Music & Highly Sensitive Souls
Ivy Griffin
Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) possess the unique ability to experience the world with deep curiosity and intensity, often making us more attuned to life’s subtleties. In a reality filled with noise and chaos, HSPs navigate emotions in creative ways. For us sensitive souls, music goes beyond the background noise and becomes a therapeutic force - offering solace and comfort. Here are a few ways:
Emotional Regulation: HSPs find music to be a powerful tool for emotional regulation. The elements of music can have a deep impact on our nervous systems by inducing a relaxation response, lowering heart rate, and releasing neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and emotional well-being. Whether it's a calming instrumental or the comfort of a familiar song, HSPs may utilize music to ground in moments of overwhelm.
Connection: Music has the ability to increase connection and empathy for HSPs. When mere words cannot convey the wide spectrum of feelings, music offers a path to self-expression. HSPs experience a deeper sense of empathy when relating to lyrics, harmonies, and melodies; in turn, better understanding themselves and others.
Safe Spaces: The simple act of listening can be a transformative experience for HSPs. HSPs can experience sensory overwhelm in their daily lives which is where music offers a sanctuary from the rest of the world. Listening to music can be an opportunity to create safe spaces whether this looks like playing classical music in a warmly lit room or taking a stroll outside with some feel-good tunes.
Playlists: HSPs utilize music in intentional ways to connect with specific moods or experiences. Creating playlists associated with different feelings can be a great way to be fully present with our emotions. This practice can be considered as an act of mindfulness; creating a beautiful opportunity to be conscious of and manage our internal emotional states.
Overall, music can be used as a valuable tool for navigating a reality of heightened emotions. I look forward to my evenings where I can put on my headphones, listen to some soulful jazz, and go outside on a walk to find a sense of grounding at the end of my day. These are just a few of the many ways that HSPs may find resonance with music. I encourage you to bring awareness to how music plays a role in your day-to-day life.
Mohinee Sharma, AMFT 141615, APCC 14625
Supervised by Danielle Kardum, LMFT 114847
https://thrivetherapyandcounseling.com/mohinee-sharma
916-287-3430