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How to Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person

It Can Be Your Greatest Strength in Work and Love

Melody Wilding, LMSW

Medium article (2018)

Read on Medium

  • Occupational, Social
  • Article, Premium Content, Resource Summary

Key Takeaways

  • Sensitivity = superpower. Heightened empathy, intuition and creativity can become leadership strengths when consciously managed.
  • Boundary setting protects energy. Plan quiet time, buffer meetings and limit negative inputs to reduce sensory overload.
  • Respond, don’t react. Pause-and-breathe techniques prevent stress spirals and keep the thinking brain in control.
  • Preparation eases feedback stress. Anticipate tough questions, script calm phrases and request time to reflect when surprised.

The Essentials

This article reframes high sensitivity—not as a flaw, but as a competitive advantage powered by deep empathy, attention to detail and innovative thinking. Author and executive coach Melody Wilding outlines how HSPs excel at emotional intelligence, complex problem-solving and creative work. She pairs these strengths with clear strategies—such as building recovery buffers between tasks, scripting responses for high-stakes conversations and practising micro-pauses—to help sensitive people perform and feel their best.

For people with FND, who often experience amplified sensory input and emotional flooding, the guidance mirrors core self-regulation skills: pacing, boundary setting and proactive stress management. The tactics are simple, free and adjust easily on low-energy days, making them ideal for fluctuating symptom patterns.

Why This Matters for FND

High sensitivity and FND share common challenges—overstimulation, heightened stress responses and fatigue. Wilding’s advice offers practical ways to:

  • Tame sensory overload by structuring quiet, recovery time.
  • Strengthen emotional resilience with pause-and-respond habits.
  • Advocate for needs through clear communication scripts that feel empowering rather than confrontational.

These strategies fit seamlessly with pacing, graded exposure and other evidence-based FND management tools.

Resource Qualities

Applicability:

Accessibility:

Evidence-Based:

Practical Value:

The Essentials

For Individuals with FND

Low-Energy Days

  • Choose one boundary—e.g., wear noise-cancelling headphones for 30 minutes—to create a calm micro-environment.

Building Long-Term Wellness

  • Keep a “pause phrase” card (e.g., “Great point—can I circle back?”) in your wallet or phone for meetings or family discussions.

For Care Partners

Supporting Your Loved One

  • Offer agendas or discussion points in advance to reduce surprise stress.

Caring For Yourself

  • Mirror the “pause-and-breathe” method before responding during tense caregiving moments to protect your own nervous system.

When This is Most Helpful

  • Newly diagnosed: Validates sensitivity and offers fast stress-taming tools.
  • During symptom flares: Boundary and pause techniques calm nervous-system overload.
  • Care-partner learning curve: Provides concrete ways to communicate and co-regulate.

This resource summary is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice. Always consult qualified providers regarding your specific circumstances.

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