The Highly Sensitive Person/High Sensation Seeking Dilemma: Coping with Cabin Fever & Creative Stagnation
Hey everyone, it's Shannon.
It's been two years now since my last big trip abroad. If you're a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) and maybe also High Sensation Seeking (HSS), you'll probably get what I mean when I say the cabin fever is really starting to hit.
The Tightrope Walk: Understanding the HSP/HSS Experience
Living as a Highly Sensitive, High Sensation Seeking person often feels like a balancing act. It's a constant search for that sweet spot between being understimulated and overstimulated. One minute, I'm restless and anxious, feeling like my brain cells are just bored stiff; the next, I'm completely wiped out and overwhelmed.
New things, new experiences, and things that make me think deeply, are like air for HSS types. When I'm stuck in the same old routine, day in and day out, it really does feel like my brain's just not firing on all cylinders. We know that a healthy brain loves new and stimulating things, but how much of that we need is different for everyone. As an HSS, I need a lot of new stuff to feel good. But, being an HSP also means I get easily overwhelmed, overstimulated, and burned out. It’s always a tricky line to walk.
When Paradise Feels Small: The Onset of Cabin Fever
About two years back, I went on a pretty adventurous five-week car camping trip in the US (I’m from the island of Curaçao). It was amazing, though I have to admit I overdid it – didn't stay in one place long enough and ended up pretty overstimulated. Still, that trip was supposed to keep my adventurous side happy for a good while.
Well, fast forward to now, and it looks like that "good while" is up. I'm dealing with a really strong, almost desperate feeling of restlessness – you know, classic cabin fever. It shows up as me being irritable and having this desperate urge to find something new to get me inspired and excited.
I think this feeling is even stronger because of where I am now, on the relatively small island of Curaçao. Even though it’s a bit of an international hub, it definitely has that 'small-town' vibe too. Sometimes, it just feels too small, especially when you're craving bigger things and more experiences.
The Ache of Creative Unfulfillment
"So what's the big deal?" you might be thinking. Lots of people live in one place for years and are perfectly happy. For me, though, this restlessness is all tied up with not having enough creative inspiration and ways to get it out. I've got tons of ideas bubbling up, projects I want to try, but I often don't have the people or the key ingredients here to make them happen.
I've lived in really creative places before, like Los Angeles, where there was almost too much inspiration and things to do. Knowing what that’s like, what my brain really needs to feel good and creative, makes it tough to just be okay with less. Every day can start with me feeling ambitious, and then I hit that wall of "how, what, who, where?" That build-up of frustration can feel pretty awful.
Recently, I didn't get a part I auditioned for, one I was really excited about, and it kind of sent me into a meltdown. It wasn't just about that one part; it was everything building up – not many chances, and then realizing, "What creative endeavors do I really have going on for me here right now?" And when creativity is what feeds your soul, that feeling can make you feel "soul dead" pretty fast.
My first thought was, "I need to get off this island!" But being a freelance artist who's often struggling, money's a real issue. It's that classic situation: loving the freedom of being my own boss but also being limited by it in other ways.
Coping Mechanisms: Keeping the Brain (and Soul) Alive
So, what do I do to stop my brain from turning to mush and to keep the crushing boredom away? It's not like I have it all figured out, but here are a few things that have been helping:
Getting into a Routine (Yeah, I was surprised too!): For years, I fought against routines, thinking they were the enemy of excitement. But I’ve actually found that having some basic structure helps me get more done, which then frees up time and brain space for more adventurous or creative things.
Creative Outlets: My different Instagram accounts and YouTube channels are essential ways for me to express myself.
Working with Others: I try to find people to collaborate with. I recently worked with a really talented photographer here on the island, and that was a great boost of inspiration.
Deep Dives & Learning: Reading is a big one. I'm trying to get better at speed reading because I'm naturally a bit slow, but just soaking up info about things I'm really into does wonders for my brain.
Using Tech: More recently, I’ve started using AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT to help me get my life and content creation more organized, hoping to make more videos for you all.
Even with all this, burnout is a real thing. I’ll have times when I’m creating regularly on social media, and then I’ll just go silent for a month because I feel totally empty. This usually happens when I’m not getting that real, deep inspiration from what’s around me, and then that desperate feeling builds up until I feel like I just have to make a change.
A Shift Towards Intentional Living for HSPs
I'm feeling like my journey is naturally moving in a new direction. I'm feeling more and more pulled towards intentional living and slow living. I really believe that for a lot of highly sensitive people, choosing to live more slowly and with more intention can be a great way to handle all the overstimulation in our often-crazy world.
So, I'll be getting more into that. I want to share this journey in a real, raw, and relatable way. We don't always have the money or the chance to live our "perfect" lives, but we can figure out how to make the best of what we’ve got, in a way that works for our own needs.
Join the Conversation!
This is the journey I want to take you on. If any of this sounds like you, I’d love to hear from you.
Do you have any tips for dealing with cabin fever, creative blocks, or that HSP/HSS balancing act? Please share your thoughts in the comments – let's help each other out!
What kinds of intentional living or slow living topics would you be interested in hearing about? Your ideas will be a huge help for future posts.
Thanks for listening to me ramble on about all this personal stuff. Your support means more than you know.
Warmly, Shannon
