How to cope with your sensitivity

I often wonder how I can cope with my sensitivity. I think that's a question many people ask themselves. That's why after a suggestion of LPchip I decided to open this topic.

Here's a little bit about my situation:
I'm a HSP (highly sensitive person) and although it has its charms I'm not very good in keeping the negative energies out. Because my sensitivity is also a thing I use in a positive way it's hard to find the boundary between just feeling and absorbing energies. I often feel drained by certain situations. Like in a busy street, sometimes I can shield myself but mostly I'm hypersensitive to other people. It's difficult to explain but it feels like I'm open to everyone and I'm going loco through all these energies I feel.
But what I want is to use my ability in a way that it doesn't harm me.
I have read 2 books on HSP but it still can't cope with my sensitivity.

What troubles me the most is that I'm often ill. Because I'm very sensitive I get ill rapidly and because of my sensitive nervous system I experience it very intense. I can't push myself and just go on with my daily life. Some people seem so hardened to me and they mostly think I'm weak. Being ill affects me physically and mentally because while the daily life goes on I can't take part. Through this a kind of chicken-and-egg situation occurs. All I achieved in coping with my sensitivity disappears when I get ill, so I can start all over.

Maybe any of you recognizes this and has the same troubles or maybe has tips.
I think my situation is quite specific and complicated but maybe someone knows how to cope with sensitivity in general. Everything can be helpful even sharing experiences.

Good post.

I would lie if I said that I always have energy. It drains me too, but somehow I know how I can reduce the radius of sensitivity.

Maybe I never focus on a large radius, but I know that I keep a low radius.

If I'd picture myself in a busy environment, would it be a street, I feel more connected to the people close around me, but not really to those further away. Maybe this is something you can develop? Eg. Keep it close to you in crowded areas?

I learned in the past to focus entirelly and only on that what I'm doing and minimise the "alarming system" for second influences.

Its even so that if someone calls my name while I'm busy, I easilly ignore him/her. Only if its directly to me with a clear voice I let it through. I guess this is somekind of filtering... Hard to explain really...

That's interesting Chip!
What you tell about hearing people sounds familiar to me. Peolpe almost always have to call me several times, especially when im on the street. I even walk pass them, without noticing.
It's like i'm in my own world. What do you think of this?

Yeah, I agree.

But for me it is because I have a hard time to focus, so I learned that it works best if I keep it focussed to one single thing, and block everything else. For that reason I am doing one thing and only if you say my name clearly, I will snap out of it

Anyway I think that's a good way to cope with sensitivity. I heard that people with ADHD use it also.

I guess I have ADHD without all the simptons

hi there iv got different thing :people on the streets everywhere feel my positive energy and even setting next to me on the bus,train get full feel with my energy and im instantly getting recharged (i think im like getaway for them - providing with gods energy) with new one.but today i was really discharged and at the end of the day going back home i was literally invisible -everyone was pushing me, walking right on me, seating on public transport on me !!!!!!some people seen me and they where aggressive to me !!!!!what you think it is ????i live in london.thanks

I used to be extremely sensitive to peoples' emotions, to the point where I dreaded going into a group of strangers because of all the feelings I would pick up.

I resolved the issue by putting a "shield" around myself to filter out the strength of some of the feelings. What I did is to sit in a quiet room (I am not one for flash and dash, but if it helps to play soothing music or use a candle flame to focus on - go for it), calmed my thoughts, emotions and heart-rate. I focused on forming a protective light shield around me, just that, no prayers or incantations, just the need.

When my thoughts were no longer coming in words, just a visualization of a beam of light, I then "pictured" the beam beginning to wrap around me from foot to head, around the length of my body, working the light around my body making sure that there were no gaps as the beam became a complete shield cocooning my body.

It has remained there ever since, and I can control the strength and direction of what I am feeling and let those feelings in that enrich me... as for those I feel, some will approach me, I do not go to them, and they are the ones I interact with directly. Those who do not approach me, I always send positive thoughts, hopes and energies to them. Thoughts are very powerful things if you know how to direct them.

If you find yourself being "drained", it is more than likely a negative energy feeding off you...shielding yourself should help. It sounds like this is what is happening. I will send you all my best hopes and wishes and for Alek and LPChip, with each of your permissions, I will form shield to protect you until you can create your own. It should not interfere with your abilities, just take the bite out of any energy that is trying to take from you without permission.

Good show; I lend you all my strength

Thank you Sariel. Joining our energies only makes us all stronger. Keep smiling.