Highly Sensitive People HSP Community Group
The highly sensitive person (or HSP) is someone who cares deeply about everything ... feels emotions with great intensity ... is highly conscientious ... has a rich and complex inner life ... is very intuitive ... is often creative in a variety of ways... is easily overwhelmed and/or overstimulated. A HSP needs lots of quiet time,space, and freedom. If this sounds...
Here is one of two stories that might explain where I’m coming from and give you some insight as well.
It’s all relative
When my wife and I had our second child there were a lot of problems. She had to go back to the hospital right after the baby was born and I was home alone with an infant and a three year old. It was pretty stressful, especially sneaking the infant through hospital security and the “guards” at the nursing station so my wife could breastfeed. Later the baby got sick and had to be hospitalized. What a scary thing for an infant!
Anyway my wife and baby did come home but they were really exhausted. It seemed like everyone was tired, sick, and crying. I had to buy some groceries. At the store I saw a child in the child seat of another grocery cart. She was obviously severely handicapped. Her hair was messed up and her face and body distorted. She was about 3, the same as my older daughter. My 3 year old was potty trained and actually able to hold a conversation with me. This child was squirming around and uttering nothing but strange sounds and alarming noises. I was shocked and ashamed about how I was letting my self feel so low.
When I got home the baby was crying, my wife still too sick in bed to help her. I picked up the baby and sat down in a chair. I just held her - I couldn’t do much more. I just cried. But these were not tears of sorrow, they were tears of joy and gratitude. I was so thankful that I had been blessed with such a beautiful baby. Eventually we both stopped crying. I just held her – for a long time. I’ll never forget the peace of those moments.
She’s ten now and this Christmas she danced Clara in the Nutcracker. It brings tears to my eyes writing about all of this – even now. I suppose the moral of the story is, no matter how bad you think you have it, somebody else somewhere is worse off.
It’s all relative
When my wife and I had our second child there were a lot of problems. She had to go back to the hospital right after the baby was born and I was home alone with an infant and a three year old. It was pretty stressful, especially sneaking the infant through hospital security and the “guards” at the nursing station so my wife could breastfeed. Later the baby got sick and had to be hospitalized. What a scary thing for an infant!
Anyway my wife and baby did come home but they were really exhausted. It seemed like everyone was tired, sick, and crying. I had to buy some groceries. At the store I saw a child in the child seat of another grocery cart. She was obviously severely handicapped. Her hair was messed up and her face and body distorted. She was about 3, the same as my older daughter. My 3 year old was potty trained and actually able to hold a conversation with me. This child was squirming around and uttering nothing but strange sounds and alarming noises. I was shocked and ashamed about how I was letting my self feel so low.
When I got home the baby was crying, my wife still too sick in bed to help her. I picked up the baby and sat down in a chair. I just held her - I couldn’t do much more. I just cried. But these were not tears of sorrow, they were tears of joy and gratitude. I was so thankful that I had been blessed with such a beautiful baby. Eventually we both stopped crying. I just held her – for a long time. I’ll never forget the peace of those moments.
She’s ten now and this Christmas she danced Clara in the Nutcracker. It brings tears to my eyes writing about all of this – even now. I suppose the moral of the story is, no matter how bad you think you have it, somebody else somewhere is worse off.
We can't stop negative thinking or imagery, but we can practice substituting positive thoughts and images that evoke feelings of happiness and security. We have the power to change mental habits with practice. Optimism can be learned.
Any activity that makes you feel more alive, more connected to others and to nature, less isolated, more comfortable with change, is beneficial for your physical and mental health.
Thank you for sharing your message.
Thanks so much for sharing, sensci