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The Highly Sensitive Person's Complete Learning Program: Essential Insights and Tools for Navigating Your Work, Relationships, and Life
Are You a Highly Sensitive Person? Here's the Essential Course to Thrive in the World.
Are you sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, or coarse fabrics?
Do other people’s moods and needs strongly affect you?
On busy days, do you ever wish you could withdraw to a quiet, private place?
Are you deeply moved by the arts or music?
Do you have a rich inner life?
If so, you may be an HSP.
In her groundbreaking 1996 book The Highly Sensitive Person , Dr. Elaine Aron first brought the trait to light, validating the unique lives of one-fifth of the population.
With this in-depth audio learning program―taught by Elaine herself, a fellow HSP―she invites us to learn the full scope of what we now know about high sensitivity , including many new research findings and life strategies.
Join her to What high sensitivity is, how to assess if you're an HSP, compelling research, the five key needs of HSPs, self-care essentials for thriving in our overstimulating world, succeeding in intimate relationships and at work, supporting the highly sensitive child, and much more.
"High sensitivity is neither a disorder nor a reason to brag," Elaine Aron makes clear. "It's an asset that we need to protect and use." With this immersive learning experience, she offers an essential, in-depth resource to help us do so.
Are you sensitive to bright lights, loud noises, strong smells, or coarse fabrics?
Do other people’s moods and needs strongly affect you?
On busy days, do you ever wish you could withdraw to a quiet, private place?
Are you deeply moved by the arts or music?
Do you have a rich inner life?
If so, you may be an HSP.
In her groundbreaking 1996 book The Highly Sensitive Person , Dr. Elaine Aron first brought the trait to light, validating the unique lives of one-fifth of the population.
With this in-depth audio learning program―taught by Elaine herself, a fellow HSP―she invites us to learn the full scope of what we now know about high sensitivity , including many new research findings and life strategies.
Join her to What high sensitivity is, how to assess if you're an HSP, compelling research, the five key needs of HSPs, self-care essentials for thriving in our overstimulating world, succeeding in intimate relationships and at work, supporting the highly sensitive child, and much more.
"High sensitivity is neither a disorder nor a reason to brag," Elaine Aron makes clear. "It's an asset that we need to protect and use." With this immersive learning experience, she offers an essential, in-depth resource to help us do so.
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Published December 3, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
May 24, 2022
Are The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You and The Highly Sensitive Person's Complete Learning Program: Essential Insights and Tools for Navigating Your Work, Relationships, and Life the same?
In the second, the audiobook alternative, each chapter is an hour’s session with a psychologist, the author During and between chapters a bell is rung. These “down-times” are one minute in length and are intended to give listeners a pause, a time to think through the information just presented. For HSP (highly sensitive persons), his is how information should always be presented. Lots of information is provided and in a clear and systematic fashion, but HSP, being who we are, want time to think about what we are told. We need time to deeply process information. This is the clearest definition of HSP. We pick up subtle stimuli from the world around us, stimuli that others miss, but we need time to absorb, process all that has bombarded our senses. We are empathetic and emotionally tuned. We can easily become overstimulated. We need time-out periods! There are both advantages and disadvantages of being HSP.
The book starts by explaining what characterizes HSP. All of this was new for me. The information opened my eyes to why I behave as I do. Introvert and extrovert behavior I have read of, but this book made everything fall into place. 70% of HSP are introverts but a significant 30% are not. 20% of the world population are HSP. 50% of HSP are men and 50% women. There, you have some statistics to ponder.
After the initial explanatory chapter follows a chapter on scientific research. Being HSP is the result of an inherited trait. It is evident in a number of species, including for example dogs and fruit flies. The following chapters, each hourly sessions, are devoted to self-care, or in other words, how to cope with being HSP, relationships, HSP children and parents, HSP at work and finally spirituality (here the author goes into meditation) and then empowerment.
Although each listener will find some chapters more relevant than others, all have tidbits that are relatable. We’ve all been kids and both HSP and non-HSP parents are discussed. This book is both general and specific. We are given guidelines—how to prevent problems and what to do when things do go wrong. The book will, I believe, be appreciated by both those who are new to the field and those who are well read on the subject. I like that there is practical advice given, advice that I have today already begun using.
The author speaks slowly and clearly. Now I know why I always need to listen to audiobooks at a slower speed than others. I have an innate need to deeply process what I am being told--because I am HSP. The need to do this is in my genes! Having listened to this book, I now understand both my own and others' behavior better.
