I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.
John Burroughs
I have always felt things more deeply than others and experienced life in a different way, but I have never been able to explain it, describe it or even understand it. I just felt different, not able to fit in or be understood. So, I am taking a journey of self-discovery to find out what it means to be more sensitive to the sensory information we all receive and how I process that and live in this busy world.
I have discovered that sensory overload may explain how I feel and that Highly Sensitive People (HSP’s) can also experience this deeper sensory life, where they can feel overwhelmed easily. HSP’s can feel emotions more deeply, be more sensitive to light, sound, smells, tastes and textures and find new situations, places and experiences difficult to process, due to all the new sensory information going on. Social and work environments can be uncomfortable, as HSP’s feel more empathy and compassion for others, sometimes feeling how others feel and being highly attuned to other people’s moods and emotions.
Some HSP’s may find it hard to decipher their own thoughts and feelings from that of others, so they may need time away to be able to listen to their own thoughts, know their own feelings and be aware of what they need to do in order to recover.
Experiencing the world in this heightened sensory way can cause discomfort, overwhelm and exhaustion, leading the highly sensitive person to need to take a lot of time out in calm quiet spaces. I think this is why I have chosen to learn, teach and share restful yoga, calming relaxation, meditation and mindfulness methods, as these have been a huge help in calming my over sensitive body and mind.
Are you a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
Being a highly sensitive person means that you are more sensitive to all that is going on within and around you. You may feel things more deeply, experience life more intensely and find it more difficult to process all the sensory information going on compared to others. It can feel like you are being bombarded from all directions and this can lead to overload.
Perhaps you recognise some of this in yourself. Do you feel all your senses deeply? Do you take a lot of time to make decisions? Do you need more time to rest and recover than others? Are you affected by sound, busy places, or when there’s too much going on at once?
You may be experiencing Sensory-Processing Sensitivity (SPS), which is said to be a personality trait of those who are highly sensitive. This is not a disorder, but an experience that some of us have, it is something we can learn to live with by making some adjustments to our lifestyle and giving ourselves plenty of time to rest and recuperate.
To find out more about being a highly sensitive person you can visit the following websites:
Mel Collins - HSP Consultant & Counsellor
Sensory overload
Sensory overload is where you feel overwhelmed by too much sensory information and you struggle to process it, leading to feelings of stress and anxiety.
Those who experience sensory overload are unable to cope with loud noises, bright lights, crowded spaces, strong smells or tastes and uncomfortable textures, it all feels too much.
For those who struggle with being in noisy, busy places, it’s like the volume on the world has been turned up and even small sounds seem extra loud. Most people are able to filter out background noise, but a sensitive person isn’t able to do that, so sounds become more intense and can trigger uncomfortable physical reactions. In these situations, there seems to be a stronger connection between our sense of sound and touch, so feeling sound in the body becomes more likely.
Some people experience a sensitivity to bright lights, others find scents overwhelming, some may not cope with strong flavours, while others find certain textures uncomfortable or even painful.
For me it is a full physical experience, feeling every sound, emotion and sensory experience within my body. It makes me feel uncomfortable in my own skin with tingling, fizzing, buzzing sensations, tightness and pain which can lead to stress, anxiety and panic. But I have also found ways of soothing myself, calming my over sensitive nature and finding peace once again.
For those of you who are highly sensitive, or feeling the effects of sensory overload, you may like to seek support or find ways to help you feel better.
To find out more about sensory overload or to gain additional support you may like to visit the following websites:
Suzanne Bond - Therapist
Soothing your soul
To soothe yourself, you could try exploring sensory experiences that are enjoyable, perhaps certain scents help you feel calm, maybe some foods or drinks bring you comfort, or perhaps being in nature will soothe your emotions and calm your mind.
For me, those beautiful wide open spaces provide room to breathe and the fresh air and blue sky help me feel calm. The sounds of nature are soothing and the vast landscapes settle my mind, bringing a sense of peace. Even if you can step outside and see the bright blue sky above, this can be a big help in feeling more free within yourself.
I am also a big advocate of taking naps, resting in a quiet space and closing your eyes to find your balance once again. You may like to add in some soothing music or enjoy some soft textures for reassurance, using blankets and soft clothes to soothe you. Perhaps that’s why coming home putting on your PJ’s and getting comfortable feels so good.
In Restorative Yoga, I close the blinds, bring out the blankets and create a calm and cosy space to relax the body and balance the nervous system. It reduces that sensory overload and gives you chance to rest and restore.
With mindfulness we can learn to be kinder to ourselves, to release the judgement and just be. We can learn to be aware of our body, mind and breath, in a calm and relaxed way, so that we can feel more grounded and balanced, reducing stress and calming the emotions.
Meditation, relaxation and gentle yoga are all ways that we can breathe deeper, relax the body and settle the mind. They really do provide some useful techniques for those highly sensitive souls that just need a little time out to rest and rebalance.
If you feel that you would benefit from a yoga class, mindful coaching session or guided meditation, why not visit my website: createharmony.co.uk or try my online learning page: create-harmony.cademy.io.
Write a letter of love and kindness
In the meantime, may I suggest that you take some time to be kind to yourself, by saying and writing kind words, as this can change how you feel.
Here is a letter of love and kindness I wrote to myself, may it act as a guide to help you to write one for yourself.
My dear one,
You have a gift of sensitivity, this gives you many wonderful qualities, which you can use to navigate life. However, I know this has made your life difficult too, the sadness and pain, the struggle to understand, the confusion, the upset. It was all there to help you learn compassion, to discover the wish to ease suffering.
The sadness you feel now for the your past self is there to be healed, for you to love and care, share and talk, so you can move on and be the best version of yourself. Free from past suffering, free to live your life now, free from the burdens you carry. Free to be lighter, to live more, to love more, to be more than you ever felt you could be.
Be kind through these challenges, soften your heart, let love in to heal your old wounds and slowly, steadily walk towards a brighter future, a wonderful present moment, a time of magic and awe. Knowing that anything is possible if you dream, believe and act with wonder, curiosity and exploration.
This hurt, this pain is part of your transformation, use it to change, grow, develop and open those wings to fly my beautiful one.
Thank you for reading and may you navigate your way through your sensory world wisely, finding your inner calm and kindness along the way.