Understanding a Highly Sensitive Child

by Suzanne Sears

Highly sensitive children (HSC) are born with a tendency to notice more details in their environment. Psychology Today reports that that approximately 15 to 20 percent of the population is highly sensitive. This temperament trait is innate and genetically determined (one or both parents being highly sensitive). Being highly sensitive is not a “one-size-fits-all” trait, as there are many gradations of sensitivity, from very mild to extreme sensitivity, among HSC.

It appears that the brain’s salience network, which selects stimuli that deserve our attention, works overtime in HSC, so they pay attention to things that others don’t notice, and can easily become overwhelmed by a high volume of incoming stimulation and often feel compelled to fix things. HSC can reflect deeply on what they are processing and thus may be empathic, smart, intuitive, creative, careful and conscientious.

This tendency to process high volumes of stimuli is not limited to the brain in HSC, as they may also have faster reflexes, are more affected by pain, medications and stimuli, and have more reactive immune systems and allergies. It seems as if entire whole body detects and understands whatever comes in through their senses.

HSC may seem to be complainers because the lights are too bright, the temperature is too cold or too hot, sounds are too loud and clothes are too tight or too itchy. Foods may be too spicy or the texture intolerable and odors too strong or weird. HSC may develop eating issues because parents don’t understand these sensations, and meals can become a battlefield.

Highly sensitive children are aware of the effects of bad behavior and understand the consequences, so they are more likely to try to avoid such behavior. However, if they become overstimulated when unable to shield themselves against excessive incoming stimuli, they can throw tantrums and have rages as a reaction. In school, they can easily become overstimulated and become hyperactive or unable to focus, then labeled as ADD or ADHD and put on medication.

Unfortunately, that can cause them to feel as if something is wrong with them and lose confidence in themselves. Other HSC may respond to overstimulation by becoming quiet and still, so they are labeled shy or introverted. HSC need to know what to expect and require order in their environment. They cannot tolerate unpredictability.

It is often true that HSC will try to control their exposure to stimuli by enjoying quieter activities in calm surroundings, and it is important for parents to understand these preferences and encourage their HSC to pursue them in their own way. Sometimes, these children require alone time to decompress from the excessive stimulation they experience in order to recharge their batteries and quiet their nervous systems.

Suzanne Sears is a certified practicing hypnotist by the National Guild of Hypnotists and owner of Healthy Changes Hypnosis, located at 9219 Katy Fwy., Ste. 113, in Houston. For more information, visit HealthyChangesHypnosis.com.