Try free for 30 days

  • The Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Dealing with Toxic People

  • How to Reclaim Your Power from Narcissists and Other Manipulators
  • By: Shahida Arabi MA
  • Narrated by: Laural Merlington
  • Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (19 ratings)

A 30-day trial plus your first audiobook free.
1 credit/month—to buy any title you like, yours to keep.
Listen all you want to a selection of thousands of Audible Originals, audiobooks and podcasts.
$16.45 a month after 30 day trial. Cancel anytime.
The Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Dealing with Toxic People cover art

The Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Dealing with Toxic People

By: Shahida Arabi MA
Narrated by: Laural Merlington
Free with 30-day trial

$16.45/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $21.99

Buy Now for $21.99

Pay using voucher balance (if applicable) then card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions Of Use and Privacy Notice and authorise Audible to charge your designated credit card or another available credit card on file.

Publisher's Summary

If you're a highly sensitive person, or identify as an "empath", you may feel easily overwhelmed by the world around you, suffer from "people-pleasing", experience extreme anxiety or stress in times of conflict, or even take on the emotions of others. Due to your naturally giving nature, you may also be a target for narcissists and self-centered individuals who seek to exploit others for their own gain. So, how can you protect yourself?

In The Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Dealing with Toxic People, you'll learn evidence-based skills grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) to help you recognize and shut down the common manipulation tactics used by toxic people, such as gaslighting, stonewalling, projection, covert put-downs, and love bombing. You'll also discover targeted tips to protect yourself from the five main types of toxic people: garden-variety boundary-steppers; crazymakers and attention-seekers; emotional vampires; narcissists; and sociopaths and psychopaths.

Finally, you'll learn how to heal from toxic or narcissistic abuse, and find strategies for establishing healthy boundaries and a strong sense of self. If you're an HSP who is ready to take a stand against the toxic people in your life, this book has everything you need to survive and thrive.

©2020 Shahida Arabi (P)2021 Tantor

More from the same

What listeners say about The Highly Sensitive Person’s Guide to Dealing with Toxic People

Average Customer Ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    16
  • 4 Stars
    2
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    9
  • 4 Stars
    3
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    13
  • 4 Stars
    1
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not helpful

This wasn't helpful for me. Stuck with it until chapter 6. Narrator's style is nice but it is very poorly structured which makes it hard to pick out any strategies to apply in real life. Very focussed on romantic relationships whereas I was looking for something that would apply to work, social, family etc. Keeps circling back to extreme examples and importance of personal safety, sure this is important but I was looking for more everyday strategies I could actually use without wading through repetitive warnings and irrelevant examples.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing and scary

Life changing for me. I am truly grateful to come across this book. Thank you from the bottom of my heart

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very helpful

I’ve listened to this twice already and may yet listen again. I’ve found it very helpful in observing and recognising both the behaviours of others and of myself. The narration was somewhat stilted but after a while I found the narrator’s voice quite soothing so overall was very happy to listen.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!! I will definitely listen to this again!

Beautifully written and incredibly accurate. This book has opened my eyes to the benefits of being a highly sensitive person and dealing with toxic people. My highly sensitive traits are not a flaw, but an asset.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really useful information

This book is full of practical advice on how to manage the covert narcissist- the lady narrating was hard to listen to- her voice detracted from the content. Great book overall

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Highly recommend

So greatful to have come across this title. It helped validate everything I had gone through and understand my experiences with new meaning. The practical tools and resources are invaluable. Thanks for the care and guide you have given us hsp victims.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Allyson S
  • Allyson S
  • 09-10-2021

Not What I Hoped For

Although there is some good information here, it is couched in a constant stream of buzzwords that are the current "rage" and truly misrepresent narcissism and the accompanying behaviors. The constant reference to "the narcissist" when speaking of toxic individuals, not all of whom are narcissists but simply have narcissistic tendencies along with their own issues of immaturity and possibly childhood trauma, is over the top. The misuse of the team "gaslight" is also too much and is the reason so many people these days use it glibly in the same way ANYONE who is toxic is suddenly a narcissist or, worse, a malignant narcissist. There are.crumbs of good advice but they are covered with the rest of the useless gibberish. Telling someone who is feeling sad to watch a funny movie or something is just ridiculous and dismisses the real pain they are feeling. One can only distract themselves for so long. At some point the pain needs to be dealt with and depending on the relationship with the toxic individual it may be a difficult process. Therapy is needed. I am having a hard time with this book because I occasionally find something of use only to end up in the "Narcissist" rhetoric and am once again feeling left with no real strategy for actually dealing with, and moving away from, the toxic people the book is supposed to give you. Furthermore, the narrator is beyond difficult to listen to. I am sorry, I'm sure she is a lovely person, but her voice is grating and nasal and is not suited at all, in my opinion, to voice over. The tone is just not easy on the ears. I won't be buying any further audio books with her narration. I would prefer to read them myself.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

11 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for ProximaB
  • ProximaB
  • 26-07-2021

Why is this not a best seller?

