CBD for HSP (Highly Sensitive Person)

Encyclopedias describe High Sensitivity as “a term used to describe the temperamental trait of higher sensory processing sensitivity.” But what exactly does that mean? The acronym “HSP” (Highly Sensitive Person) was coined in the 1990s by American psychologist Dr. Elaine Aaron and is now also used in German. You can probably sense if you are a highly sensitive person by reading a few articles on the topic.

Every person, whether more or less sensitive, feels most comfortable within a certain range of stimulation from various stimuli. If one does not receive enough stimulation, one feels bored and uncomfortable. If, on the other hand, one is exposed to more or more intense stimuli, one quickly feels overwhelmed, helpless, or even threatened. A certain percentage of people – the highly sensitive – reach this optimal stimulation even when others are still bored. If a situation is sufficiently loud, wild, interesting, or exciting for the majority, HSPs are often already overstimulated.

However, this is not because they can tolerate fewer stimuli, but because they perceive more. High sensitivity has the very real physiological cause of a particularly sensitive nervous system, or fewer transmission losses, as they have significantly more relevant neurotransmitters. As a result, HSPs absorb more and finer details and process impressions more thoroughly and deeply.

Highly sensitive people can differ greatly from each other, as their high sensitivity can be located in various areas (sensing, feeling, thinking):

• Sensorily sensitive people have fine sensory perceptions regarding noises, smells, light, and colors. Often they have a talent in these areas: musical, artistic, aesthetic. Possible disadvantages: They are often particularly sensitive to noise, easily irritated, overwhelmed by many sensory impressions, and quickly overloaded.

• Emotionally sensitive people particularly pick up on nuances in interpersonal areas. They are compassionate, empathetic, often particularly attentive listeners with strong intuition. Challenges: They often feel overwhelmed by the burden of everything they perceive. Often, in conversations, they react more strongly to the undertones than to the spoken message of the interlocutor.

• Cognitively sensitive people have a strong sense of logic, of “true” and “false,” and think in complex connections. They often have special talents in scientific or technical fields. Problems can arise when complex thinking hinders communication in everyday life.

High sensitivity is not a disease or a disorder. It is also not social phobia, neurosis, or ADHD. It is merely a variation within the diversity of human dispositions. However, it can still lead to discomfort and suffering if everyday life cannot be structured in a way that accommodates highly sensitive individuals.

Over the last 10 years, HSPs, with their strengths and weaknesses, have increasingly received attention from psychologists and researchers. As a result, much is now known about the correlations and effects of this gift. Thus, approaches for a "user manual" for highly sensitive people already exist.

Most highly sensitive people frequently struggle with stress, and many find it difficult to cope. It is normal for people to experience stress repeatedly. Stress responses increase alertness and are intended to help adapt quickly to the current life situation. For many HSPs, it can be very helpful to distinguish between controlled and uncontrolled stress reactions, as both have different causes.

The controlled stress response occurs in healthy individuals when life circumstances become more difficult but the end of the stress burden is in sight, such as just before an exam. In such situations, it is sensible to endure it, and the controlled stress response is intended to help with this.

However, if the stress is structurally conditioned, meaning there is no end in sight, the stress response is no longer useful. It can occur, for example, in chronic relationship conflicts or difficulties at work. For HSPs, it can be very rewarding to address this and learn to differentiate between these two reactions. Because it is not wise, and above all not advisable, to make an uncontrolled stress response bearable with the help of breathing exercises or sedatives. Conversely, it is often not sensible to question everything and possibly give up everything in the face of controlled stress.

Highly sensitive people will repeatedly find themselves in a state of overstimulation, as they naturally cannot avoid all potentially challenging situations. Because they perceive stimuli more intensely and process them more thoroughly, they are often confronted with strong emotions and a flood of thoughts, as well as physical and emotional tension and restlessness. Therefore, it is advisable to acquire a few strategies to influence the intensity, duration, and quality of these emotions in such situations.

• Consciously perceive, differentiate, and name emotions
• Be able to recognize the trigger
• Mindfully perceive and accept emotions
• View emotions as normal
• Recognize the connection between basic emotional needs and emotions
• Support oneself in the face of negative emotions
• Concrete behavioral changes in the situation
• Use of physical relaxation

We often learn these skills for regulating emotions in early childhood, from our parents and other role models, from whom we adopt these strategies. Unfortunately, this does not always work, for example, if parents were absent, inattentive, or overwhelmed. The good news, however, is that we can learn to manage our emotions well at any age, so we don't have to feel helpless.

It is well known that CBD has calming properties in addition to its pain-relieving and anti-inflammatory effects and can thus counteract stress-related symptoms. Therefore, it is ideal for HSPs who want to regain calm in special stress situations or with anxiety. It can be taken over a longer period, and there are no undesirable side effects.

Therefore, CBD can also be used very effectively against chronic stress. This type of stress weakens the immune system and can lead to poor concentration, digestive problems, and mood swings. Cannabidiol makes the body more resistant to stress, but it cannot combat the underlying causes. If CBD takes the edge off stress for highly sensitive individuals, it can help them find a clear solution to problems.

CBD combats stress in several ways. It not only influences adrenaline release but can also affect the human endocannabinoid system (ECS). This system, among other things, controls our feelings of happiness or emptiness, sleep, appetite, and pain perception via serotonin production. CBD cooperates with the ECS, which maintains the balance of bodily reactions, thereby alleviating or even eliminating the consequences of stress.