Highly Sensitive Boys and Men - An Interview with Dr. Ted Zeff

Excerpts from an interview with Dr. Ted Zeff, clinical psychologist and author.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• sensitive
• Zeff
• Keigan
• Aron
• Dyer
• highlysensitive
• highlysensitiveperson
• HSP

[TheSpazModic]

I am a HS man, and before that, a HS child. Speaking for myself, learning about the HSP concept has been interesting, but not very practical or proactive. I am convinced that this trait has a net negative effect on the lives of men. I am not a negative person, but I wouldn't wish this trait on my worst enemy.

[Shari225]

@TheSpazModic Speaking as an HS woman, I find HS men who are comfortable with who they are far more interesting and likable, as a general rule, than the other 80%. HS men walk to a softer drum, and that's very nice.

[TheSpazModic]

@Shari225 Indeed I have gotten positive feedback from many women. But it seems to me that some of the traits of HS people may be regarded as feminine traits, so you can imagine the interpersonal problems that may occur with many women and men. And then there are the sensory issues--being hypersensitive to so much sensory info that really isn't meaningful, and it can't be switched off. To end on a positive note, my quiet time in nature is almost too enjoyable to put into words.

[Kinsky2309]

@JeTenPrie take your self togherter.. !!! iam HSP to and it sucks.. but iam actually wery proud of it 2!! its good that i feel more truly than others.. it has allso made me smarter but allso cost me alot of pain.. and i mean ALOT!!! still sometimes life aquires you to be stronger.. and you can be stronger.. but things are just alittle more of a strungle than for others..!! if you cant learn that then maybe you should go kill youself instead of crying out to people you dont know

[utubeJAth1]

This video lets you know how to enbrace sensitivity, but not let it control you as a man. There's nothing colorful or soft about the real world. As long as there's evil in the world, you cannot rely on girly things to purposefully win your fight. But at the same time, you have to use your sensitivity to show care for the entire globe.

[JeTenPrie]

It sucks to be an HSP.... my life sucks big time because people hurt me so much. Every day i'm struggling with negative emotions and i overthink negative situations. Maybe it was better if i were never born.

[MrEinSuchender]

i guess there's a connection between keirseys description of the idealist (NF) temperament as being "oversensitive" (Please Understand Me II, p. 119), Helen Fisher talking about the "negotiator" ('idealist' in keirsey's term) using the term "hypersensitivity" on her slide at 37:00 (in her talk on youtube 'This is Your Brain on Love') and the concept of HS.

[ComeThruMurkin]

I'm a HSP, I've struggled with it for my life but never identified it until this year. The strange thing is, I'm often drawn to very aggressive, almost violent music. It's cathartic. It just made me think when you mentioned the hunting thing.

[strangestdude]

I can really relate to this as an HSP male and an introvert. I think the awkwardness and bullying of my childhood resulted in a deep rage that is still inside me at the age of 27. I spent a long unhappy period of my life trying to be an extrovert, alpha male, and a tough guy - I ended up being an asshole. Thanks to Jung, MBTI and Elaine Aron, I've began to accept my sensitivity. To any young men watching this vid, my advice would be to accept and respect your sensitivity. You'll be happier.