of highly sensitive people and stress
Fundamental characteristic of high sensitivity according to Aron
Stress due to overstimulation in high sensitivity. This article deals with the second of the four fundamental characteristics of high sensitivity according to Aron.
Easier overstimulation of the nervous system (2 of 4)
- Why are highly sensitive people prone to nervous overstimulation?
- What is the purpose of this ability for special sensory processing?
- What effects does this have on daily life?
- What danger should you definitely watch out for?
- What advantage do highly sensitive people have?
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Stress due to overstimulation in high sensitivity
According to the research of Elaine Aron, the developer of the highly sensitive person model, there are four basic characteristics. These form the basis of high sensitivity.
The four basic characteristics of high sensitivity
1. The deep processing of information
2. Easier overstimulation of the nervous system
3. A strong emotional world
4. Highly receptive also to subtle stimuli
This article takes a closer look at the second aspect, the easier overstimulation of the nervous system. You will learn what the bodies of highly sensitive people do differently.
Why are highly sensitive people prone to nervous overstimulation?
High sensitivity is regulated via hormones and neurotransmitters.
Neurotransmitters activate the autonomic nervous system. This controls our vital functions, organs, and organ systems. The autonomic nervous system cannot be influenced by our consciousness.
According to research by Jerome Kagan, (HSP) highly sensitive persons have a higher concentration of the neurotransmitter norepinephrine in their blood. This leads to Stress due to overstimulation in high sensitivity.
This neurotransmitter is responsible for the highly developed attention system of highly sensitive people and the associated intensive processing of sensory impressions.
Norepinephrine activates the brain . HSP are always ready for mental deployment.
What is the purpose of this ability for special sensory processing?
This has evolutionary advantages, as highly sensitive people can, for example, recognize dangers more quickly due to their increased perception. Additionally, they perceive more stimuli simultaneously because the brain region for stimulus suppression is less active in HSPs, according to research. For this reason, highly sensitive people perceive some situations as stressful more quickly and become stressed.
Since nature is fundamentally clever, it has equipped highly sensitive people with compensatory abilities. Stress factors are thus recognized more quickly in order to be able to react appropriately.
What effects does this have on daily life?
Highly sensitive people need more rest breaks, appreciate work phases where they can also work alone, and avoid high-stimulus environments where they can hardly withdraw. For example, a Christmas market visit on a Friday evening. Or a family celebration that is scheduled for several hours.
HSPs love community. At the same time, the period during which highly sensitive people can fully enjoy being together is considerably shorter than for average sensitive people. That's why they sometimes cancel meetings. They fear that leaving early could be interpreted as rejection. Or they persevere and are then totally exhausted the next day.
HSPs pay attention to minimizing external stimuli
In daily life, they pay attention to minimizing external stimuli. Televisions and radios are turned off at the latest during meals or a conversation, because otherwise a feeling of restlessness arises. Strong odors such as scented candles or perfumes are mostly avoided. Unless it is a very beloved scent, then this is perceived as a great pleasure. Usually, however, these scents are rather calming or very light and fresh.
Tags in clothing are cut out because otherwise they are constantly perceived. A small tag can otherwise become a major stress factor.
When under stress, highly sensitive people can act differently too!
As good-natured and harmony-loving as highly sensitive people usually are, they can become furies when their overstimulation becomes too much. Then they go into attack or flight mode. My topic is time pressure. When I have time pressure, it only takes mini-impulses and I am totally overstimulated. If my husband then means well with me and wants to hug me to calm me down, he is really in danger. Because a touch is then much too much for me, and really hurts me physically. It is best to leave a highly sensitive person in overstimulation alone with a loving gaze. Fortunately, HSP can usually regulate themselves well, so that they are energetically down again after a few minutes. It is best to just let them be, and if stimuli are not constantly added, they will recover quite quickly.
Dangers of overstimulation in high sensitivity
Because the autonomic nervous system is permanently set to "vigilance," it leads more quickly to adrenaline release than in average sensitive people. This leads to Stress due to overstimulation in high sensitivity. Therefore, the ability of stress regulation is an important factor, so that they can quickly calm down in case of overstimulation. This is important in order not to fall into a permanent nervous overload and thus into chronic stress.
However, if we have not learned to regulate ourselves during stress, we risk chronic stress. Some HSPs ignore their inner warning signs due to their own demands or the need to keep up with average people. This leads to a chronic stress situation. There is a risk of severe psychological and physical effects.
If the attachment or stress system is also impaired by negative experiences, high sensitivity becomes a heavy burden.
Chronic stress can have far-reaching consequences.
For example, prolonged stress can lead to anxiety, panic attacks, depression, thyroid dysfunction, or burnout.
It is important to know that the physical and psychological effects are not caused by high sensitivity. These are usually the consequences of mostly early childhood experiences.
If HSPs have had these unfavorable experiences, the abilities that highly sensitive people have to better cope with their higher sensitivity to stimuli are often less active. In this case, high sensitivity is an additional burden.
What advantage do highly sensitive people have?
The good thing about this is that these abilities slumber in the background. Average sensitive people often have to learn them anew. They only need to be activated in HSPs. So that highly sensitive people, compared to average sensitive people, experience a positive change faster due to the further supportive properties of high sensitivity, in my experience. In the end, high sensitivity is an advantage again.
You will receive practical strategies against stress from overstimulation in my seminar Live Up – Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People .
