Hypersensitivity describes an extreme sensitivity to particular substances or conditions. You could almost call it an exaggeration of senses. This could be in reference to the weather, particular smells, or to allergies (pet hair, car air fresheners, hand creams, particular foods etc). It could be a dull day: but for you the light is blinding; the TV could be on at a “normal” volume, but you feel it’s blaring. The sensitivities are enough to make you feel unwell and unsettled. Certain health conditions – like anxiety – can increase hypersensitivity.
It can make it harder to deal with existing symptoms as well as causing symptoms of its own. For example, it can cause smells to appear a lot stronger than the average person can smell. This often exacerbates my nausea when I’m feeling stressed.
Like other symptoms, hypersensitivity isn’t something that can always be controlled. Make sure that you let others know if it affects your day to day life. Depending on particular sensitivities, it can make them more cautious and could help if you need to get out of a situation without explaining the issue to everyone around you.
Although this sounds like an obvious thing to do, try and identify any triggers. This means that you can either avoid those circumstances or you can learn what to expect when you are triggered.
For example, I know that the more stressed or low I’m feeling, the more sensitive I become particularly to smells or sounds. When I’m feeling particularly on edge, I can be triggered by pretty much anything to enter a “shut down” mode where I get very irritable and upset by everything going on around me. Although sometimes I’m able to keep a lid on this, the majority of the time when I’m at home (which for the last year has basically been the only place I’ve been anyway!) it ends with me storming off and everyone else wondering what they must’ve said or done for me to get so angry.
If you know someone who is hypersensitive and you want to know how to support them, it might be worth asking them what their triggers or sensitivities are. This means you’re more prepared for how they might react in particular situations.
Although it can be overwhelming when you’re faced with the issues surrounding hypersensitivity, remember that your body is just doing its best to look after you and protect you (annoying though it may be!): be kind to yourself.
Love and good vibes
Amrit