I am a calm and reserved person. I’m not overly sensitive or emotional. Soapy scenes in movies do not turn me into a human fountain. Loud noises don’t make me jump, and crowds don’t generally bother me.
But I am also hyper. Super hyper. If I were to explain it in simple terms—I feel perpetually on high alert, always semi-stressed. I don't think it's ADHD as other symptoms don’t match. I call it hyperactive sensitivity.
What that means is my senses are wired toward other people and my internal world. Like always.
If I am working with people, I’ll be tuned into their moods and emotions. If they are sad, it won’t make me sad, but it will make me acutely, painfully aware of their sadness.
If I have great ideas in my head - I will feel so energised that I won’t be able to hold a conversation with a dog.
I sometimes come home, and I’m buzzing as if a strong electric current is running through my bones.
It’s painful and exhilarating.
As a young adult, I used to joke that if only we could use me to charge batteries, my value would increase threefold. But alas.
This hyperactivity brings its evil sister as what goes up inevitably comes down, and so do I—sometimes literally.
When my mood is hyper and elevated, I am full of energy, running around completing chores no one’s asked me to complete. When I am down, my body aches, I feel lonely and overwhelmed, like after a sugar rush. I have physical symptoms of withdrawal from my "hyperness".
I don’t know whether there is a way to “cure” this uniqueness of mine. It has its uses, but mostly I feel like I am a runaway train, and the only person in real danger from my derailment is me.
Now in my forties, I wish I could tell you that I know how to prepare for my bouts of hyperactivity and then for the period of emotional hangover.
I wish I had all the answers, but I don’t. What worked yesterday backfires spectacularly today. It’s like I am evolving and need more and more tools and ideas to help me deal with this peculiarity of mine.
But I am always trying new things, and today I’ll discuss five ways that I deal with my hyperactive sensitivity.
1. Do Something Creative
I always try to do something with that nervous energy that is generated within me. If I don’t yet know how to best deal with it, I might as well put it to good use.
I tend to draw, doodle, or write poems. These cannot be activities that involve thorough planning because you won’t have the energy to accomplish them. I find that I write half-decent first drafts of poems or short stories when I am slightly hyper. I then leave them and edit them during my low-energy or “low-tide” times.
2. Engage in Sports
I play active games with my kids when I am hyper. On average, I am not that active. Yoga is my sport of choice, which is rather slow. So when I have a bucketful of nervous energy, I run around the house chasing the girls, who squeal with excitement as they run away from their mum.
3. Talk to Friends and Family
Reach out to someone you don’t often talk to. I find it’s easier for me to communicate with friends or family when I am in a heightened fight-or-flight state. I am less self-conscious, and conversation flows more naturally. I have more energy to sustain a longer chat, which fuels the relationship.
4. Do Something Scary
When I am hyper, it’s easier to take risks. I’ll start something I’ve been putting off. I will call someone I’ve been avoiding. I’ll initiate a conversation with my boss. I’ll express my thoughts to my other half.
The challenge here is not to go overboard (which is tricky) and over-share or over-commit. But that’s a discussion for my next blog post. Drop me a note if you’d like me to cover this subject.
5. Clean the House
My house is at its cleanest when I’m hyper. Or when I come home from work before my energy crosses the peak line. I’ll clean, tidy up, sort out, and cook. I’ll declutter and throw things out. All of this is super handy because when my energy levels are low, I have no desire to do anything.
Final Thoughts on Dealing with Hyperactive Sensitivity
We all are unique. I honestly don’t know how unique my hyper-ness is, but it’s part of me, and I need to find a way of dealing with it—or learning to coexist.
Trying different tools and ideas helps a lot, but I still feel like I am missing a massive trick with my hyperactive sensitivity. I wonder if you have experienced something similar and found a way of channelling it toward something useful.
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