The Plight of The Empath or Highly Senstive Person (HSP)

[Guest guest]

The Plight of the Empath

or

Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)

by Kathy

I see many clients in my practice

as a hypnotherapist and consultant that are overwhelmed by or stuck in some

intensely negative, recurring emotion-- especially guilt. Some exhibit such

intense and unexplained sorrow they say things like, "I've been crying all

week for no reason!"

I would characterize most, if not

all, of these clients as: highly spiritually evolved, accepting responsibility

for their own lives, serious about working through their issues and

open-minded.

So why can't they seem to get

past these problems? When I began to intently study this phenomenon, I started

seeing similarities and making connections.

Most of these clients would spend

as much time (in the pre-talk portion of their sessions) relating other

people's problems and how they were affected by them as they did "their

own stuff." They frequently made comments regarding seemingly unexplained

anger, grief or guilt in themselves, that they simultaneously recognized, yet

could easily explain in friends and relatives.

What I began to realize was that

these clients were not only extremely empathic, but had no idea what to do

about it. In fact, I now believe at least 60 percent of my current clients are highly

empathic and, of these, a large portion of the emotional problems they suffer

from are not their own.

As synchronicity would have it,

shortly after I made this connection, my copy of Issue #29 of Intuition

Magazine arrived. There, on page 8, begins an article by Maggie Oman ,

titled The Sensitivity Trait. Oman's article chronicles the work

of research psychologist and psychotherapist Elaine Aron. Aron, highly empathic

herself, claims, "high sensitivity can be an asset if you arrange your life

to accommodate this gift." Her book, The Highly Sensitive

Person : How to Thrive when the World Overwhelms You, details her research findings, which include:

The brains of highly sensitive

people have more activity and blood flow in the right hemisphere, indicating an

internal rather than an external focus. What is moderately arousing to most

people is overwhelming to HSPs. HSPs often have decreased serotonin levels

resulting from the repeated stress of over arousal.

Likewise, they have more reactive

immune systems (allergies) and more sensitive nervous systems.

The sensitivity trait is just as

likely among men as among women; both represent about 20 percent of the

population.

Some recommendations of Aron's

for HSPs:

Spend at least eight to ten hours

per day in bed, whether sleeping or not, plus an extra two hours spent in

meditation or other forms of solitude and one hour of outdoor exercise.

Make sure to have plenty of

"down time", including: one full day per week completely off, one

month of vacation per year (split up, preferably), time with animals and plants

in nature as often as possible.

Keep the following items on hand:

earplugs (for loud noise), silk wrap or blanket of natural materials (to cuddle

up in with favorite herbal tea), flowers, candles, incense (to please all the

senses), protein snacks (as sensory over arousal depletes blood sugar).

I've uncovered my own

recommendations from working with HSPs. First, use some form of releasing

therapy, such as Yoga therapy; hypnotherapy; energy work of any kind, such as

Reiki; Dance; MAP or ACCESS, to "let go" of stuck emotions, whether

yours or someone else's. Then practice either a shielding or a channeling

/transmuting program.

In a shielding program, HSPs

would typically visualize surrounding themselves with white light and placing a

reflective shield outside the light, so negative energies from others get sent

back. This, I believe is the most commonly used type of protection. In a

similar concept, Native Americans brought us "smudging" using Sage

sticks. A healer friend of mine has a prayer she uses in the shower, "Please

let all negative emotions that are not mine be washed away in this

shower."

However, I agree with Judith

Orloff, MD, who spoke recently during a Mind Science Foundation lecture. She

said she made a conscious decision, even though highly empathic herself, not to

shield herself, but to open 100 percent to her vulnerability.

If this idea fits better with

your belief system, you can still strengthen yourself by seeing yourself as a

channel for a higher energy source, instead of someone who needs protection.

Something that worked very well for me during a big shift in my own

consciousness was to sing "The Prayer of St. Francis" over and over

again as a mantra. (This prayer, set to music, begins "Make me a channel

of Your peace. Where there is hatred, let me bring Your love...") And,

actually visualize yourself as some form of pipe or other conduit, allowing

Universal energy to flow through you to heal people and situations around you.

I have a friend who allows the negative energy of others to flow through him

and sends it into Mother Earth to be transmuted into positive again. Just

sitting in the same room with him is extremely refreshing and empowering. You

don't have to be born with this talent; you can develop it, and, in the

process, heal your own life. Through the use of these and other techniques,

being born highly sensitive can truly become a blessing. If you'd like more

information on this subject, I highly recommend either of Judith Orloff's books

or the one highlighted in this article, by Elaine Aron.

About this contributor: Kathy

, MBA, CH, is in full-time practice as a hypnotist and motivational

consultant. She is also co-producer of a holistic health show in the San area

(www.welltv.freeservers.com) called Wellness Connection. For more information,

visit her website at www.mooreinspire.com

[Guest guest]

Dear Alison, Perfect timing! Thank you SO much for sharing this with me just now, and with this group - a truly senstive and caring bunch. How GOOD to know about this. I have chosen the 100 percent sensitivity route, but will immediately put into practice the other suggestions here. As I was shown to do in my dream song "Treaty" (recorded in the White Haired Sunrise CD) - I was going out and digging a hole (physcially) to "put in" the negativity flowing through from others - and though great excercize and sweetly humbling - it makes a lot of sense to visualize and channel that energy with blessings. Sending a large and happy hug in your direction today with gratitude that you worked as the perfect conduit to bring blessings in sharing this timely article. Thank you! Mitakuye

Oyasin, Peaceable

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[Guest guest]

*humbled bow of gratitude to you followed by a huge hug* I thank you for your kind words and support, Beloved. Much Success to you in this Sacred Endeavor! Blessings & Love, Infinitely and Eternally! ~Ali~PeaceableWhiteBuffalo <peaceablewhitebuffalo@...> wrote: Dear Alison, Perfect timing! Thank

you SO much for sharing this with me just now, and with this group - a truly senstive and caring bunch. How GOOD to know about this. I have chosen the 100 percent sensitivity route, but will immediately put into practice the other suggestions here. As I was shown to do in my dream song "Treaty" (recorded in the White Haired Sunrise CD) - I was going out and digging a hole (physcially) to "put in" the negativity flowing through from others - and though great excercize and sweetly humbling - it makes a lot of sense to visualize and channel that energy with blessings. Sending a large and happy hug in your direction today with gratitude that you worked as the perfect conduit to bring blessings in sharing this timely article. Thank you! Mitakuye Oyasin, Peaceable Looking

for a deal? Find great prices on flights and hotels with FareChase.