The Nature of Sensitivity. Transforming pain into strength
Introduction:
Humanity is a fascinating species—innately creative but capable not only of violence toward its fellows but also of self-destruction and the devastation of the very habitat and resources that sustain it.
Amid this growing pressure cooker, some are forced to evolve and create new ways of living. These individuals eventually may lead the way for others. Conversely, some do break under the pressure, and this is something I want to help you avoid.
In the face of such relentless pressure, sensitive—neurodivergent individuals often walk a fine line on the edge of breaking. The world is too busy, too noisy, too toxic, and it demands on our minds and bodies are far more than we can process. If this truth hasn’t worn you out yet, this book might not be your best match. But if you feel the toll of living in this reality and dream of finding ways to turn the tables, you’re in the right place.
Rightly so, many neurodivergent, sensitive folks complain about how uncomfortable and unwelcome it is to exist in this world—how misunderstood they feel. The pain of not being seen amidst such pain can be excruciating. Without minimising this suffering, I discovered something that is equally true—the discomfort and limitation can be strong motivators for change. That’s because these show us what no longer works. We can no longer mask our raw feelings and our total exhaustion. So the only way out is through.
I am not trying to sugarcoat—some become broken by the weight of it all. But on the other hand, the truth of biology is that without enough pressure, most species wouldn’t evolve. And I’m not talking about adaptation. Im’m talking: change.
As a sensitive, late-diagnosed autistic person myself, I can’t say the world has been cosy enough to absorb my uneven edges or accommodate me in the places I didn’t fit (read: almost all). On the contrary, much of my life has been marked by insane amounts of struggle. Even as I write this, I’m repairing (again) from the overload of crises and dramatic life changes that came too fast and hit too hard. I’m processing another collapse of the worldview that arrived in the same package with the realisation of being autistic. But I also know that I’ve reset my life a few times in the midst of equally painful storms.
While I couldn’t have foreseen all the ways these challenges would shape me, they’ve forced me to become more resilient and reinvent life on my own terms. Because I was never allowed to be myself, without any support or understanding I learned to fight for myself. And the truth is that without those chipped corners, broken heart numerous times, and relentless challenges, this book wouldn’t exist. And my life's work wouldn’t have had the motor that it had. That motor was survival and learning “how the hell do I live in peace?
Do I know all the answers? God, no. But the fire in my belly had me learn quite a lot.
Living as a sensitive person often felt like an endless negotiation with the world around me. From the smallest noise to the most subtle emotional shifts, everything requires a deeper and longer processing. At times, it feels like I’m absorbing more than my body can handle. But, not to make it sound too fluffy, I’ve come to realise something fundamental: sensitivity is not a weakness. It is also not an inherent strength. In fact, it is not even a quality, like many people say. If anything it’s about quantity (of how much we perceive) and how we deal with that. This sensitivity is a language of its own. It’s raw material. But most of all, it’s a tool. And just like all tools, requires learning to use it for our benefit.
There are many concerns about the impacts of fast civilisational development on every single aspect of our life. While sensitive individuals often feel like misfits, perhaps the issue lies not within us, but in the accelerating pace of a world that's increasingly at odds with human nature, and in the way this civilisation turned people against one another. This idea will be a cornerstone of our exploration in the chapters ahead.
Roadmap
This book is about sensitivity. It is written mainly for sensitive people. That’s because I see sensitivity as the missing key to understanding differences of how people interact with each other and the world, and contribute to building it. When I talk about sensitivity, I don’t just mean HSPs. My theory is that high sensitivity (as a description not a label) connects all neurodivergent people, including folks on the Autism Spectrum, like myself, people with ADHD and other sensitive ones.
I use sensitivity as a common ground for a particular reason. Sensitivity is what explains why we’re so different in all kinds of ways. Thinking, “weird” behaviours, health conditions, social interactions, and all are in fact a result of being sensitive. And in this book I hope to show you how.
I suspect that many will not resonate with this book. I believe that my ideas will be opposed both by Neurotypical, and Neurodivergent people. That’s because I am writing a theory of a pattern, where many possible expressions of the pattern that people observe in their lives—will speak to the contrary. But, sharing what I have to share is not mine to decide on. I only provide space for it.
Although I share some personal stories, the book isn’t about me. It’s about the sensitive nature and the way sensitivity can be utilised into a more empowered way of living. Into something of the future.
Although I’m not offering miracles, I will show you our natural gifts that have been suppressed by the imposition of societal norms.
And most of all, I will not bullshit you.
The themes in this book may offer fresh ways of looking at life and navigating both your inner world and the outer world as a sensitive person. Likewise they may help you understand the difference between how people view and experience the world.
