Dr. Samuel Pfeifer

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Dr. Samuel Pfeifer
Klinik Sonnenhalde, CH-4125 Riehen, Switzerland
When Sensitivity turns into illness
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The term sensitivity
Jane Austen (18th century) Sense and
Sensibility Rationality vs. Sensitivity
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The salt of the earth
The exalted and deplorable family of the highly
sensitive is the salt of the earth
Marcel Proust
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Highly sensitive people
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Highly sensitive people

• Henry Nouwen
• The Return of the Prodigal Son
• Life of the Beloved
• In the name of Jesus

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I am very sensitive - POS

• finely tuned to others, tender hearted
• understanding, susceptible
• intensive emotions
• deep perceptions and passions
• touched by the beauty of nature, music, art,
  poetry, film, relationships.
• not hardened against the suffering of other
  people
• sensitive for the transcendent.

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I am overly sensitive negative 1

• overreacting
• vulnerable easily hurt
• reads between the lines
• thinks to much - ruminates
• introverted and shy
• anxious, fearful
• not robust / no power reserves
• at my limits
• everything is coming too close
• defenseless

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I am overly sensitive neg 2

• often so overwhelmed that I cannot speak
• negative perceptions of other people
• tendency to overreact
• touchy, irritable , moody
• easily exhausted
• feelings cause physical discomfort
• etc.

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The highly sensitive person

• German psychiatrist W. Klages 1978
• Existence between normal psychology and
  psychopathology.
• beyond the psychologically understandable, but do
  not reach the degree of psychiatric illness.

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Sensitive perceptions

• causing intensive feelings and reactions
• smell
• taste
• auditory sense
• visual sense
• touch
• synaesthesia
• pathological startle reflex

according to Klages
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Peculiarities of highly sensitive persons

• Intensive struggle with verbal expression
• increased exhaustion
• frequent mood swings, irritability
• sexuality and inhibition
• paranormal sensitivity

according to Klages
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When sensitivity turns into illness

• negative impact on
• ability to enjoy
• relationships
• ability to work

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The changing meaning of neurosis

• until 1979 Definition based on the possible
  causes (mother, early trauma, sexual conflicts)
• DSM-III (1980) description of symptoms, the term
  neurosis is dropped
• New term Disorder e.g. anxiety disorder,
  obsessive-compulsive disorder, dysthymia

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Descriptive definition of neurosis

• psychological disorder with anxiety, obsessions,
  mood swings, increased sensitivity
• inhibition, insecurity, conflictuous
• reality testing is intact
• disorders of somatic functions
• reduced performance at work or social role
• difficult relationships
• symptoms persist or recur
• not a transient reaction to stress

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Common features
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New terms

• subclinical disorders
• atypical depressions
• masked depression
• subsyndromal disorders
• Spectrum Disorders
• Subthreshold Disorders

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Spectrum Disorders
Depression
Bulimia-Anorexia
OCD
SocialPhobia
Panic-Agoraphobia
Migraine -gastro-intestinal
evtl ADHD?
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Criteria of Spectrum Disorders

• Criteria for the classic disorder are not fully
  present.
• Symptoms are either limited or isolated, however
  combined with depressive mood.
• Symptoms lead to impairment in social relations,
  work performance or other important areas of
  life.
• Symptoms lead to emotionally loaded
  relationships with dependence and social
  conflict.

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Spectrum
healthy aspects
Disordersuffering
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Course
illness phase
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Development
VulnerablePersonality
Stress
Sensitive Crisis
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Sensitive Syndromes
SomaticSyndromesMigraineGastro-intestinal
disorders
Somatization Emotional Instability
Anorexia Bulimia
Depression Exhaustion
Ansiety Disorders Phobias
Obsessive-CompulsiveDisorders
ILLNESS
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Sensitivity and faith

• Sensitivity for the spiritual world
• Over-sensitive conscience
• Anxious towards God and other persons.
• Living with tensions

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Areas of tension
I D E A L S
I want to do what is right and good, pleasing to
God. other ideals ??
InnerExperience
Needs, desires Drives, Impulses Emotions
(Sub)culturalrules und limitations
R E A L I T Y
Why do I have to suffer? General life situation
- Social network Physical /emotional
constitution
ExternalFramework
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Highly sensitive people

• Henry Nouwen
• The Return of the Prodigal Son
• Life of the Beloved
• In the name of Jesus

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Henri Nouwen

• Political sensitivity Speaking out against
  injustice in the world.
• Restlessness struggle for inner peace.
• Withdrawal into the world of handicapped persons
  (LArche community).
• Questioning identity in the middle of his life.
• Severe crisis and depression.
• New beginning.

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The Wounded Healer
Oh that I cannot control my feelings and my
inner passions! Often I have to let them run
their course and just hope that they would not
dominate me for too long. I love Jesus, but I
would like to keep my independence, although this
independence does not grant me real freedom. I
love Jesus but I would not want to lose the
respect of my fellow professors, although I know
that their respect will not contribute to my
spiritual growth.
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Henri Nouwen
His words spoke with special sensitivity to
those who had emotionally suffered in their
lives. He discovered that he could reach out from
his own wounds to the hurts of other people.
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Coping withhigh sensitivity
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Protecting yourself
Kapitel 15
1. Find a balance between overactivity and
regression! 2. Learn to understand your bodys
language! 3. Accept the limitations of your
sensitivity! 4. Do not take everything too
personal! 5. Take time to relax and to enjoy! 6.
Do not take too much responsibility! 7. Explain
your condition to others! 8. Recognize your
shadow and work at improving your weaknesses.
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A prayer for positive sensitivity

• Lord, open my mind and fill me withyour wisdom
  and guidance.
• Lord, take out all my fussies and frowniesand
  fill me with your love.
• Lord, open my eyes to see all the
  beautifulthings you have made.
• Lord open my nose Lord, help me to bea sweet
  fragrance for you.
• Lord, help me always speak yourwords of love and
  kindness.
• Lord, let me be a light to othersfor you have
  filled me with your light.

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Literature

• Aron E.N. (1996). The Highly Sensitive Person.
  How to thrive when the world overwhelms you. New
  York Broadway.
• Aron E.N. (2000). The Highly Sensitive Person in
  Love. New York Broadway.
• Aron E.N., Aron A. (1997). Sensory-processing
  sensitivity and its relation to introversion and
  emotionality. Journal of Personality and Social
  Psychology 73345368.
• Pfeifer S. (2002). Der sensible Mensch. Leben
  zwischen Begabung und Verletzlichkeit. Haan
  Brockhaus.

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