In the mid 1990s a friend of mind told me about a book that would change my life: The Highly Sensitive Person-How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N.Aron. The author writes that 15 to 20 percent of the population has a sensitive nervous system that causes these people to be more sensitive emotionally and physically. In our culture this trait is usually not seen favorable while in other countries such as China being “shy and sensitive” is seen favorably. In our culture the highly sensitive person may be told “you are too sensitive!” or as a child, called a “cry baby”. These negative messages increase the anxiety and lower self esteem of sensitive people.
