Self-care for the Highly Sensitive Person

Most highly sensitive people (HSPs) do not understand how their sensitive nervous systems work, and how it effects so much of our well-being — from sleep and focus to happiness and work. Let’s get you some self-care basics, to reduce stress, and to boost your well-being and access to your HSP gifts.

Page contents:

1. There’s nothing to fix about you. You have needed gifts!
2. Learn the HSP basics.
3. Learn some stress reduction/ self-care for HSPs.
4. A fresh look at career and work life for HSPs.
5. Stay informed and connected to HSP community.

1. There’s nothing to fix. You have gifts.

You’re wired this way for a reason. There’s a lot of gold here. However, HSPs need to understand how to work with this fine-tuned brain and body.

Taking time to learn has made a huge difference for me as a highly sensitive person. I now know how I can minimize the challenges of it, and benefit from my HSP superpowers.

Our HSP “gifts” or “superpowers” often include:

1. An exquisite ability to understand how others are feeling and to read the room. Also known as high empathy.
2. Deep enjoyment of beauty, nature, and positive surroundings. (People around us get to enjoy our enthusiasm and appreciation.)
3. Creativity – not just artistic expression but the ability to see how different things can come together in fresh enriching ways.
4. Deep sensory awareness with many senses. Seeing more details and sensing things like sounds and smells that others miss. (Like a great detective.)
5. Depth of processing and understanding of complexities. Thorough and broad-reaching thinking.

These are all useful skills to have, for all kinds of things, and there are more gifts too.

Willow McIntosh has coined some alternative terms I like: High Sensory Person and High Sensory Intelligence®. It brings home that it’s not just a trait to tolerate, it’s a natural talent that’s needed.

Of course these traits, like any traits, have challenging sides too. So I’ve got some helpful tools and learning options for HSPs below.

Trust those great instincts of yours as to which of these will be most helpful for you. (No need to do it all.)

2. Learn the HSP Basics

Check out one or more of these, as you feel drawn:

• Introvert or Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) or What? How To Know.
• High Sensitivity Assessment Quiz
  – the research-based way to actually know if you have this trait, by Elaine Aron.
• Highly Sensitive Extrovert: Balancing Your Challenges and Gifts (with video)
• “Being an HSP While Black” – video with Sydney James, The Sensitive Black Girl.
• The difference between being “highly sensitive” and “highly reactive.”
  – by Liesel Teversham, HSP well-being specialist.
  – These concepts are often confused and the difference is important.
• Having a Big Heart Can Also Mean Big Exhaustion. Start with Grounding.
• Watch a 12-minute TED Talk: Are you too sensitive?
• There’s also a helpful full-length documentary by the most known researcher about high sensitivity, Elaine Aron: Sensitive, the Untold Story.

3. Learn Some Self-care Skills for HSPs

These self-paced classes and courses are by Julie Bjelland, a licensed psychotherapist, HSP specialist.*

Free intro classes:

1. Sensory Overload for HSPs 
2. HSP and Anxiety Connection
3. Boundary Setting and Saying No for HSPs

Online courses (paid):

1. Brain Training for HSPs: Learn Techniques to Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelm
   Learn and practice tools in this self-paced course, ideally done over 8 weeks. Includes community connection.
2. Blooming Brilliantly as an HSP
   Helps you more fully understand and appreciate who you are as an HSP. Includes tips on energy, sleep, health, relationships, stress, and all the basics of life that HSPs should know. Includes community connection. [Scholarships for Black HSPs: apply here]
3. Sensitive Empowerment Community
   Get access to a large library of learning, as well as regular opportunities to connect online and at small caring Zoom gatherings. Like-minded community with no pressure.
   *TIP: The above 2 courses come with 8 weeks free in the Community. Great way to start.

4. A Fresh Look at Your Work Life for HSPs

These resources are from me, a career/business coach for introverts and HSPs.

• Is your work too draining?
• Walk through steps to find what will actually work for YOU specifically:
  Career Clarity Course for Introverts and HSPs
• You can check out some career ideas of what other HSPs do, to find some hope:
  • Best Careers for HSPs (over 50 ideas)
  • 50+ Career Alternatives to Being a Therapist for Those Who Enjoy Psychology and Depth
• Discover your HSP talents and how to train as High Sensory Coach (or healer).*
• SOULpreneurs – Business Coaching Group (and learning) for HSP/introvert solopreneurs

5. Stay Informed and Connected to HSP Community

• Subscribe to Val’s INsights newsletter for HSPs and introverts.
• Podcasts to check out: HSP Podcast, HSP Connection, Strong – Not Stressed
• Consider joining the Sensitive Empowerment Community* – a caring community of HSPs, including both online discussions and Zoom gatherings.
• I recommend Melissa Renzi’s HSP Resilience Circle and her HSP Retreats.
  (Use BLACKSWAN50 for $50 off on retreats.)

---

*Disclaimer: If you use these links, I might receive a referral bonus, but I can honestly endorse these classes.