I haven’t touched on this subject in a while.
Sensitivity
Empathy
We all have varying degrees of this.
There are some of us, actually it may be one in four or one in five, that have more sensitivity, more empathy. With this gift can follow other gifts, that are not as nice.
Migraines are one.
Someone that has migraines will know, that stimuli seems to be more powerful when you have one. Light, noises, smells, hot cold, being near people… many things are more felt, more unwanted when suffering with one. We, yes we, are more sensitive to stimuli, hypersensitive even.
This sensitivity is often felt when not with the migraine as well. We are more aware of smells, light our surroundings than others. There are many reasons why someone may suffer with a migraine, or have them much more often. Tests are run, you are connected to machines, poked and probed. Tis good to do this, to be sure there is not an underlying medical reason for having them.
Often the tests all come back negative, this is good right? So then we wonder why we keep having them, for this too, there are many reasons.
Sometimes it is because about 20% of the population is more sensitive, more tuned in. The term is highly sensitive person or HSP. You are born with this, it is not something that happened to you. A person that is a HSP has more receptors, takes in more information. This can apply to sense of smell, empathy, many things. It is like feeling a fine piece of silk using eight fingers and both thumbs rather than one.
This abundance of information can sometimes be overwhelming, most are not aware that they are taking in more information, what do they have to gauge it with? Is everyone not this way? This over abundance of information can often cause migraines, there seems to be a very strong connection. Powerful emotions can be felt, but where others know when someone is upset, someone with HSP may feel the same feelings, become upset in the same way, in crowds this can be overpowering. In settings where emotions are higher, this can be overpowering.
Migraines can be triggered.
When someone discovers that they perhaps feel some things differently, more powerfully, than others do, they have that aaaha moment. All the loose marbles are suddenly gathered up into a neat package, they stop rolling around making all that noise in our heads.
Well not quite, but it does help. When you learn why you feel someone’s emotions before they are aware of them, why it seems you can almost read minds at times, why light may hurt, why sounds become too much, why crowds are overwhelming and so much more, you can learn to adjust. Or to know, you won’t be in the crowd too long, so when you are out, this feeling will pass.
This power to receive more data, yes power, can lead to more creativity, many artists are found to be HSP. I have heard the term that an HSP watches the world in high definition.
This heightened awareness can trigger the flight or fight response faster for some, it can cause an increase of anxiety. Not for all though, as we are all different. Introverted is also often the case, but again, not always.
The feeling with a migraine is often that your head is going to explode, this is often the feeling a Highly Sensitive Person will feel with all the information being processed, there is a connection.
Does a repetitive sound, like someone absently drumming their fingernails make you want to scream? That dripping faucet that others don’t seem to hear, the smell that is barely there for others, you are finding very annoying.
A very quiet acoustic guitar verses a concert with a loud band is often something that makes you smile inside.
Pausing to watch the ripples on a lake and finding such deep peace in this, in fact water of many types, even a shower, can have a strong pull for you. A healing power too. A restoration.
Someone that is a Highly Sensitive Person has many traits. They will vary for each, you can google this if you are curious.
Perhaps there is a reason for your migraines after all, maybe your bag of marbles is sorted out now.
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