The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide: Essential Skills for Living Well in an Overstimulating World

I read Elaine Aron's book, "The Highly Sensitive Person" which was quite helpful, but I still didn't know how to cope with my sensitivity in this harsh world. I work in a pressure cooker environment with so much loud noise, deadlines and aggressive people, I'm wiped out at the end of the day. I found the chapter on `Creating a Peaceful Work Environment" a godsend. I immediately started employing the suggestions in the book. I was scared to ask my boss if I could work part time from home, but I followed Ted Zeff's suggestions on how to explain to others about my HSP trait and finally got the courage to ask for a change. I'm now able to work three half days from home and being out of that intense office has made me feel more relaxed and able to cope better with my job. While the chapters on calming the senses, coping with time pressure, maintaining a healthy body and nurturing the HSP soul were helpful, I particularly found useful the chapter on "Harmonious Relationships for the HSP." My entire life I have been sensitive and over-reacted to people who have teased me or treated me in an abrasive manner. I've been following the book's different techniques to reduce conflicts with people and have had some encouraging results. I'm finding that I'm asserting myself more in a positive manner when people have made hurtful comments. I used to be upset sometimes for days when someone hurt my feelings. I'm feeling hopeful that I have some new tools that seem to really work so I won't keep obsessing over people who have hurt me. I really enjoyed the supportive, yet humorous tone in which Ted Zeff wrote the book making for easy reading. In the past I've had trouble following too technical writing by professionals. If you are a highly sensitive person, this book can really help you.

I thought there was something wrong with me due to my sensitivity, but after reading "The Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide," I realize that I just have a trait that makes me react more than most people to stimuli. I particularly found helpful the list of positive qualities that we HSPs have. It's made me feel stronger and more confident. I learned how to assert myself and meet my needs from a compassionate place and have found my life turning around rather than being a victim of our chaotic world. Dr. Zeff extensive teaching of classes for HSPs and gathering so much information directly from his students evidently helped him in researching the book and coming up with so many new, helpful suggestions. His work really complements Elaine Aron's book, "The Highly Sensitive Person" who wrote the forward to his book.

I think it would have saved me a lot of the unnecessary suffering and beating up on myself that being an HSP in a non-HSP society has brought me. I think Ted Zeff's done a great service writing this book. It may not be for science minded left-brainers, but its not intended for them - the rest of the western world is designed for them. Its an intuitive yet very practical and insightful guidebook that describes how to make life more manageable for those of us with thinner skins. I found the part about sleeping, insomnia and diet particularly helpful, as these are things I still struggle with. Lots of the information Zeff conveys here I have come round to the hard way - through trial and error. I think that, particularly for teens and young adults, this can be extremely helpful and timely, given the influx of sensitive souled "indigo children". Thanks Ted!!

Building on Dr. Elaine Aron's research on Highly Sensitive People, Ted Zeff's book takes a practical "next step" for the HSP: Now that you *know* about the trait, how do you *manage* it, in an overstimulating world? I started reading this book on a flight from Texas to a convention in California, and discovered tips I could immediately apply to my situation at that moment. The author starts with a general overview of the HSP trait-- including the sensitivity "self test" developed by Elaine Aron-- and then offers readers some guidance on how to make the best use of the book. Subsequent chapters deal with such topics as preparing for your daily life, dealing with time pressures, physical health, improving sleep patterns, coping with relationships, the work environment, and spirituality. The book concludes by answering some common concerns and questions asked by HSPs, as well as a section on choosing an appropriate healer from the helping professions. Throughout, Zeff draws on a variety of relaxation and meditation techniques, as well as aspects of Eastern philosophy and spirituality helpful in minimizing and ending general pain and suffering. His overall tone is gentle, helpful and validating, and completely appropriate for a Highly Sensitive Person. Final thoughts: Highly Recommended (10 out of 10 possible bookmarks) for all HSPs. The book is easy to read, and takes on the much needed topic of how to PRACTICALLY deal with being an HSP. Thanks for reading! --Peter

If you're highly sensitive, this is the book for you. Dr. Zeff shows you how to cope with overstimulation, and stay healthy, relaxed and centered. There's plenty of very practical advice as well as clear explanations of what's been going on with your nervous system and what you can do about it to make life a much more pleasant experience. This is a terrific book!