I really connected with the book, The Highly Sensitive Person (1996), by Elaine Aron.
Here is the review that I wrote on the site GoodReads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/429435474
Here is a link to the highly sensitive person test by Elaine Aron.
http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm
I answer true for all of these dimensions.
On p. 44, Ms. Aron relates how an infant's attachment to their parents is influenced by their parenting behavior . She explains that when an infant receives the message that they are too much trouble and better off being independent, the child develops an "avoidant attachment".
This reaction is described in this Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_in_adults#Dismissive.E2.80.93avoidant_attachment
I feel the section "dismissive attachment" describes me best.
I think it is insightful that a lack of secureness can result in higher levels of stress hormone in a child. (p 34) Children and adults who are stressed for long periods of time are more prone to depression. (p. 200) High levels of over-arousal can lead to problems with sleep.
Ms. Aron's book helped me identify qualities that are a challenge, and qualities that are helpful.
Challenges
- Stimulation leaves me exhausted (p. 8)
- Deeply affected by other people's moods (p. 11)
- Difficulty functioning when I am being observed
- Trouble sleeping deeply, trouble falling asleep again (p. 25)
- Difficulty finding the right level of arousal: easily bored yet easily over-stimulated. (p. 30)
- Strongly effected by hunger (p. 42)
Benefits
- Greater awareness of the subtle (p. 7)
- Able to concentrate deeply (p. 10)
- Good at spotting errors, vigilance, conscientious (p. 10)
The list of qualities of a sensitive nervous system on page 11 is remarkable for its similarity to me: good at holding still, being a morning-person, being more affected by stimulants and depressants, and being highly sensitive to things in the air.
Since I have difficulties with sleep, it was revealing to see the list of sleep-related situations on the overstimulation test. (p. 50). I often have problems getting to sleep and staying asleep. I have a tendency to fall asleep in meetings unless I am involved. I often wake in the early morning before my time to get up.
Another interesting aspect of sensitivity is an intruding awareness of other's needs and moods. As it is described in the book, I have trouble keeping boundaries. "Many HSPs [highly sensitive persons] tell me that a major problem for them is poor boundaries - getting involved in situations that are not really their business or their problem, letting too many people distress them, saying more than they wanted, getting mired I other people's messes, becoming too intimate too fast or with the wrong people." (p. 61). This behavior has caused problems for me throughout my life and I am just now as a mature adult learning to mind my own business.
I am told by my Doctor that being an HSP is not a diagnosis but rather a cluster of traits. Be that as it may, this book has great descriptive power for me.
Here is the review that I wrote on the site GoodReads.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/429435474
Here is a link to the highly sensitive person test by Elaine Aron.
http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm
I answer true for all of these dimensions.
On p. 44, Ms. Aron relates how an infant's attachment to their parents is influenced by their parenting behavior . She explains that when an infant receives the message that they are too much trouble and better off being independent, the child develops an "avoidant attachment".
This reaction is described in this Wikipedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attachment_in_adults#Dismissive.E2.80.93avoidant_attachment
I feel the section "dismissive attachment" describes me best.
I think it is insightful that a lack of secureness can result in higher levels of stress hormone in a child. (p 34) Children and adults who are stressed for long periods of time are more prone to depression. (p. 200) High levels of over-arousal can lead to problems with sleep.
Ms. Aron's book helped me identify qualities that are a challenge, and qualities that are helpful.
Challenges
- Stimulation leaves me exhausted (p. 8)
- Deeply affected by other people's moods (p. 11)
- Difficulty functioning when I am being observed
- Trouble sleeping deeply, trouble falling asleep again (p. 25)
- Difficulty finding the right level of arousal: easily bored yet easily over-stimulated. (p. 30)
- Strongly effected by hunger (p. 42)
Benefits
- Greater awareness of the subtle (p. 7)
- Able to concentrate deeply (p. 10)
- Good at spotting errors, vigilance, conscientious (p. 10)
The list of qualities of a sensitive nervous system on page 11 is remarkable for its similarity to me: good at holding still, being a morning-person, being more affected by stimulants and depressants, and being highly sensitive to things in the air.
Since I have difficulties with sleep, it was revealing to see the list of sleep-related situations on the overstimulation test. (p. 50). I often have problems getting to sleep and staying asleep. I have a tendency to fall asleep in meetings unless I am involved. I often wake in the early morning before my time to get up.
Another interesting aspect of sensitivity is an intruding awareness of other's needs and moods. As it is described in the book, I have trouble keeping boundaries. "Many HSPs [highly sensitive persons] tell me that a major problem for them is poor boundaries - getting involved in situations that are not really their business or their problem, letting too many people distress them, saying more than they wanted, getting mired I other people's messes, becoming too intimate too fast or with the wrong people." (p. 61). This behavior has caused problems for me throughout my life and I am just now as a mature adult learning to mind my own business.
I am told by my Doctor that being an HSP is not a diagnosis but rather a cluster of traits. Be that as it may, this book has great descriptive power for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment