Transitions, changes, and shifts are all a natural and necessary part of life. For the highly sensitive person, transitions can feel challenging, and sometimes overwhelming. There are ways to help ease seasonal transitions, though!
As part of my own highly sensitive experience, I struggle a great deal with the heat, and the shift from summer to fall brings mixed feelings. Many outdoor pools are closing soon, and my ability to practice grounding and connection to nature is limited in Texas with high temperatures often enduring into October or November. On the other hand, it will eventually get cooler, opening up more opportunities for outdoor activities.
Teachers and kids are returning to school, and routines are changing to accommodate. Even commutes to and from work change with school zones, additional drive times, and there is more hustle and bustle in the air. For many, vacations have come and gone, and some still feel the restorative energy from having gotten away from it all for a while. For others, their time off or away seemed entirely too short-lived.
I feel the shifts all around me; in nature, in people, in energies, and within my own emotional and physical experiences. It’s a shift that I’m becoming more and more attuned with, but still struggle to predict the impact at times. Some seasonal changes have little impact on my overall experience, but I’ve found that without awareness, attunement, and preparation, they can knock me off kilter.
Changes are difficult for highly sensitive people! Seasonal shifts occur regularly, and though I’ve been through them time and time again, I still have to prepare if I don't want to find myself inexplicably overwhelmed. Over the years, I’ve learned a few things that help me get through seasonal transitions a little more smoothly.
1. Take time to attend to the shifts.
If you’ve learned that you need a little more down time than your not-so-highly-sensitive loved ones, as many HSP’s do, transitions might require more time to recharge and regroup. Whether your self-care includes meditation, reading, taking a nature walk, or just spending time shut in a quiet space – allow for a little extra time each day to give your system the opportunity to not only tune in to the shifts, but adjust to the transition.
2. Attend more closely to your nutritional needs.
You may have noticed that even minor changes in diet can have a profound impact on your physical and emotional state. If you already know what foods result in sluggishness, higher anxiety, gastrointestinal upset, and other negative side effects, try to be even more mindful of what foods are feeding not only your physical being, but your levels of tolerance to outside stimuli, and adjust your food intake accordingly (even if it’s just temporary through the seasonal transition).
3. Unplug.
This might be an excellent time to set limits around technological engagement. Put your phone away, turn off the computer, and step away from the TV. This gives you true “down time,” away from the stress. Online browsing, video games, social media, and binge watching TV shows actually remove you from your internal and external experiences, making it more difficult to tune into your own body and mind, and less able to attend to your needs.
4. Avoid additional commitments.
Shifts in the environment, routines, and internal frequencies require energy. It might be a good time to avoid overextending yourself by committing to additional work, projects, or social engagements. If you’re a parent, student, teacher, or work seasonal jobs in the summer, then your routine will require change. Allow the fine-tuning to occur within the necessary changes before creating more shifts when possible.
5. Be kind to yourself.
If you find yourself struggling more than usual, and having a hard time pinpointing a cause or solution, beating yourself up about it will not help. Attending to your experiences in a curious and non-judgmental way will increase your ability to identify the source of struggles, and make possible solutions come more clearly and easily. Reminding yourself that about a fifth of the population share your highly sensitive gift, can help you feel less isolated, too.
Wishing you smooth, peaceful, and easy transition into fall. If you find yourself struggling more than usual with the transition, reach out to friends and family who understand the unique experiences of highly sensitive people. If you feel overwhelmed, or are interested in learning more about not only coping, but thriving as a highly sensitive person, reach out for help from someone well versed in the remarkable gifts and distinct challenges associated with living as a highly sensitive person.
For more information about highly sensitive people, visit my specialty page.
Kristen Henshaw, a Licensed Professional Counselor Intern at Counseling South Austin under the supervision of Ann Stoneson, LPC-S, specializes in counseling and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapy for highly sensitive people, those wanting to recover and heal from traumatic experiences and relationships, and people struggling with dissociation. For a gentle, respectful approach to healing, contact her for your free 30-minute consultation.