Customer Reviews

The Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

If you have read Elaine Aron's original book "The Highly Sensitive Person" and have determined that you are *definitely* an HSP, then the next logical step in personal development might be to buy this workbook-- especially if you find yourself struggling somewhat in your dealings with the world.

"The Highly Sensitive Person's Workbook" *can* stand alone, but I would HIGHLY recommend reading Dr. Aron's original book on High Sensitivity before attacking the Workbook.

This is definitely an excellent tool to teach the HSP how to become more of an "expert" on themselves, and their sensitivity. HOWEVER, I must also caution that the book might be a bit daunting, or overwhelming, for the individual to work their way through on their own. As such, I would characterize the book as "superb" in an HSP support group setting, but perhaps only "good" to "very good" for an individual. That was certainly my personal experience after I bought the Workbook. I made a number of "false start" attempts at working through the exercises in the book by myself, but it wasn't until I got involved in an online "HSP study group" (not so diffuclt to find, by the way) that I managed to get all the way through. Having completed the workbook, I will say that it was a thoroughly worthwhile effort!

Here's what you get:

This Workbook is essentially a journey of Self-Exploration for HSPs. The early chapters address how to identify and become familiar with your sensitivity; subsequently Dr. Aron takes you through sensitivity in childhood, in social intereactions, and eventually in the context of the workplace and adult (intimate) relationships. Finally, there are sections "deeper wounds" and psychotherapy; medical and health issues, and finally Spirituality. There is also a discussion on setting up, and working within, an HSP group setting.

The focus of the chapters is generally on self-examination, "re-framing" past negatives related to your sensitivity, and practical suggestions for ways to go forward. Each chapter has many exercises which are mostly designed to be done in writing, as they require considerable reflection before formulating an answer. This is definitely where a "group discussion" setting becomes most helpful.

To get the maximum benefit from the workbook, you DO have to be "emotionally honest." As such, some of the exercises may be quite difficult to some readers-- since they ask you to look at parts of your life history that may be very painful, as well as areas in which you may feel that your sensitivity is (or has been) a "character flaw."

Final thoughts: Highly Recommended (9 out of a possible 10 bookmarks), especially if you have a support group-- or maybe just a couple of HSP friends-- with whom to share feedback on the exercises.

I work in mental health. Not all my clients suffer severe mental illness. This workbook is great for "the worried well" who are more sensitive than others.

This follow up to the book on the same subject is excellent. By now, you know pretty much who you are. If you are interested in this workbook you know that you are an HSP.

But, the workbook really drills down. You will find that there are several types of HSPs with different levels of sensitivity depending on the life domain. Some are more vulnerable in certain situations than the others.

Your self-awareness on the HSP scale is going to get much more in depth, much more refined, more 'sensitive' so to speak. And, that is a very good think. Life revolves around knowing thyself.

An excellent, well presented, and thorough Workbook that contains self-tests to determine whether you're a Highly Sensitive Person, and if so, which kind: introverted, creative, sociable, worried, and/or "other plausible categories." I agree that this Workbook can stand alone, but also that it is better to use it with one of Dr. Aron's HSP books or related books such as The Introvert Advantage, or The Positive Power of Negative Thinking, or Undoing Depression, etc. -- depending on what kind of intovert you are and what you are trying to work on right now. I recommend the Workbook format because it is an active approach to self-understanding and improvement.

Foreword:

I don't fit into any of the neat categories that people write books (& enneagrams) about.

For example, I'm neither a "typical female nor male type".

Women are "supposed to be" easily startled by creepy crawlies (which I am), but they're also "supposedly" more fluent, and more capable than men of smooth transition from one topic to another (which I'm *not*, because I get extremely fazed by constant changes of topic).

=====================

In a similar vein, re: Highly Sensitive People:

I have many of the characteristics of an HSP, but:

(1) Prozac had no therapeutic effect on me whatsoever
(2) I'm not artistic
(3) I lack any PSI abilities whatsoever
(4) I'm not all *that* disquieted by noise
and so on...

Still, I'm very sensitive to peoples' moods, feelings & atmospheres, cry easily, am an "over-thinker" thus getting overstimulated...

So I challenge readers of this review to try and classify me according to any of the literature currently available.

And so, I repeat, not everyone can be categorized into a neat package of "clustered tendencies". Nevertheless, books such as Aron's HSP, and Palmer's Enneagram do provide valuable yardsticks and reference material, despite their not being dyed in the wool.