It seems our brains work differently than yours do (this is a pretty exclusive club, you understand.) We take more in, we’re more aware of the subtleties in what we see and what we’re subjected to, we feel things much more keenly, and so we’re soon overwhelmed by the mass of sensory input. In short, we suffer in ways you lucky people can’t even imagine. But we have a purpose. Our purpose is to be martyrs to the cause by writing, painting and dancing, so that you heathens out there can be pointed in the direction of a more complete view of life and the human condition. We usually end up drinking ourselves to death.
Oh, right. That’s OK then. It’s nice to be useful.
What I still have to get my head around is how this relates to also being a confirmed Romantic and cursed with a high IQ. These things compound the problem. When I can build a more complete picture, I’ll let you know. That’s if you’re interested, of course.
Meanwhile, I’m still trying to understand why a doctor of psychology consistently spells ‘extrovert’ wrongly.
They have a saying in Yorkshire: ‘There’s nowt so queer as folk.’ Yes there is. Life.
4 comments:
I looked at that site, too, and took the quiz. I got 18 which also qualifies me as an HSP. Oh well. Not sure what i think about that... because i really haven't thought about it. And i don't think i will.
Ha. I love the description of an HSP, especially the part about drinking oneself to death. It's true, I know, but with all the low-lows there are also high-highs, which a less sensitive person misses. Have you ever noticed how "even" a non-sensitive person is? I worked with a young woman once who seemed to be the same "temperature" all the time. She smiled – but not too much and nothing seemed to impress her one way or other. Can you imagine? Probably relates to the IQ thing too. Oh well, let's have another drink :)
It could be a curse... or it could be a gift. And I'm sure it's possible to block out extra sensory input if you don't want it. Autistic people sometimes make noise to do that. But if I had the power of taking in all this stuff (as I may or may not) I would find a way to cherish it. And to channel it. I've said before: I have faith in you. You can do it.
Andrea: I got 20. Maybe it's better not to think about it. I just have this insatiable need to understand why I don't fit in, and the HSP thing just got added to the mix as a possibility.
Della: I know. I once heard somebody with severe bipolar say he refused to take medication because the downs were a price he was prepared to pay for the ups. And you know who I would SO LOVE to have a drink with one day, don't you?
Maria: The vague suggestion of a connection with autism struck me. Whether the concept of HSP has any validity or not, the 'symptoms' certainly match me. And it really is hard sometimes. But you're an angel for those last two sentences. You really do forgive some of the things I've said to you, don't you?
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