Do you feel like you have no control over your circumstances or what is happening around you?

We all struggle with circumstances beyond our control. The world at large may feel like it is about to implode or feel tenuous at best. Add to this some personal circumstances you are experiencing that you may have little or no control over. It’s a recipe for stress and anxiety times 100!

First things first - there are a few things to consider that will help you take stock of the impact.

Awareness: Take note of how it makes you feel emotionally and physically. Do you feel stress or anxiety? Are you angry or frustrated? How is it showing up? Do you have a short temper? Are you struggling to stay focused? Are you exhausted? Are you losing sleep? Is it affecting your appetite? I’m here to tell you that any and all of these reactions are par for the course.

Acknowledgement: Take stock of all the things you CAN control - your daily activities, your reaction to life events, how you take care of yourself, the work that you do, who you socialize with, and what brings you joy. You may realize you have more control over your life than you originally thought.

Understanding: Understand that there are just some things that are beyond your control. By all means, take it all in, noodle on it for a while, maybe even dwell on it for an extended period of time. Then, take a deep breath and accept that there is very little and quite possibly nothing you can do about that particular thing! Feel the freedom of your acceptance. It’s liberating.

Now let’s discuss what you have the power to control…

It took me a while to understand what it meant to be a highly sensitive person (HSP). I thought it was someone who reacted strongly to situations and if I’m being truthful, I thought it was someone who over-reacted. Come to find out I am somewhat correct. As with most things, there is just more to it. Highly sensitive persons react more strongly to internal and external stimuli such as pain, hunger, light, and noise. They are also more upset than others by tension and feelings of being overwhelmed. And they tend to have a more complex inner life.

Just to be clear, it is not a mental health disorder but rather a personality trait that exists in a person to varying degrees. This personality trait is known as sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS). I’m actually relieved to know that there is a term for it. I always wondered why I am sensitive to noise and light. I am also highly sensitive to violence, tragedy, and tension which are part of being an SPS. I am not one of those people who slow down on the highway when they see an accident. I make sure I add news blackouts to my routine as news stories about wars and death disturb me more than the average person. I always turn the channel when the ads about cruelty to animals come on.

You may think this is a form of sticking your head in the sand. Make no mistake, it is self-preservation for a highly sensitive person.

If you are wondering if you are an HSP, here are a few indicators:

You experience emotions more deeply than the average person. A sad movie or even a touching ad can trigger tears (ME!). You appreciate natural beauty on a profound level and you are deeply moved by art and music.

You feel physical sensations intensely. In other words, you are hyper-aware of physical sensations, such as being more aware of noise and light. Another personal example is that I feel an all-over body tingling when I almost hurt myself if I trip on a rug or miss a step.

You think deeply. You tend to take in more information…