May is mental health awareness month. For 2023, the Mental Health Awareness month campaign “is focused on how surroundings impact mental health, and we are calling for individuals to look around, look within.” In 1949, Mental Health America (MHA) designated May as Mental Health Month to raise awareness and “to spread the word that mental health is something everyone should care about.” This is an important theme for HSPs and Highly Sensitive Youth. Why? We are more impacted by our surroundings than anyone without high sensitivity.
“Look around and look within” and you will surely see the people, places, and things in your surroundings that are impacting your mental health. These impacts can be both healthy and problematic. Remember, we are better at healing. When we improve our surroundings… We get BETTER! Mental Health Awareness month is a time for us all to remember that we have the power to heal. We can heal and be healthy because we react to the good stuff even more than we react to the bad stuff. You can create the good in your surroundings, in your life, and in your heart and mind.
I often hear from HSPs who say, “I understand that sensitivity is a gift, but I just don’t feel it because I find myself having to isolate or be aloof in order to survive.” The truth is: We can’t underestimate how important our childhood experience is to how we feel and function today. HSPs who had a childhood that was more difficult or not supportive enough need a lot of support to experience the gift(s) of being highly sensitive. I’m one of those HSPs–A lot of twelve step work and a lot of therapy and a lot of exercise and a lot of meditation and a lot of the other kinds of self-care…And it’s still hard sometimes! The struggle is real! And so is our phenomenal ability to heal.
Guest Blog by Alane Freund, MS, MA. Alane is an International Consultant on High Sensitivity (ICHS) and family therapist who helps highly sensitive adults and youth focus on solutions through therapy, consultation, and speaking. Ms. Freund has developed and implemented programs for highly sensitive people, youth, families, and the clinicians who serve them. She holds Masters’ degrees in both clinical psychology and school counseling and is the parent of a highly sensitive young adult. Ms. Freund’s Talk at Google, Understanding the Highly Sensitive Person, is a widely recognized resource. In addition to her YouTube channel, Alane Freund LMFT, she hosts the twice monthly Are You Highly Sensitive LIVE membership workshops. Her innovative programs include HSPs & Horses™ and the online Sensitivity Circle topics: Parenting Sensitivity, Sensitive Youth, Wise Women & Wonder, HSProfessionals, HSPs in Relationships, and HSMen. Alane offers team building, educational workshops, and retreats at Heart and Mind Equine in California and across the globe, She can be reached for consultation or speaking through her website, alanefreund.com
I am so glad to see this recent posting. I check frequently to see what else i can do to support myself and my son, as we both highly sensitive beings. As a single mother, in a complex behind-the-times County of HUMBOLDT, CALIFORNIA, finding and maintaining a healthy support system is a bit of a struggle so i rely on the information on sites like these. I appreciate all you have done for the HS community and I thank you so so much for shedding light on this TRAIT, ive stopped looking for what is WRONG with me and started to believe in ME. To believe that my experiences are valid and that i am not alone. It has made the greatest impact on my life and how i view myself in the world. Thank you for being YOU Elaine!
È molto importante capire di no essere soli.scoprire il dono è molto difficile.
I am so very grateful to have a better understanding of who I am.
Knowing my grandson is a hsp as well, and seeing him struggle through school
has brought several tears to my eyes countless times.
He also has a father I believe has NPDISORDER, and my grandson is suffering because of his father’s disorder. It’s horrible to have this knowledge and be powerless to stop the outcome. I plan on getting your newest book in hopes it could help. Thank you for your research Dr. Aron.
Thank you Elaine. I am, as you are, an HSP with no support from my parents in childhood. Sometimes I find it hard to believe in people. I will copy your words and I will print them, to keep them alive in my mind.
Eu fiz 27 pontos, para alto sensibilidade.
Sinto me se tivesse mais 50 caixinha de perguntas eu marcaria todos como super verdadeiro.
Minha infância foi complicada, apenas meu pai entendia o que eu sentia. Na escola tive muita dificuldade, apenas 2 professores entendia mais ou menos o que eu sentia. Hoje na vida adulta, as sensibilidades contínua no mesmo nível, as dificuldades de lidar com elas não é fácil, criei meus próprios métodos de defesas, consigo ter dias tranquilos, mas de dez em quanto sai do controle me isolo, e espero passar. Um dos pontos mais importante pra voce não sofrer é organizar a vida pra não ter surpresas, análise os gatilhos, eu por exemplo não posso ouvi músicas, minha sensibilidade estoura que chego a chorar. Procure seus gatilhos, e evite eles custe o que custar. A sua mente vai esvaziar, suas emoções serão controladas.