Hi Rachael,

May not pick this up as original post from long ago. I hope you have well, enjoying life and work. Discovered HSS/HSP and it seems to be true for me too.

As a kid I was…well painfully shy…would hardly talk at school and had a small but close friendship circle. I often held back, was quiet, cautious and bit of a worrier. Unfortunately a fairly rough schools I’d be picked on because of this.

As a teenager, I grew more independent, enjoyed sports, reckless risk taking, night clubs and soft drugs. I’d be out all night and quiet in the day. Living a kinda of double life of shyness and reckless adventure.

As an adults, more extreme sports like whitewater kayaking, mountain biking and normal stupid drinking etc. But I had enough of that, and used travel and an ambitious career to get my kicks so to speak. 🙂 All the while being wallflower and wild one.

People found me unpredictable as one moment I’m a quiet worrier, to next risk-taker.

As an older adult, the drinking is sensible, partying more in balance with my life and I’m using my HSP/HSS as a strength.

My HSP side helps me work closely and with kindness with clients and I am able to pick up smallest things that make me better at my job. I now run my garden business, which has the physical challenge, variety and distance from distractions perfect for me.

My HSS helps me as a kind of entrepreneur running new projects and social groups.

I do love these characteristics that have hurt me so much in the past. I still struggle with worries, being effected by others moods and managing conflicts in relationships. I hope I can improve both my relationship with my girlfriend and with myself so that I can not overreact to the small Knocks we receive everyday. I’ve come so far from my misspent youth.

Can I ask do you find it ok to balance the excitement, overwelming feelings, reactions to small and large criticisms and inpulsiveness of relationships?