The Highly Sensitive: How to Find Inner Peace, Develop Your Gifts, and Thrive

There is often the assumption that only women are sensitive. While women may be more sensitive than men (its a hormonal thing), I do know that I have always been told by others that I am overly sensitive. Certainly empathetic, compassionate, and I am tuned in to other people's feelings and moods, all the time. I'm a crybaby when I watch television shows or movies. Same with at weddings and funerals. I am a bit of perfectionist. I like small social settings and avoid large ones like the plague. It's a blessing and a curse.I didn't even know Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) was a thing until I stumbled upon this book on Amazon. I decided to download a sample, and within its first 25 pages this book nailed me to a tee. I purchased the book and read it in its entirety in little less than a week. Sooner if I wasn't reading other books at the same time.According to Dyer, the signs that you may be a Highly Sensitive Person are:1. A tendency to feel particularly overwhelmed in noisy environments2. A preference for smaller gatherings of people rather than large crowds3. A good track record of picking up on other people’s moods and motives4. An ability to notice little changes in the environment5. A tendency to be easily moved by music, books, films, and other media6. Heightened sensitivity to hunger, pain, medication, and caffeine7. A need to recharge and relax alone on a regular basis8. An appreciation of good manners and politeness9. Difficulty in refusing others’ requests for fear of hurting their feelings10. Difficulty in forgiving yourself for even the smallest mistakes11. Perfectionism and imposter syndrome12. Trouble handling conflict and criticismIf most of these identify you, then you are likely a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Once you are convinced that you are an HSP then the rest of the book will flow nicely for you. As Dyer jumps into how best to navigate through life as an HSP. Whatever you do, don't think of this as a disability or a mental health illness, because it is neither. It is simply how you are wired. There are probably others who are not sensitive, stoic, and not in tune to other peoples sensitivities.Dyer goes on to offer ideas on how an HSP can get through life a little bit easier. For example, how to deal with emotional overwhelm and building your emotional intelligence. How to set boundaries and say no. How to filter out toxic people in your life while at the same time not falling in love with others too quickly. Then she goes on to offer ideas on how to eliminate negative energy in our lives (this one was a bit unorthodox), how to deal with depression and anxiety. And, what careers are befitting to those of us who are HSP. How do HSPs parent, and how to detox from social media since we HSPs are so in tune to others.I can go on. This is a great book through and through. It's not an end all for HSP but it does at the very least offer clear insight into what an HSP is. And, that is all I needed. I highly recommend this as an elementary introduction into Highly Sensitive Person. There are other books out there that expound upon it in much more depth and greater detail. For me, this was all that was needed.

Really enjoyed this book, i always knew i was very sensitive, always do more for others than myself & very hard on myself! This book definitely gave me a new outlook on things! Cant wait to read the next one!

Thank you for your insight into this topic. At times I felt overwhelmed reading it as it hit so close to home almost constantly through every chapter but you suggestion and strategy for coping and navigating left me with optimism. 💜

Great book! I thought something was wrong with me, now I know I am a HSP. This book has helped me understand myself at such depth, and it’s also a page turner. Thank you, Judy Dyer.

I have always been an HSP and found the info in this book viable. At 62 I already have had many of the skill sets down to a science but this gave me a couple of new methods and helped me to feel that I'm not alone. At one time I was a sponge with good and bad energy coming to me, I've learned to control this and this book broke down with expansion what I was already doing and why. This book gave me more confirmation which is what we all need from time to time. It helped me understand why I was always in tune with my surroundings and how to make it a safe place. For HSP it is hard to say no, but I've become very very good at it. This book explained why I had the need to practice this skill many years ago. This book helped me put me into a tangible order of who, why, what, where, and when. Confirmation was needed, thank you Judy Dyer.

I wouldn't have rated it so low for a beginner but I'm brushed up on the mbti and most of the traits talked about in the book are common symptoms of intuitive types. I've never heard of the hsp being a category and the help was generalized. I was looking for something more in depth but overall this book is okay and a quick read

I found that this author made lots of good points and I benefited much.

I love self help books. This one has been one of the most helpful for me. If you're looking for validation, and to stop simply feeling alone, this is the book! Too bad I didn't read this until I was in my 30's. Who knows how it would've helped me sooner! 🥰