HSC is one of the characteristics of very sensitive and sensitive children. They tend to be overly sensitive to stimuli, have strong anxiety, and are prone to stress. . I will explain how to treat HSC children, how to accept their feelings, and how to teach them how to deal with stress.
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“I’m worried that my child is too sensitive” …… Parents who often consult counseling
In counseling, we often receive consultations from parents who are worried about how to treat their children because they are aware of the characteristics of their overly sensitive children. There are many things to worry about.
“Very sensitive to noises and smells. When I hear loud noises or strange odors, I hate crowds
.” “
I understand people’s feelings too much. As a parent, if I have even the slightest bit of anxiety, they sense it without me saying anything, and I get sick.” “
I’m not good at being in the circle of children. I get nervous when I hear the loud voices and reactions of the children around me, and I feel very nervous.
” They seem to think too much about it.”
Children with this characteristic feel a lot of stress in their daily lives, so they tend to get tired very easily, and in the evening they are exhausted and fall asleep quickly. I often listen to stories. I feel that there are many parents who are worried about their relationships with other people and group life, asking, “Is this okay?”
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What is HSC?
Children who are highly sensitive to external stimuli and are strongly affected by them are called “highly sensitive children” (HSC for short). Although not a medical diagnosis, it is said that 1 in 5 children have this trait.
HSC is not a disease, but a “very sensitive” personality. Because of their sensitivity, they strongly perceive stimuli that many children do not pay attention to, causing them to feel unbearable discomfort, and being too sensitive to other people’s feelings, which can be very painful.
In the first place, children are not as good at controlling cognition (such as recapturing thoughts) compared to adults. For example, when an unpleasant thought pops into your head in an uncomfortable situation, you still can’t deal with it flexibly by moving away from that thought or actively thinking about something else. Therefore, it is necessary for adults to learn how to deal with stress while conveying the tips well.
How to interact with HSC children: Cuddling and teaching how to deal with stress
So how should adults interact with children with HSC? The most important thing is to be supportive of your child’s distress. Children are very relieved just to have an adult they trust understand their feelings. Accepting and sympathizing with their feelings, saying, “It was hard” or “I hated it,” increases the sense of security that “I was understood.”
Then I’ll teach you how to deal with stress the next time you’re in a similar situation. The first thing you need to do is to teach them that they can talk about their painful feelings in words.
For example, persistent exposure to unpleasant stimuli can lead to anxiety and irritability. Then, some children with HSC try to escape the stress by expressing uncontrollable emotions, running away from the situation, or covering their ears and remaining silent. However, these impulsive and avoidant behaviors do not help us to cope with stress well. Therefore, we will guide you so that you can practice a rational solution method of “conveying your feelings in words”.
Advise them to include three elements in their words: (1) what stimulus they feel, (2) how they feel, and (3) what they want to do. For example, “I can’t stand the chattering in class, so I want you to tell me to stop.” ) (3) should be put into one sentence, and it would be ideal to be able to consult with them.
However, it may not be possible from the beginning, so ask an adult to find out the missing parts of (1), (2), and (3), write them down in one sentence, and have the person repeat them. In this way, it would be a good idea to take the time to guide them so that they can communicate in one sentence by themselves and consult with them.
However, young children such as early childhood are at an age where it is difficult for them to notice their own feelings in the first place. Therefore, if you sense that your child is distressed, take him or her out and physically separate him or her from any unpleasant stimuli. On top of that, it would be a good idea to patiently guide your child so that he/she can recognize his/her own senses, such as “I feel that this kind of stimulation is painful,” and gradually take the above coping methods as he grows.
The characteristics of HSC children …… wonderful characteristics such as empathy and kindness
Being an HSC is not all about hardships and difficulties. For example, they may have wonderful characteristics such as being able to notice and empathize with people’s feelings.
Children with HSC can read other people’s feelings very sensitively, so as mentioned above, some children get sick when their parents are having a hard time. In such a case, you should say “thank you” for the child’s kindness. prize.
On top of that, let’s teach them that they can share their feelings and the changes that occur in their mind and body in words. For example, if you feel sick when your parents are having a hard time, you can say, “My stomach is hurting because my mother is having a hard time.” Tell them what you want them to say in words. Tell them, “When you put them into words, they can become aware of their condition and let go of their feelings, which can make them feel better.”
HSC-prone personalities are positively understood
Children with HSC tendencies have very sensitive and gentle traits. However, it is not uncommon for children to suffer because their individuality is not understood and they are labeled as “cowardly,” “weird,” or “impatient.” By all means, please understand the characteristics of children positively and guide them so that their rich sensitivity and kindness can be demonstrated.