You are the highly sensitive person. The sensitivity is the source of the deep perception, the deep resonance, the deep understanding. The sensitivity is also the source of the chronic overwhelm, the chronic overstimulation, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-protected that are the foundation of one of the most under-recognized, and most under-discussed, psychological phenomena in modern life. The phenomenon is the HSP overwhelm, and the overwhelm is the source of the chronic emotional exhaustion, the chronic cognitive impairment, and the chronic disconnection from the self that are the foundation of the most under-developed, and most under-celebrated, character traits of modern HSP life.
The emotional armor is the practice of staying strong without going numb for the HSPs. The armor is the source of the emotional protection, the emotional engagement, and the meaningful life that are the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
What the HSP Overwhelm Is
The HSP overwhelm is the chronic, often unconscious, experience of the emotional, sensory, and cognitive overwhelm from the environment, the relationships, and the stimulation. The overwhelm is the source of the chronic emotional exhaustion, the chronic cognitive impairment, and the chronic disconnection from the self. The overwhelm is the source of the difficulty of the navigation.
Research on sensory processing sensitivity by Elaine Aron has shown that the HSP is the source of the deeper processing, the deeper resonance, and the deeper empathy. The empathy is the source of the chronic overwhelm, and the overwhelm is the source of the difficulty of the navigation.
Research on emotional numbing as a defense by various researchers has shown that the numbing is the source of the chronic emotional disconnection, and the disconnection is the source of the chronic cost. The cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
Why the Numbing Is the Wrong Defense
The numbing is the wrong defense for the HSPs for several reasons. The first is the loss of the sensitivity. The numbing is the source of the loss of the sensitivity, and the loss is the source of the chronic disconnection from the self. The disconnection is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The second reason is the loss of the depth. The numbing is the source of the loss of the depth, and the loss is the source of the chronic superficiality. The superficiality is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The third reason is the loss of the connection. The numbing is the source of the loss of the connection, and the loss is the source of the chronic isolation. The isolation is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
The fourth reason is the loss of the meaning. The numbing is the source of the loss of the meaning, and the loss is the source of the chronic sense of the never-quite-alive. The sense is the source of the cost, and the cost is the foundation of the difficulty of the navigation.
What the Emotional Armor Achieves
The emotional armor achieves several important things. The first is the protection without the numbing. The emotional armor is the source of the engagement with the protection, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The protection is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
The second is the regulation without the suppression. The emotional armor is the source of the engagement with the regulation, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The regulation is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
The third is the resilience without the rigidity. The emotional armor is the source of the engagement with the resilience, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The resilience is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
The fourth is the sensitivity as the strength. The emotional armor is the source of the engagement with the sensitivity, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The sensitivity is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
How to Build the Emotional Armor
1. Notice the overwhelm as the signal. The notice is the source of the awareness, and the awareness is the foundation of the change. The notice is the source of the engagement, and the engagement is the foundation of the navigation.
2. Use the "I am feeling X, and I am choosing Y" framework. The framework is the source of the engagement with the boundary, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The framework is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
3. Practice the sensory regulation. The regulation is the source of the engagement with the sensory, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The regulation is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
4. Set the clear boundaries with the stimulation. The boundaries are the source of the engagement with the protection, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The boundaries are the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
5. Use the "containment" technique. The containment is the source of the engagement with the regulation, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The containment is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
6. Cultivate the "I am not my emotions" identity. The identity is the source of the engagement with the boundary, and the engagement is the source of the meaningful life. The identity is the source of the growth, and the growth is the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life.
7. Celebrate the sensitivity as the strength. The celebration is the source of the reframe, and the reframe is the foundation of the change. The celebration is the source of the engagement, and the engagement is the foundation of the navigation.
When the Emotional Armor Is the Right Move
It is important to say clearly: the emotional armor is the right move for the chronic overwhelm, the chronic overstimulation, and the chronic sense of the never-quite-protected. The emotional armor is the wrong move when the person is in the active processing of the grief, the trauma, or the deep intimacy that requires the openness. The honest self-inquiry is whether the armor is the source of the protection, or whether the armor is the source of the avoidance. The first is the source of the engagement, and the second is the source of the resistance.
The Takeaway
The emotional armor for the HSPs is one of the most under-recognized, and most under-celebrated, integrations in modern life. The armor is the source of the emotional protection, the emotional engagement, and the meaningful life that are the foundation of the more engaged, more meaningful, more deeply sensitive life. The cure is not to go numb. The cure is to build the armor, to regulate the emotions, and to engage with the sensitivity as the strength. The next time you feel the overwhelm, pause long enough to notice the signal, to use the framework, and to engage with the sensitivity. The engagement is the source of the more meaningful, more resilient, more deeply sensitive life.
