Highly Sensitive People in an Insensitive World, 2nd edition: How to Create a Happy Life

by Ilse Sand, Elisabeth Svanholmer (translator)

160 pages, Paperback

Published June 19, 2025

About the author

For many years Ilse Sand has been engaged in counseling highly sensitive people both as a pastor and as a psychotherapist.

Before she became a psychotherapist, public speaker and author, Ilse worked as parish pastor under the Danish National Church for eleven years until 2006.

lIlse Sand has a Master’s Degree in Theology from Aarhus University, where her Master’s thesis was based on the works of Swiss Psychiatrist C.G. Jung and Danish Philosopher Søren Kierkegaard. The works of Jung and Kierkegaard has had an impact on both her personal life as well as her professional life and writing.

Through her work as a pastor, Ilse Sand became interested in helping people on a deeper level, and she became educated in psychotherapy within Gestalt Therapy, Cognitive Therapy and Psycho Dynamic Therapy among others.

Reviews

[Valerie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve been told “I’m too sensitive” my whole life. This book was really validating for me and helped me understand why I choose certain settings and feel uncomfortable in others. The book also helped me understand my need for rest and solace and will help me set those boundaries in the future. I have confidence now that I don’t have to fit into other people’s expectations for me. Sometimes people will expect things from me that I can’t deliver, and that’s ok.
The things I can deliver is an empathetic heart and a listening ear. However, I also need to protect my sensitive heart and if the weight I’m carrying because of my empathy for you gets to be too heavy, I will set it down out of pure necessity and self preservation. I’ve learned that I can’t carry the weight of the world on my shoulders.

The book also explained my aversions to conflict and confrontation. It all makes sense to me and I’m learning to view my sensitivity as an asset rather than a problem. If I really tap into my sensitivities, I find I can easily predict the outcome of situations which can help me prepare and benefit from many encounters. The long and short, if you’re sensitive, if you cry at everything and feel too much sometimes, read this book. It’s like looking in a mirror and learning to appreciate the awesome sensitive self you are. Or if you have a sensitive child or family member, read this book, it is so helpful for navigating relationships between people who have different emotional and physical needs. I’ve already recommend this book to several people.