This book helps highly sensitive people (HSPs) to honour their traits and take care of themselves in a less sensitive society.
Sometimes I felt the author was speaking to me directly; other times, I felt like an observer. This is not bad, as it makes this book thought-provoking. The paragraph about medications for HSPs was very interesting.
I am deeply moved by things. I’d hate to miss the intense joy of that.
Overall, it helped me ask questions, and so I practised a bit more learning self-awareness. However, it was a bit too “do this, do that” self-help style, as if there was one-size-fits-all solution. It then lost me towards the end when it started to discuss spirituality.
It definitely doesn’t reach the heights of “Quiet” by Susan Cain, and it won’t stick with me in the long term, but overall, it’s an okay read.
Title: The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You
Author: Elaine N. Aron
Year First Published: 1997
From Goodreads:
Are you an HSP? Are you easily overwhelmed by stimuli? Affected by other people’s moods? Easily startled? Do you need to withdraw during busy times to a private, quiet place? Do you get nervous or shaky if someone is observing you or competing with you?
HSP, shorthand for “highly sensitive person,” describes 15 to 20 percent of the population. Being sensitive is a normal trait – nothing defective about it. But you may not realize that, because society rewards the outgoing personality and treats shyness and sensitivity as something to be overcome.
According to author Elaine Aron (herself an HSP), sensitive people have the unusual ability to sense subtleties, spot or avoid errors, concentrate deeply, and delve deeply.
This book helps HSPs to understand themselves and their sensitive trait and its impact on personal history, career, relationships, and inner life. The book offers advice for typical problems.
For example, you learn strategies for coping with overarousal, overcoming social discomfort, being in love relationships, managing job challenges, and much more. The author covers a lot of material clearly, in an approachable style, using case studies, self-tests, and exercises to bring the information home.
The book is essential for you if you are an HSP – you’ll learn a lot about yourself. It’s also useful for people in a relationship with an HSP.