Thriving as an HSP takes effort as their nervous system works differently. We all feel overwhelmed by our surroundings at times, but for sensitive people and empaths, this scenario gets a little too much. That’s why if you’re a highly sensitive person, self care is crucial. Below are the ways of self care for sensitive people and why it is so important for empaths and highly sensitive people.
Self care is essential for all empathic people. When you mindfully and lovingly practice it each day, your sensitivities will flourish.
The self care practices, perspectives, and meditations I present as daily offerings in Thriving as an Empath will support you in being a compassionate, empowered empath without shouldering the suffering of others or trying to “fix” them. All people deserve the dignity of their own paths. Day-by-day, I’ll offer gentle reminders about how you can be loving without becoming codependent or a martyr.
As a psychiatrist and empath, I am fierce about my own self care practices and teach these principles to my patients. I feel so strongly about them because I want to keep enjoying the extraordinary gifts of sensitivity, including an open heart, intuition, and an intimate connection with spirituality and the natural world. Shallow emotional waters don’t appeal to me. I love going deep–and my sensitivities take me there.
Still, a big challenge for all sensitive people is how to be compassionate without absorbing the stress of others and the world. We don’t have the same filters as most people. We are emotional sponges who feel everything and instinctively take it in. This differs from “ordinary” empathy, where your heart goes out to others in pain or happiness, but you don’t take on their feelings.
We empaths are helpers, lovers, and caretakers who often give too much at the expense of our own well-being. Research suggests that our mirror neuron system (a part of the brain responsible for compassion) is hyperactive, which can burn us out.
This is not how I choose to live. I want to be loving, but over-helping or absorbing someone’s distress just put me on sensory overload which is painful to my sensitive body and soul. It also doesn’t serve the other person in any lasting way.
To stay healthy and happy, you must be prepared with effective self care practice so that you’re ready to deal with stress. Throughout the book, you’ll learn to keep yourself balanced and whole by trusting your intuition, setting boundaries, and protecting your energy.
The secret to an empath’s well-being is to break the momentum of sensory overload before it consumes you. The strategies and attitudes that I’ll share, which have been life-saving for me, will quickly bring you back to the center when you are overwhelmed or emotionally triggered.
Read: Self Care: 12 Tips to Take Better Care of Yourself
The positive approaches of self care for sensitive people
Here are two selections from the book I hope you enjoy.
1. The Gift of Being Different
Like many empaths, you may feel as if you don’t belong in this world. You experience life so intensely, and love so deeply, it’s sometimes hard to find kindred souls to whom you can relate.
