Shirly's life with Dyslexia and HSP

Received life story from Shirly on her discovery of dyslexia and high sensitivity

Now I understand why I always felt so different, I'm just HSP

Hello all,

Ever since my primary school days, I knew I was different. Classmates thought I was a weird girl and unfortunately I was also bullied as a result. I am not saying that I never did anything, because I know from myself that I also did things that were not accepted. Because of a troubled primary school time in which I struggled a lot, especially with language and reading comprehension, my mother wanted me to be tested for dyslexia. I was about 8 years old at the time. The diagnosis and explanation of dyslexia I ended up getting only when I was 15 just before my high school exams.

For me, it was nice to finally be diagnosed after all those years of struggling. Only it didn't stop there. I was a very difficult adolescent, unable to show emotions and distracted a lot by the things happening around me. This made it difficult for me to focus on my school in particular. During classes, I was always drawing, staring outside, drumming my fingers on the tables, etc. Many students as well as teachers thought I was a weird person, I was different and this was also expressed to me. I was quiet, didn't stand out and I was always thinking. During that time, I received nasty comments from fellow students that have always stuck. It was a difficult time where I mostly tangled with myself.

I went to a psychologist when I was 18 because I had built a big wall around me over the years and because I didn't know what to do with myself. I developed both physical and mental symptoms. In fact, I started doubting myself and believing that I was indeed weird and different! Talking to the psychologist helped me to loosen up and finally show emotion. Because I made comments during the sessions about the clock (the loud ticking of the clock) and the paintings hanging there (could explain in great detail), a light went on in his mind. He took several tests from me and then diagnosed me with a HSP ben. To be honest, I had never heard about it before and asked him for an explanation. Through the explanation, a lot already became clear to me. Together with the psychologist, I tried to give it a place.

Now I am 22 and I still regularly suffer from my high sensitivity. The ticking of clocks, seeing emotions in others, sensing moods, thinking ahead, thinking differently. I also mingle more with people I used to prefer to avoid because I couldn't handle the crowds. I go to festivals that are outdoors, because that gives me more peace and quiet than going to a disco. I do feel when it is too crowded for me and then I look for a quieter place. I don't see everything negatively, because there are also many positive aspects that I experience because I am an HSP. For instance, I am very creative and like to do precision work. I help people by listening because I am good at that. I know I am not weird or different. I have dyslexia and I am an HSP.

But everyone has his/her own thing, right?

Shirly