Navigating the Holiday Hustle and Bustle as a Highly Sensitive Person

The holidays are often a meaningful time for highly sensitive people (HSPs). But they also can be tough. For starters, there’s the overstimulation, according to marriage and family therapist Joy Malek: “overcrowded shopping, dazzling displays, and aggressive commercial advertising. HSPs take in more detail about their environments than most people, and while this can be overwhelming at any time, the crowded atmosphere of the holidays can be particularly fatiguing.” The world also moves quicker during the holidays, Malek said. There’s more traffic, and people are more impatient. There are more tasks, more errands, more shopping trips. “We are in a constant state of nervous system arousal, running on adrenaline. Since HSPs have more responsive nervous systems than the general population, we feel this stress more acutely.” “Symbolism is often important to an HSP, who may be eager to create a celebration imbued with meaning,” said Jean Fitzpatrick, a therapist in private practice in New York City. We’re also idealistic, and want the holiday season to be beautiful and memorable—which can lead to disappointment. Because of our aesthetic sensitivities, we yearn to create stunning surroundings and amazing meals, Malek said. We might “have an ambitious vision for crafting and experiencing the holidays.” We might become perfectionistic and hyper-focused on the details. This can lead us to go overboard and run ourselves ragged. Being a houseguest or having houseg...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Family Friends General Happiness Holiday Coping Mental Health and Wellness Relationships Self-Help Stress anxiety Chronic Depression Empath Highly Sensitive Person Holiday Blues Holiday Season Holiday Stress Hsp Inhibitio Source Type: blogs