mixed media visual journal by Anna Chamberlain (sticker is from a Listerine bottle)
my depth of processing
a sensitivity to subtle stimuli
creates emotional reactivity
being overly aroused –
not as fun as it sounds –
contributes to my
vastly nuanced nature
an innate trait
hardwired into my
nervous system
makes me different
I live in a CAPITAL
letter world
full of bright lights and loud noises
a shock and awe campaign
against my nerves
a life of too much stimulation
I need time alone
to recuperate from this
strongly empathetic,
intuitive existence
this overactive conscientiousness
introversion encounters
my complex inner life
I’m moved immensely
by music and art
these creative gifts
of my active imagination
I chastise myself:
don’t cry at road kill
feel love with casualness
develop thicker skin
focus less on others
BE NORMAL FOR FIVE MINUTES
I engage my copings strategies:
overachieving (an understatement)
because I don’t want to be criticized
walking on eggshells (tightrope)
because I am deeply affected by your moods
project a veneer of self-assurance (pretending)
because I want to be like you
yet I cannot be other than I am
so this intense, responsive,
O-V-E-R-W-H-E-L-M-E-D
(highly sensitive person)
will have to become empowered
by naming this state of being,
become emboldened by its truth
If you’d like to take a psychologically valid self-test to see if you’re a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) you may do so here.
Chromapoetica 
ha – i like the CAPITAL
letter world… i like how your description… partly can relate… think i should go and make that test…smiles… love the artwork.. i think artists always feel a bit more intense maybe… that’s why they need to make art…
oh i would say i am quite sensitive…i pick up on things…high empath i would say…but i have learned to control most of my emotion when faced with emergency so that i can respond as i need to….such as accidents and such…but my radar is pretty high…smiles…CAPITAL def is a cool way to give the feel of this…and i would def think you would need time to breath after over stimulation…
Somehow I knew you and I were both gifted HSP people. I can 100% relate to this. I cry over roadkill, and rescue animals from the road. I am always looking for some relief. This is an awesome poem Anna. A true keeper for me! Thanks for sharing. And as my husband likes to remind me, normal is just a setting on the dryer! 🙂
Don’t ever change. You’re a beautiful and wonderful person. The greatest human being I’ve ever known. The love of my life. Don’t ever be normal. Normal is for underachievers, we know that’s not you.
Excellent write. Deep with feeling and vulnerability. I love it.
This, as with all your works was a delight to read. Even better after reading it through a number of times then reading it out loud. Pure performance.>KB
I like where this took you Anna, being overly charged, overly stimulated will shocked me senseless and sadly, unproductive ~ Be normal for more than 5 minutes, this piece resonated with me 🙂
god damn the pusher man, or men, or madison avenue assholes, or politicians, or gamers, or priests peddling pedophilia, or late night evangelists begging for “love donations”, or gang-bangers eveready to pop a cap in our ass for looking at them disrespectfully–this piece pushed my buttons, brought me to tearful anger & joy, for I would submit that even the Type-A’s among us can be HSP; it’s just that our pain thresholds are higher, and our voices are louder; loved the poem, Anna.
And may I say that it is an apex of joy many of us feel when you join into the fellowship, and speak up so wisely, so intelligently, so spiritually, so honestly; thanks from the legions, the trenches, ale houses & bomb shelters.
I will take that test, but I already know that I am an HSP. This poem SCREAMED at me that I’m not alone and I suspect there are many of us who are creatives that relate to your poem. I love your art work, Anna. Working in mixed media is so fulfilling, isn’t it. A wonderful form of expression.
I could have written this about myself. I don’t even need to take the test to know I am a HSP (to the point that professional help was needed ….smiles.) Great honesty and vulnerability in this one, Anna. Thanks for sharing.
This is really good, Anna. I do think living in a CAPITAL LETTER WORLD would be a bit hard, but I do admire the coping strategies you have developed!
I very much understand the feelings of overstimulation so well-expressed here. K.
The secret to not being disappointed and bewildered with the world that confronts us is to become more stupid. That really works.
Oh, I think creative people are hypersensitive, or hypersensitive people are creative. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s that ability to feel so deeply that makes someone an artist. That strong awareness can sometimes be painful, yes. But I think one can find a balance. Enjoyed this. Smiles 🙂
I can totallt relate to some aspects of what you write… If you have too thick skin it’s hard to be an artist at all I think… I might take the test later… but I think that I’ll come out some kind of hybrid HSP… a very good read… and the descriptions resonates so well..
Hi Anna, a few years back I read a book you may find useful: ‘The Highly Sensitive Person’ (How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You) by Elaine N. Aron ISBN 0722538960. K-a
I don’t know that I am an HS person but I am an introvert who has just recently acknowledged it and accepted it. I feel so much better about myself and how I live than ever before. People drain me so I need time alone to recharge. “yet I cannot be other than I am”…. true that – it leads to anguish and stunted growth – be true to yourself.
I was going to mention that book too! I can relate to a great deal of this – I write to cope with it all. It seems to work. A brilliant piece.
I too am an introvert and highly sensitive. I cry over road kill and have often wished to be normal for just 5 minutes. Great piece that I really resonated with.
Courageous write. I can relate to this, particularly the introvert stuff and needing alone breaks. For myself, I sometimes feel completely out of place and ill-fitted in this world, and I try to fit (and told to try to fit by “putting myself out there more”, etc etc.) I don’t think everything is capital letters, but a lot of people speak in capital letters. I shall ponder on those last lines of this piece.
I am also highly sensitive I checked most of the boxes though I notice when people are uncomfortable I’ve got no clue what to do about it. My social skills are pretty abysmal. I think it might also relate to Epilepsy somewhat, just not being able to deal with too much stress or fatigue inducing excesses. When I get stressed I flap my hands which is calming albeit indicative of other issues still it is a lot less disruptive than screaming