This book is for those who are curious about HSP, but I think it will be enjoyed most by those who are HSP!
In answer to my initial question, I think it is safe to say that the paper and audiobook provide the same information but present it differently.
THANK YOU, Carmel, for recommending it to me!
In the second, the audiobook alternative, each chapter is an hour’s session with a psychologist, the author During and between chapters a bell is rung. These “down-times” are one minute in length and are intended to give listeners a pause, a time to think through the information just presented. For HSP (highly sensitive persons), his is how information should always be presented. Lots of information is provided and in a clear and systematic fashion, but HSP, being who we are, want time to think about what we are told. We need time to deeply process information. This is the clearest definition of HSP. We pick up subtle stimuli from the world around us, stimuli that others miss, but we need time to absorb, process all that has bombarded our senses. We are empathetic and emotionally tuned. We can easily become overstimulated. We need time-out periods! There are both advantages and disadvantages of being HSP.
The book starts by explaining what characterizes HSP. All of this was new for me. The information opened my eyes to why I behave as I do. Introvert and extrovert behavior I have read of, but this book made everything fall into place. 70% of HSP are introverts but a significant 30% are not. 20% of the world population are HSP. 50% of HSP are men and 50% women. There, you have some statistics to ponder.
After the initial explanatory chapter follows a chapter on scientific research. Being HSP is the result of an inherited trait. It is evident in a number of species, including for example dogs and fruit flies. The following chapters, each hourly sessions, are devoted to self-care, or in other words, how to cope with being HSP, relationships, HSP children and parents, HSP at work and finally spirituality (here the author goes into meditation) and then empowerment.
Although each listener will find some chapters more relevant than others, all have tidbits that are relatable. We’ve all been kids and both HSP and non-HSP parents are discussed. This book is both general and specific. We are given guidelines—how to prevent problems and what to do when things do go wrong. The book will, I believe, be appreciated by both those who are new to the field and those who are well read on the subject. I like that there is practical advice given, advice that I have today already begun using.
The author speaks slowly and clearly. Now I know why I always need to listen to audiobooks at a slower speed than others. I have an innate need to deeply process what I am being told--because I am HSP. The need to do this is in my genes! Having listened to this book, I now understand both my own and others' behavior better.
This book is for those who are curious about HSP, but I think it will be enjoyed most by those who are HSP!
In answer to my initial question, I think it is safe to say that the paper and audiobook provide the same information but present it differently.
THANK YOU, Carmel, for recommending it to me!
August 30, 2021
I listened to the audio rendition of this work, read by the author. It was interesting to hear the author's experience as one of the earlier researchers into HSP traits. She clearly knows her stuff and is widely read outside her own research. I think what she does very well is describe HSPs and break down the population of people who are highly sensitive. For example, she makes very clear that not all HSPs are introverted, in fact her research found that about on third of the people tested were extroverts. Also, HSPs can be men or women. The author also clearly explains that sensitivity is not just identified by emotional or physical sensitivity, but is also related to depth of processing. HSPs process inputs very differently than those without the trait, which is why they can easily be overwhelmed and overstimulated.
One thing I really disagreed with the author on is her section on "spirituality." She states that HSPs are usually very spiritual and talks about the benefits of all kinds of spiritual practices. This may be true, but I think that the recent popularity surrounding discussions of Religious Trauma Syndrome could indicate that HSPs might be vulnerable to also being very hurt by religious systems because of how deeply HSPs process external inputs and systems. The author also calls HSPs "priestly advisors" to "warrior kings." She doesn't define the "warrior kings" well, but she goes over the idea that HSPs are wise, deep thinkers that have a lot of spiritual wisdom to offer everyone around them. I have real issues with this, just as I have issues with saying that empaths have a particular role to fill in society. Just because you have a particular trait does not necessarily give you the qualifications to take on the role of wise advisor. Just because a person may think deeply does not mean they have the life experience or clear seeing to be wise. Nor does sensitivity make them free of trauma or past experiences that may be warping their point of view. The author ties this "priestly advisor" idea to other concepts of learning to trust yourself and feeling confident to turn up your volume and speak out about what you think. I don't disagree with the overall concept. I just have issue with saying that all HSPs are inherently wise advisors. It seems like a strange correlation for a researcher to make and one I would fight back on. (There isn't any research on this that I could tell, the author was just speaking from experience.)
