Are you a Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, as it is commonly known? Does the world often overwhelm you, and do you often find yourself feeling the moods of everyone around you? Odds are that if you are reading this, you already know about the HSP trait, and are now looking for more information. If you're not sure, there's a handy self-test on Dr. Elaine Aron's web site, at http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm. You'll have to copy and paste it, since epinions doesn't allow links to other web sites.</p>

Building on Dr. Elaine Aron's research on Highly Sensitive People, Ted Zeff's book takes a practical "next step" for the HSP: Now that you know about the trait, how do you manage it and live a more comfortable life, in what often feels like an overstimulating world?</p>

The book was recommended to me by a fellow HSP whom I know from an online discussion group-- she said it had been helpful to her, so I bought a copy. I started reading the book on a flight from Texas to a convention in California, and quickly discovered a few tips I could readily apply to my situation at that moment. Whereas not everything was "new news" to me, there were enough useful bits to make me feel like buying the book had been worthwhile.</p>

Zeff starts with a general overview of the HSP trait-- including the popular sensitivity "self test" developed by Elaine Aron after years of research-- and offers guidance on how to make the best use of the book. The following chapters deal with a range of different topics such as preparing for your daily life, more effectively dealing with time pressures and feeling rushed, tips for maintaining better physical health, improving sleep patterns, coping with personal and intimate relationships, the work environment, and spirituality. The book concludes by answering some common questions asked by HSPs, as well as a section with helpful information on choosing an appropriate healer from the helping professions.</p>

Throughout, Zeff shares a variety of relaxation and meditation techniques, as well as aspects of Eastern philosophy and spirituality helpful in minimizing and ending general pain and suffering. His coverage of resting and sleep is especially beneficial, which is perhaps not so surprising, giving his original counseling and therapy specialty in sleep disorders. His overall tone is gentle, helpful and validating, and thus very appropriate for sensitive people. All in all, well worth a read for HSPs-- like is the case with many self-help books, some stuff will be useful to you, some will seem a bit like "stating the obvious."</p>

Recommended:
Yes