When you are highly sensitive, you feel everything very intensely. Light, sounds, smells but also emotions are amplified. Finding yourself in the middle of the crowd or in a noisy environment can sometimes be overwhelming. Group situations can be very stressful because the myriad of social interactions overstimulates our sensitive nervous system and create emotional overload, sometimes to the point of triggering a panic attack.

Most of the time, there are two ways of dealing with the overwhelm. Either you start avoiding social interactions, which can lead to isolation or you can be tempted to use alcohol or other substances to mask your anxiety, which obviously can be self-destructive. The idea is to find an alternative that allows you to respect who you are, to engage in relationships and develop a vibrant social life, while at the same time honouring your need for quiet time. Often highly sensitive people have a more introverted personality and need time alone to recharge their batteries.  In a society that values self-assertive and extraverted people, highly sensitive people and introverts often feel undervalued and develop a poor self-esteem. They feel different and misunderstood and struggle to thrive in their professional and personal life. High sensitivity is very often seen as something to be ashamed of. No wonder why highly sensitive people are more likely to develop addictive behaviours as a way to reduce the underlying turmoil.