The Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook

Book excerpt: Are you a Highly Sensitive Person? If so, this workbook is for you. Do noise and confusion quickly overwhelm you? Do you have a rich inner life and intense dreams? Did parents or teachers call you "too shy" or "too sensitive"? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). High sensitivity is a trait shared by 20 percent of the population, according to Dr. Elaine Aron, a clinical psychologist and workshop leader and the bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person. The enormous response to her book led Dr. Aron to create The Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook, designed to honor that long-ignored, trampled-on part of yourself--your sensitivity. A collection of exercises and activities for both individuals and groups, this workbook will help you identify the HSP trait in yourself, nurture the new, positive self-image you deserve, and create a fuller, richer life. You will be able to: Identify your specific sensitivities with self-assessment tests Reframe past experiences in a more positive light Interpret dreams and relate them to your sensitivity Cope with overarousal through relaxation, breathing, and visualization techniques Describe your trait in a work interview or to an unsympathetic family member, new friend, doctor, or therapist