As someone who has lived with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) since childhood, I often wondered, is there a link between chronic illness and the Highly Sensitive Person? I have a lot of personal experience with this issue and find that my clients also struggle with more chronic conditions than the average person. ... Read More
HSP Journey
HSP Journey is a place for you to share your stories, discuss common traits within those who consider themselves highly sensitive, and be sensitive and be free.
Loving Fall and Hating Halloween as an HSP
If you're anything like me as a Highly Sensitive Person, you love fall more than any other season. The transition between summer and fall offers nearly perfect weather (depending on where you live), a perk in the air of change, a shift in energy, and pumpkin-spice everything. While I love fall, I hate Halloween as an HSP because this holiday tends to focus on all things scary. I have memories from my childhood of being frightened (and I scare easily), I don't like scary movies, and I don't like blood, gore, or anything related to the occult. I adore fall, but Halloween not so much.... Read More
3 Distinctions Between HSP and Autism
As you embark on a journey to understand yourself better as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), you may notice some overlap between traits of HSP and autism. In fact, many are unsure if they are a Highly Sensitive Person or if they are autistic, and few resources are available to give a meaningful distinction between the two.... Read More
Do Highly Sensitive People Change as They Age? (6 Ways to Support HSP Aging Process)
As a psychologist, I’m frequently asked if I believe that people can change as adults. Frankly, I don’t think I could have lasted a quarter of a century in this field if my answer weren’t an emphatic YES! Adults can and do change across their lifespans, despite the cliches of the grumpy elder who is stuck in their ways. Let’s look at HSP Aging from the research about adult development and how we can use this information to support ourselves as aging highly sensitive people (HSPs).... Read More
Curb HSP Overwhelm Through Creativity (6 Ways)
As a creative Highly Sensitive Person, overwhelm can often take over my landscape. However, I have found that incorporating creative self-care practices into my routine can help alleviate stress and calm my nervous system. In fact, you can curb HSP overwhelm through creativity. Even if you don't consider yourself a creative person, there are still ways to leverage creativity to reduce anxiety and feel more centered. In this section, I will share six of my favorite ways to creatively reduce overwhelm.... Read More
Is There a Connection Between HSP and Neurodiversity?
In recent years, many researchers, psychologists, and therapists who study the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) have been asking the question, is there a connection between HSP and neurodiversity? As an HSP, you may have heard about the discussion of sensitivity fitting into the term, "neurodivergence" or "neurodiversity" and not know if it applies to you as a Highly Sensitive Person. ... Read More