the body for better stress responses.
3. Keep a Journal
Journaling is a mental exercises where you can allow your mind to express itself and explore possible triggers and solutions to problems you may be having. It also allows you to get nagging thoughts out of your head and onto paper so they aren’t taking up headspace.
Also Read: 17 Signs You Might Be An Empath
2. Embrace your Gifts
As a highly sensitive person, you also have certain gifts. You may be more emotionally aware, have a creative flare or notice more sensory detail. These gifts are yours to use as you please, whether that be through creating art or helping others.
1. Treat Yourself Gently
It may turn out that you are your harshest critic. Treat yourself gently and with compassion if you feel weak for being highly sensitive. Remember that there is nothing wrong with you and that you are not broken or weak. You have a special gift that allows you to feel more around you, so embrace it fully.