1 week Ago By Sheridan Genrich
In my clinical practice, I work with many high-achieving professional women—“superwomen”—who pride themselves on willpower, discipline, and excellence in multiple areas of their lives. HSPs typically experience strong reactions to various stimuli, including physical factors such as caffeine, intense smells, bright lights, hunger, pain, subtle environmental changes, artistic expressions, and social dynamics at home, school, or work. They often need temporary withdrawal from the modern world’s overstimulation to calm their minds.
The more highly sensitive participants had stronger bodily sensations and neurochemical responses when shown emotional expressions featuring both their partners and strangers. Their instinctive reactions made them significantly more attuned to others’ moods. They had more empathy to imagine what the other person was feeling in the images, which led them to be more easily overstimulated by their environment.
Characteristic Traits of HSPs Highly Empathetic and Self-Aware: HSPs are naturally kind and emotionally receptive. Highly Perceptive and Observant: They can read people well and notice details others may miss. Conscientious and Thoughtful: These traits make HSPs effective mediators and problem-solvers.
Creative and Intuitive Thinkers: HSPs bring original and innovative ideas to a team. Understanding your high sensitivity helps you accept your need for quiet reflection and recognize that it’s natural to respond differently than others. This awareness alone can reduce stress and self-judgment.
If you identify with the traits of an HSP, the following self-care suggestions can strengthen your ability to trust the wisdom coming from the signals within your body when assessing any situation as either safe or harmful. Predictable Routines: This helps your nervous system feel like your environment is safe, allowing you to relax and focus. This tip is crucial for HSPs easily overwhelmed by unpredictability and external stimuli.
Quiet Time and Movement Breaks: Bookend your day with a relaxation practice like meditation or stretching. This can calm your nervous system and help it transition between the wake and sleep phases. Also, throughout the day, take five-minute breaks (when no urgent deadlines are looming) to clear your head and prevent information overload.
Restorative Sleep: A lack of good quality sleep will really disrupt your nervous system and ability to regulate your emotions. A general ideal would be seven to eight hours of sleep every night. It’s best if you are in bed by 10:30 p.
m. Nourishing Main Meals: Avoid meal-skipping and between-meal snacking, as this can create peaks and dips in blood sugar and energy. Base meals on seasonal, local foods with clean protein, such as salmon, beef, tofu, or eggs, and a cup or two of cooked vegetables.
Leafy greens in the mix are good, too. Don’t forget healthy fats like avocado, tahini, olive oil, or coconut. Mindful Social Engagement: Choose social environments carefully.
Consider who you spend the most time with or how long you can handle socializing in an overstimulating environment. Prioritize daily nature exposure; gardens, forests, or parks provide a quiet connection. Reframing sensitivity as a strength allows HSPs and those around them to leverage these unique capabilities better.
Sally felt a vast improvement in her day-to-day mindset when she applied short breaks at work and spent time eating her lunch outside, got to bed early most nights, and understood why she enjoyed being around calm people more often. She’s now thriving both professionally and personally as she lets her creativity shine bright..