Some parts might seem a bit unusual at first, but if you stick with them and reflect on your own experiences, I believe they’ll start to click. Over time, they may help you understand yourself more deeply.
As you journey with me, you will find out that looking through various aspects of our life and history through the prism of sensitivity, it a thread emerges that links seemingly unrelated topics together. Subjects of ecology, giftedness, power dynamics, spirituality, dualism, creativity, and health will come up amongst many others.
Since this is a living book, it’s being published in smaller sections. These sections won’t always follow a traditional order, but that’s okay—sensitive people often think in nonlinear ways, so it should still feel natural.
Because of this nonlinear approach, I don’t know exactly how everything will unfold yet. But from my earlier drafts, I have a pretty good idea of the topics and themes that will emerge.
While navigating the challenges of sensitivity can often feel overwhelming, this book is designed to offer a new perspective that might help some people understand, embrace, and ultimately transform some challenges into strengths by sheer raising of self-awareness.
Here’s a general roadmap of what you can expect:
Introduction:
This part (what you’re reading) explains the background of the ideas in the book—how they came together and what helped me understand sensitivity through the lens of the mind, body, and energy.
Prologue:
In the prologue, I dive into the paradox of sensitivity: why it can feel like a curse, and the main concept of how it can become a source of strength.
From there, the book is divided into three main parts:
Part One: The Nature and Energetics of Sensitivity
In this section, I’ll talk about what makes sensitive people unique. I’ll explore the energetic makeup, ways of neurodivergent thinking, and interactions with the world that often leave us feeling misunderstood or out of place. You will also read my explorations of collective social dynamics and why they are so different from ours. This is all done on the backdrop of two ways we exist in this world: physically and spiritually.
We’ll also look at the struggles that come with sensitivity, like absorbing others’ energy, guilt, dealing with overstimulation, trauma, exclusion, health issues, and managing mental stress. I will talk a lot about autism and the well documented traits among neurodivergent people anchoring all to the thread of my own. These challenges all tie back to the unique traits that make sensitive people who they are.
Part Two: Forgetting
This part looks at how society and history have caused us to lose touch with our natural sensate abilities. It’s about how we became disconnected, creating a world that’s often harsh for sensitive people. We learn how the mind-body-spirit becomes fragmented and the disembodiment as a consistent rejection of our senses and intuitive skills. This part is also about how sensitivity holds the key to reconnecting with what’s real and meaningful.
Part Three: Remembering
In this final section, I’ll share insights and practices that have helped me reconnect with my own sensate skills. These are tools for finding balance, standing strong, and living authentically—aligned with both ourselves and the natural world.
This book is about learning to use sensitivity and attention as a power to master energy. But most importantly, it is about finding yourself and your power through understanding your sensitivity and energy—not fixing anything or making yourself into something else, but connecting to a deep part of you and to something outside of you that is greater and more loving than anything we've ever been taught. It's about finding belonging—creating a home both within and outside of yourself.
Appendix / Reflections
The appendix provides space for reflections that circumambulate the topics, exploring them from different angles to uncover their deeper truths.
What led me here
To provide context for the ideas I’m about to share, my understanding of sensitivity is rooted less in academic research and more in personal experience. Over the years, I’ve learned through my body, emotions, and energy—insights gained not from books but from life itself.
This understanding grew through experimentation with energetic states, lessons from mind-body healing, and reflections on moments of defeat that deepened my self-awareness. Observing the interplay between emotional states and physical health taught me how powerful our internal processes are.
I’ve also drawn from conversations with other sensitive individuals, my art practice, and even unconventional experiences—insights that felt less like learning and more like remembering. By trusting these insights, I began to uncover deeper truths about sensitivity that connect to ancient wisdom and modern principles alike.
This book is not a self-help manual or a psychological framework. It’s an invitation to move beyond labels, reconnect with your true nature, and embrace sensitivity as a skill—not a flaw. While current research and scientific updates are invaluable for many sensitives, I approach sensitivity through a broader, more intuitive lens. My goal is to offer perspectives and tools that empower sensitive individuals to thrive—not by fitting into a mould, but by creating a life aligned with their authentic nature.
The ideas I share here explore sensitivity as a profound connection to ourselves, others, and the world around us. Think of it as a portal into a new reality. Think of it as a less research piece, but more a resonance field. By the end of this journey, I hope you’ll see sensitivity not as a burden but as a gateway to a richer, deeper self understanding and an invitation to a way of living.
If you like what you’re reading, I would love it if you could share my book with a friend or two.
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