Where was this book when I was a much younger person? I realized I have been abused my whole life under the shadow of " be a good person " and go help people " and What Jesus would do"? mentality. I have been used like a horse my whole life and realized from early on I was in a special group of people (the HSP) but had no way to protect myself from abusive people or find others like me to better understand myself. The author sheds a light on things I couldn't point the finger at and thanks to that, I realized I was being "emotionally gang raped" day in and day out by social media people and other ways of communication by people demanding my attention and my time. It's like anyone that solicited me, I instant had to became responsible for these people and had a personal mission to assist them with whatever they wanted from me. Not to forget that once I went about your business and turn my focus to myself, (these people that constant seeked me. the narcz) perceived being abandoned and suddenly the devil been unleashed at me. The abuse started where my rights began. The author explains why we are a narcissist and toxic people magnet and how to defend from that. She thought me I have the right to not want to engage with anyone I don't want, including my family. I was abused for many years and sacrificing for the good of many has been a tradition I have been wanting to break for a long time. I spent my life having to explain myself and be controlled by someone. This week, (I'm 40 years old) I put an end to it and this book has a lot to do with it. I listen to it often so that it keeps my strategies fresh. This book will help you break the invisible chains you carry. Trust me!
I deleted every social media outlet and anything that facilities the vampires to communicate with me and subsequently manipulating me into engaging with them. Save your mental and emotional health. I recommend doing the same. Social media has been the extension of how people will suck the life out of us.
Think about this and save yourself get this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Nancy
  • Nancy
  • 09-07-2021

So thankful for this book.

This book is a life saver! Do not like the voice of the narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Listen ToOurMotherEarth
  • Listen ToOurMotherEarth
  • 03-04-2022

hard to listen to

The narrator's voice is very hard to listen to. I was hoping for some good advice on how to deal with toxic people, especially advice for HSPs, and while there are parts that are helpful, most of it feels draining, because of the readers voice, and so I haven't been able to listen to the end yet. I would like to be an audio book reader for this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Pratheba Orth
  • Pratheba Orth
  • 19-08-2023

BAD NARRaTOR

UGH the narrator(Narrated by: Laural Merlington) is like DEATH -Narrated by: Laural Merlington, wish this important book could be redone with a different narrator .

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Eileen Kelly
  • Eileen Kelly
  • 19-07-2023

Nothing New Here

The narration was cold and mechanical, and her voice was irritating. Information was chock-full of terminology that most of us are now familiar with and the coping suggestions were run-of-the-mill.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Mimimu
  • Mimimu
  • 09-03-2023

Perpetuates the victimization mentality

This book starts by heavily focusing on how terrible other people are when one is being treated poorly, without being truthful that the reason why those people are being treated badly is because they allow themselves to be. I simply could not go beyond the first 10 mins. Waste of time.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Stef
  • Stef
  • 13-01-2023

I'm sure there's good info in here but

The narration is GOD AWFUL!! I didn't think there could be a voice that could annoy me so much, I could not stand it. The voice was just grating on my nerves. It reminded me of one of those awkward tone deaf computerized voices. Couldn't get through it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for mangojo
  • mangojo
  • 08-12-2023

I am highly sensitive and have been told by many it was a weakness, I am proud of who I am!

I am so glad I found this book. I have been told by the people I thought loved me that my beliefs were all wrong. I have give away my power in order to be loved but I see now it was control. This book has truly saved my life and I strongly recommend anyone that feels lost and spinning in circles to be understood to read this book. If we don’t feel that the people in our life want to lift us up and are constantly put down it is time to set boundaries. I am so grateful to this author for reminding me it can be a wonderful life.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for donna lavecchia
  • donna lavecchia
  • 20-11-2023

How complete and comprehensive it is.

The narrator seemed a little too prim and proper, and maybe too old for the contemporary subject matter. Would have enjoyed a softer and more contemporary voice. This Audio book and the film-Sensitive-The Untold Story-(Elaine Aron’s work) are powerful allies for me in my quest to recover from the emotional damage done to me by my mother and enabling father, and then all the resulting toxic relationships I’ve had to endure.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Angel
  • Angel
  • 31-10-2021

DESPERATELY wanted to listen to this but...

The narrator sounded like a robot. Considering that a large proportion of HSP's have conditions such as ADHD and are therefore Highly Sensitive to things such as sounds, I'm baffled as to why they used a narrator with a voice which was practically impossible to get to grip one's attention. I'm sure the book is good but dear God it's like listening to paint dry (if you get my point). I got to about 10 minutes on chapter one and that was giving 9 more minutes than I could bear, so I did give it a chance. Sorry for the negative review but if it had a good narrator it might have been really positive, who knows? Change the narrator and I'll buy it again!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Carmel
  • Carmel
  • 01-08-2021

Excellent

Found this book to be excellent. I was aware of the bullying I endured but I never focused on how my bullies actions had conditioned me. It was in my unconscious and this book spelled it out for me. I highly recommend it for anyone that still struggles from narc abuse.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Monko
  • Monko
  • 19-07-2023

A note about the Narrator

Just a thought- I think she sounds like Angela Lansbury (Murder She wrote) which makes it far more enjoyable to listen to the narration. Try it.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 15-10-2022

Fantastic.

It's rare to find a self help book that helped me help myself so much and so quickly. definitely one I'd listen to again. Here's to hoping that enough HSPs will read this and collectively rise up against all of the narcissistic bwords :)

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.