You cried at the movie? Yeah, so did I.
Psychiatric treatment designed for highly sensitive people.
The pace and intensity of modern life can be too much and leave you feeling totally drained.
People misunderstand your trait and judge you as weak, difficult, or aloof.
Your needs for sleep and downtime differ from others so much, it can be tough to sync up.
No one gets why you scream when they place a plate on the counter a little too hard.
You wish you could turn off your trait sometimes for a break from feeling everyone else’s emotions.
No joke, HSP life can be rough sometimes…
What is different about psychiatric treatment for highly sensitive people?
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No surprise, HSPs tend to be sensitive to medications. More than ever, treatment needs to “start low and go slow.” If we decide to use meds, it is possible to do it gently, and there are many classes to try besides just SSRIs. I work very closely with people to monitor response and side effects, and I’m open to discussing all the existential questions that can come along with altering brain chemistry. Medicine does not have to dull your beautiful sensitivity to do its job of supporting your nervous system.
Sometimes, HSPs are more amenable to supplements and herbal medicines, and we can discuss which ones could be safe and effective for you.
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HSPs tend to do great in psychotherapy because they are deep feelers, nuanced thinkers, and astute observers. Almost everyone can benefit from learning about and improving boundaries, and it is especially true for HSPs who need them to protect their peace. Therapy can also help sort through experiences when your sensitivity was misinterpreted and unappreciated by those around you.
One challenge is that HSPs experience the impacts of trauma, even very subtle forms of it, more intensely than other people. A non-HSP raised in the same family may come out of the situation very differently. For HSPs, the after-effects of trauma can be processed and metabolized out of your nervous system in therapy.
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For so many HSPs, attuning to life’s greater meanings and overarching purposes is a must. We can identify what helps you connect to awe and a sense of belonging within something much larger, and then incorporate those experiences into daily life. This can take so many forms: creativity, spending time in nature, ancestral practices, dream analysis, reading sacred texts, tarot, witchcraft, ecstatic dance. It always delights me to find out what form spirituality takes for any individual.
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HSPs want to understand the “why” of everything, especially elements of their treatment plan. I love this type of engagement and take the time to hear your concerns, hopes, questions, and non-negotiables. I aim to be your partner, sharing my knowledge, experiences, and recommendations while decisions ultimately remain with you.
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The highly sensitive nervous system responds more to fluctuations in blood sugar, and there are steps we can take to ensure you’re in a steady state. Similarly, molecules like caffeine and alcohol have a bigger impact for HSPs, and we can non-judgmentally assess how they are functioning for you. HSPs are often vegetarian or vegan, and all nutritional goals can still be met.
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We need to pay special attention to ways we can realistically adjust your environment, in terms of smells, sounds, textures, aesthetics, and vibe, to support your well-being. Sometimes changes need to happen at work or home, and we can strategize together how to make those transitions as easy as possible.
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I prioritize sleep with all of my patients but especially with HSPs. Without enough hours of good quality sleep, nothing else matters. Sleep is the bedrock foundation of well-being, full stop. Whether you’re a champion sleeper or have always struggled to get enough, there are many gentle approaches to help ensure you get the restorative rest that your nervous system needs.
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I’ve seen progressive muscle relaxation (or alternate-nostril breathing or vagal nerve activation or therapeutic tremoring) do more for some HSPs than medication. Our nervous systems are physical structures, so it makes sense that body-based techniques help center us as much or more than thinking does. The mind and body are one, so treatment tends to more than just our heads.
“All virtues have a shadow.”
—Elaine Aron, The Highly Sensitive Person
High sensitivity is undeniably a gift: deep emotions, appreciation of beauty, access to creativity, asking life’s big questions. People are drawn to you because you can intuit what they need and give it to them. But who is intuiting what you need and giving it to you? These same strengths can end up draining highly sensitive people and cornering them into a caretaking role too much of the time. Sometimes HSPs start to think their worth is based in their ability to soothe others at the expense of their own well-being.
As a highly sensitive person myself, I understand that you might legitimately need ten hours of sleep every night. You might need to wear ear plugs at the dinner table. I won’t bat an eyelash when you’re still emotional about a minor slight from third grade. I will never pathologize your sensitivity or insist that we contort your psyche to function in a dysfunctional environment. You don’t have to numb out or harden your heart to participate in the world. Treatment for HSPs means finding ways to stay in a range of arousal that works best for you.
Treatment can support the gifts of highly sensitive people.
Say no to draining activities without guilt.
Notice that your sister’s eyebrow moved 1.4 mm and know exactly what that means but still just move on with your day without fixing the problem for her.
Feel safe and secure even if you’re not monitoring and managing everyone’s moods at all times.
Use your sensitivity to find meaningful work, spiritual experiences, creative expression, and connection with people.
Navigate relationships with non-HSPs and the expectations of what I call “the loud place,” ie the outside world.
It is possible to…
FAQs about HSP treatment:
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No, high sensitivity in an innate trait unrelated to trauma. Some aspects of being an HSP, such as pronounced startle response, look like PTSD symptoms, leading to some confusion. Additionally highly sensitive people are more vulnerable to the impacts of traumatic experiences if they encounter them without support. The good news is that HSPs also have sophisticated ways of coping and processing trauma given right support and treatment.
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The trait of high sensitivity cannot be changed; it is hard-wired in the nervous system. What can be changed is the way we manage, accept, and honor our sensitivity. Things like boundary setting, adequate rest, and identifying exacerbating and moderating factors go a long way to making HSP life not just tolerable but amazing.
We can also talk about the feelings and experiences that lead to asking this question in the first place. Often people close to us, or society in general, puts pressure on HSPs to change, which is not fair or understanding.
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My #1 favorite coping strategy for HSPs is saying no. I know, it’s hard, and it can lead to guilt, but we can work with that until you feel that the benefits of setting boundaries far outweigh the difficulties. We can process ways that you’ve been asked to say yes to things that were not right for you throughout your life in order to fit in with your family and peer groups.
Other coping strategies include getting enough sleep and downtime; learning which resources bolster you the best; having a therapist; minimizing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol; engaging in creative and spiritual pursuits; spending time around plants; using supplements, herbs, and possibly medications, not to blunt your trait but to support your nervous system.
Get in touch
I’d love to tailor highly sensitive treatment just for you.
Click here to set up an introductory call. Knowing us, it’ll get real deep real quick.