So, overall I thought this was a valuable read and I would be willing to pick up some of the author's other works. I would just caution against taking it all as gospel truth without some deep processing first.
One thing I really disagreed with the author on is her section on "spirituality." She states that HSPs are usually very spiritual and talks about the benefits of all kinds of spiritual practices. This may be true, but I think that the recent popularity surrounding discussions of Religious Trauma Syndrome could indicate that HSPs might be vulnerable to also being very hurt by religious systems because of how deeply HSPs process external inputs and systems. The author also calls HSPs "priestly advisors" to "warrior kings." She doesn't define the "warrior kings" well, but she goes over the idea that HSPs are wise, deep thinkers that have a lot of spiritual wisdom to offer everyone around them. I have real issues with this, just as I have issues with saying that empaths have a particular role to fill in society. Just because you have a particular trait does not necessarily give you the qualifications to take on the role of wise advisor. Just because a person may think deeply does not mean they have the life experience or clear seeing to be wise. Nor does sensitivity make them free of trauma or past experiences that may be warping their point of view. The author ties this "priestly advisor" idea to other concepts of learning to trust yourself and feeling confident to turn up your volume and speak out about what you think. I don't disagree with the overall concept. I just have issue with saying that all HSPs are inherently wise advisors. It seems like a strange correlation for a researcher to make and one I would fight back on. (There isn't any research on this that I could tell, the author was just speaking from experience.)
So, overall I thought this was a valuable read and I would be willing to pick up some of the author's other works. I would just caution against taking it all as gospel truth without some deep processing first.
August 18, 2021
I knew for a long time that I am prone to overstimulation and I process things more deeply than many people around me. But I didn't know there is a comprehensive study and holistic term for it until very recently. This book helped me understand myself more without feeling ashamed or weird about certain traits. I listened to the audiobook read by the author herself. It felt like listening to a nice grandma but instead of fairytales she tells interesting summaries from many research papers told in an easy-to-digest way. Elaine goes chapter by chapter through many areas of life (work, free time, relationships, raising a child, spirituality, etc.) - everyone can find their own. She explains what challenges and needs the HSP has and enriches it by her own experience. I recommend this book to anyone who is a highly sensitive person or lives with one. Or even to people who are just interested to understand others more :)
November 28, 2021
Indespensible tools to help a sensitive e person function better socially. I've been able to test some out and this has been massively helpful.
June 15, 2022
After the definition is offered of what we are talking about in terms of the highly sensitive person (HSP) being someone who has a sensitive nervous system, is aware of subtleties in his/her surroundings, and is more easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment, the coursework gets easier. I envisage Aron's research in the field and the work through as a decathlon compared to individual Olympic events. Sensitivity overlaps many disorders and presentations, but it can also be seen as its own paradigm. Addressing the issues the way they are nicely presented in the sections and subsections of this presentation, with time for reflection and analysis, can them flow back into the other areas where sensitivity may be a component symptom. At least, this is my take on it and I can see this being a regular reference that I provide to others. I was interested in seeing the authors' webpage post reading this and there is a plethora of resources for further analysis and interventions. Thank you.
September 9, 2024
This is my second book of Elaine Aron’s, and I really appreciate the calm and soothing, knowledgeable and non-assuming way with which she narrates her books. As a hsp and a therapist, this is really valuable reading both for myself and to recommend to and learn from for my clients. There were some great points toward the end that really resonate with some concepts I’m working with therapeutically and spiritually myself at the moment also. I started this book several years ago and logged into my Audible for a different reason and realised I only had a chunk to finish and felt it would fit with me right now and I’m glad I did. I have already started referencing it to clients today ☺️
August 29, 2023
A solid 3.5. Lots of great, in-depth info but I did wish I had a text version to refer to. I found the spiritual component to be an interesting lens on the value of HSPs as advisors. Lots of understanding and ideas for practices to help HSPs regulate in an overstimulating world.
December 27, 2020
Listened to this as I have been reading the original book. A good companion book! 3.5 stars.
December 9, 2022
This book changed my life. I am finally able to accept my sensitivity without having to feel guilty for it. Thank you.
October 10, 2023
I listened to the audiobook which is more like lectures and I loved it! She is very scientific and the lectures were filled with interesting insights on the topic.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews