Hypnosis to better manage HYPERSENSITIVITY
When emotions overwhelm us…
Many people consult in Therapeutic Hypnosis to better manage their emotions: fears, anger, sadness…
Some suffer from the consequences of their high sensitivity and emotional intensity, both in their daily lives and in their relationships.
In fact, an estimated 20% of the population is “hypersensitive”.
Hence this article on hypersensitivity and, if you’re concerned, how therapeutic hypnosis can help you live better with your emotions.
Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity, also known as heightened sensitivity, is a personality trait characterized by high sensitivity to emotional, sensory and environmental stimuli.
Hypersensitive people tend to perceive and react to things more intensely than most people.
This trait was explored by psychologist Elaine Aron, who developed the notion of “highly sensitive personality” (HSP) in the 1990s.
Hypersensitivity is not a psychological disorder nor a disease, but a personality trait with different facets and degrees of sensitivity in different people.
Nevertheless, hypersensitivity can be combined with or linked to physiological illnesses or psychological disorders.
Consult your doctor or a psychologist in the event of psychological suffering or depression.
Characteristics of hypersensitivity
Here are some of the characteristics associated with hypersensitivity.
Of course, not all hypersensitive or hyperemotional people combine all these signs, and sometimes they only concern particular contexts (sentimental, professional, etc.).
- High emotional reactivity
Hypersensitive people can feel emotions – pleasant or unpleasant – more intensely than the majority of people, and are often more likely to be overwhelmed by emotional situations.
The emotion may then be stronger, last longer than in other people, or not really be adapted to the situation.
For example, watching a film, in a friendly or romantic relationship, or in stressful situations such as moving house, for an exam or a sports competition, emotional reactions (crying, anxiety, joy…) can be intense or change rapidly. This can lead to misunderstanding on the part of their environment.
And in some particularly intense cases, this can lead to severe anxiety and even panic attacks.
- High sensory sensitivity
Hypersensitive people can be particularly sensitive to loud noises, bright lights, intense smells…
And even certain substances, such as caffeine or medication, can have more pronounced effects than in other people.
- Sensitivity to the environment
Changes in the environment or in the social atmosphere around them can have a significant impact on the mood and well-being of hypersensitive people.
They are often more at ease in calm, quiet environments, where they can retreat to recharge their batteries.
- Highly developed empathy
Hypersensitive people generally have a great capacity to feel and understand the emotions of others.
This can make them good listeners and trusted friends, but with the risk of empathizing with others and feeling other people’s emotions too strongly.
Advantages and challenges of Hypersensitivity
Hypersensitivity presents both advantages and challenges.
The benefits of Hypersensitivity:
Hypersensitive people can be attentive listeners, empathetic friends and inspired, intuitive creators.
Sensing an interlocutor’s emotional state, sensing atmospheres, being attentive to details that others fail to detect is a social and intellectual advantage.
The difficulties caused by Hypersensitivity:
However, they can also feel overwhelmed by too much information, stress or overstimulation, and have difficulty managing their emotions and their environment.
This can lead to anxiety, hypervigilance, impulsive reactions and hyperactivity. And to a vicious circle of fatigue (mental stress, sleep disorders…) and loss of self-confidence,
On the cognitive level, hypersensitive people tend to introspect.
But this can also lead them to ruminate on the past – particularly unpleasant experiences – preventing them from projecting themselves into the future and taking action.
Finally, it can have an impact on their social life, with difficulty in relating to others or expressing their opinions, and a certain fear of conflict. Or sometimes, on the contrary, “too much” empathy, hypersensitivity to reproach and criticism, raw susceptibility, emotional dependence or a certain emotional “explosiveness”.
How to deal with Hypersensitivity
Managing hypersensitivity involves :
- avoidance, where and when possible, or better management of over-stimulating situations,
- learning emotional self-regulation and stress management techniques.
Hypersensitive people can benefit from techniques such as hypnosis and self-hypnosis, meditation and cardiac coherence, as well as regular physical exercise.
Hypnosis to better manage Hypersensitivity
Hypnosis can be used to help hypersensitive people better understand and manage their emotions, boost their self-confidence and reduce their anxiety.
When someone is in a state of hypnosis, they may be more open to exploring their emotions and working on strategies to better manage their sensitivity.
This may involve :
- managing frustration, anger or aggression,
- dealing better with anxiety, hypervigilance or certain fears (social fears, fear of vulnerability…), or panic attacks
- emotional dependency or cope better with separation or grief,
- regain lightness and joie de vivre in everyday life,
- tame susceptibility and develop assertiveness,
- improve self-confidence, self-image and self-esteem…
What to expect from a Hypnosis session for Hypersensitivity
The 1st session will always begin with an understanding of your situation and the establishment of a rapport with your therapist, so that he or she can identify the priority issues for you and define his or her intervention strategy, and of course that you feel confident.
The Therapeutic Hypnosis intervention then begins with an induction to take you at your own pace into hypnosis, that very pleasant state of half-sleep or daydreaming as some clients describe it.
Using sensations or mental images and metaphors, therapeutic hypnosis enables you to identify better identify your emotions.
Analyze them and make the link with certain situations that trigger strong emotional reactions.
It also enables you to identify the inner discourse that is amplifying your emotions.
Then go on to develop strategies for living better with your hypersensitivity:
– identify and anticipate triggering situations,
– de-dramatize certain events,
– change certain limiting beliefs or self-talk,
– boost your self-confidence or self-esteem…
Once the therapeutic work has been completed, you can return to your daily life at your own pace, and often with an incredible energy 😊.
Are you hypersensitive and looking for a Hypnotherapy consultation?
The entire Solutions Hypnosis team, in Quebec, Ontario, Vermont and by video, is here to support you.
Depending on your situation and your goal, this may take a few sessions, or more if you want to work on self-confidence and self-esteem more generally with your hypnotherapist.
Either way, you’ll soon know if you enjoy the hypnotic state and see positive results towards achieving your goals.
Make an appointment now to create the life you desire through hypnosis!
We look forward to meeting you…
The Solutions Hypnosis team
Consultations in Therapeutic Hypnosis and NLP Coaching in :
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Gatineau (QC)
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Cumberland (ON)
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Montreal (QC)
(Westmount, Rosemont) -
Montreal South Shore (QC)
(Saint-Lambert, La Prairie, McMasterville) -
Montgomery Center (VT)
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and by Video
