How To Have Healthy Relationships As A Sensitive Person

Maintaining a healthy relationship for anyone takes work. But it takes extra work when you’re a highly sensitive person. As with any relationship, for it to be healthy and successful means communicating effectively and navigating your boundaries and this is even more critical when you are highly sensitive.

Having an open, honest, and deep relationship with your partner will help you thrive together.

Maintaining a healthy relationship takes effective communication.

If you’re an HSP, your needs can vary from others. Communicating your need for time to gather your thoughts, process emotions, or think through a conversation before you connect with your partner, is important. The worst thing your partner can do is try to push you to talk or connect, but they will if you don’t explain to them your own needs. Maintaining a healthy relationship is about taking the time you need.

Giving your partner a timeline will help you both navigate difficult conversations gracefully and successfully. Even though the wise tale says never go to bed angry, sometimes as an HSP you will need to go to bed processing, and there’s a difference. Maintaining your sensitivity is important to the health of the relationship. Allowing yourself the time for you to process, will help your relationship flourish. Your sensitivity will be supported and honored.

Setting the right boundaries in your relationship will help you both flourish.

Do you need 30 minutes to yourself after work each day? If this helps you emotionally manage your day and process everything that has occurred at work, then do it! Does your partner need to work through their negative emotions before they walk in the door so you don’t absorb them? Tell them! It’s important you are honest and open if you want the relationship to be successful.

Allowing yourself the boundaries and freedom to be you, will help you maintain a healthy relationship and ensure you feel like the relationship is the right fit for you. Setting your boundaries allows your partner to support and understand you which is key to maintaining the health of your relationship.

HSPs need trust, authenticity, purpose, and depth in their relationships to feel satisfied.

Finding ways to support all of these needs takes teamwork. Learning to build the foundation together will help you maintain a healthy relationship long term. It’s important for your partner to be able to ground you and help you walk through your sensitivities.

Taking a quiet walk together in the morning or evening, reading in bed together, or simply relaxing by the fireplace quietly are all ways to help you thrive.

How to maintain a healthy relationship depends entirely on you.

Not every HSP is the same, which means you need to identify how your needs may differ, and open the conversation with your partner. You can make a list of ways your partner can support your sensitivity to maintain a healthy relationship. Are your preferred lighting choices for your bedtime routine different than theirs? Do you need to limit your time at family functions?

Having a monthly or bi-monthly conversation about these requests is important. You’ll want to check in regularly to ensure you aren’t bottling up any frustrations.

Your partner may also have some preferences they haven’t yet shared with you, and this will open that door too. These conversations build honesty and authenticity with your partner, which are both vital foundations for relationships with an HSP.

If you aren’t sure of your boundaries or what you need to feel supported and thrive as your full authentic self, talk to an expert. Connecting with someone who is familiar with HSPs will allow you to identify how you can show up with your best foot forward in all relationships – including the one with yourself!

Whether you are starting a new relationship or managing a marriage, having effective tactics and strategies to build the foundation of a healthy relationship is important. As a highly sensitive person, communicating your needs and preferences can be tough, but especially important. This is why I’ve outlined six healthy relationship tips for HSPs. So you can set both yourself and your partner up for success in the long haul.

#1 Be clear about your needs

Being able to clearly communicate your needs on an emotional, physical and mental level creates boundaries for your partner. It enables them to understand you better and can even create a deeper connection. They can support you and your needs, without overstepping or creating anxiety for you. You just have to be very specific and clear about what best supports you.

#2 Schedule “me” time, as often as you need it

Scheduling time for you as often as you need it is one of the best relationship tips for keeping you healthy. It helps you recoup and gives your deep-thinking mind time to process and relax. Whether it’s just a few hours at the end of the day to go on a walk alone, sending your partner out for the evening, or simply a 30-minute break for you to read a book or think, it’s a must.

#3 Have clear expectations and a plan for social outings

If you know a social outing is coming up, make a plan with your partner. Knowing what to expect, like how long you’ll be there, helps to keep your mind at ease. Let your partner know if something is too much, or if you need to leave early. Be sure to explain what you are wanting, expecting, and feeling before you leave for the night and as the event progresses.

If you have a partner who thrives on social activity, it’s important for a healthy relationship that you find a balance. Support them by giving them an opportunity to go out with their friends, while you have some alone time. Pick social gatherings you are ok attending, and communicate which you’d prefer to skip. Not only will you both feel valued and accepted, but this tip will help you develop a healthy relationship.

#4 Talk about your communication style for a healthy relationship

Being an HSP, deep thinking is in your DNA. Sometimes this means you need time to reflect, think, and better understand your emotions prior to having an in-depth conversation with your partner. That’s okay! You just need to ensure your partner knows this. Explain to them that you need more time to process things and that you’ll be ready to check in about your readiness to talk after a certain amount of time.

Giving your partner a look into how you communicate, helps them level set their own expectations. It keeps you two communicating effectively while giving you the space you need as an HSP. Talking about your communication style is a key tip to a healthy relationship.

#5 Set your home up together, emphasizing what’s comfortable for you

Oftentimes people don’t realize the importance of how you set up your home. Walking into your home and having it set up the way you feel comfortable helps you establish a sense of peace and tranquility. A home space that doesn’t overwhelm you is free of clutter and has appropriate lights, sounds, and space. This can be soothing, which can put your mind and emotions at ease.

If you’re moving in with a partner or having a partner move in with you, have an open conversation about spacing, colors, and all the details about how you can make the setup work for you both. Helping your partner know what is important to you at home, helps them better understand you as a person, and it sets them up for success in supporting your needs.

#6 Lastly, the most important tip for a healthy relationship: Choose a partner who values your superpower

If nothing else, this may be the most important tip to having a healthy relationship. Highly sensitive people often hear “you’re too sensitive” so finding a partner who is able to love and support your superpower without comments and criticism will help you thrive. A partner who can listen to you, help support your needs, and allow you to be you, creates a healthy relationship.

There are so many tips for having a healthy relationship, whether you’re an HSP or not. But when you are an HSP it’s really important for you to have the right space, the right partner, and the right boundaries so you can flourish.

Not sure if you’re a highly sensitive person? Learn more about high sensitivity and what it means to be a highly sensitive person.