…So You Think You’re Highly Sensitive?
What comes up for you when you hear the term “highly sensitive person”?
Do you envision someone who is overly emotional and seemingly fragile?
How about someone who takes everything too seriously and just needs to “lighten up”?
Does your version of a highly sensitive person Withdraw from others, tending to be less sociable?
Whatever combination of yeses and nos you’ve just supplied to the following questions, I’m here to upgrade your definition.
At their core, a highly sensitive person (HSP) is an individual with an exceptionally responsive nervous system that processes both internal and external stimuli more deeply than others.
The trait was first coined and researched by Dr. Elaine Aron beginning in 1991 and is estimated to affect around 20% of the population. Due to this relatively low percentage, the HSP trait is considered to be neurodiverse, or having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person.
Below, we will delve into the HSP’s common characteristics and unique attributes.
Common Characteristics of HIghly Sensitive Persons
Externally Perceptive: HSPs are particularly attuned to their senses, supplying them with the ability to perceive seemingly small details and subtle changes in their environment, such as slight temperature variations, sounds, or visual cues. While humans possess the same five senses of touch, taste, smell, sound, and sight, HSPs are more aware of the subtleties in each of the senses.
Pros: Leaning into this trait, HSPs can become thought leaders and change makers. Due to their level of sensitivity, they often notice things before others, including important nuances that are often overlooked.
Cons: Our loud, fast-paced, ‘hustle’ culture is not built for HSPs. Being constantly bombarded by one’s senses— more than the “average” person— is simply overwhelming. This can lead to high stress and exhaustion.
Goal: Be mindful of your body throughout the day. Notice when you are heading toward overwhelm, and find what you need in order to ground yourself. Adversely, notice when you are feeling connected to yourself and what specifically is helping you feel this way.
Internally Perceptive: HSPs are not only highly aware of the external stimuli which surround them, they are also extremely conscious of the internal stimuli within them and others, namely emotions.
Pros: When HSPs befriend their trait, they are likely to possess high emotional intelligence and strong intuition, giving them an extraordinary ability to understand themselves and others. This tends to make them intentional, empathetic, and compassionate workers, friends, family members, and caregivers.
Cons: HSPs can become easily inundated by the emotions of others, even accidentally taking on their feelings for themselves. This is especially likely when the HSP does not give themselves sufficient space to process their own emotions.
Goal: Your emotional intelligence is a gift that can be easily taken for granted and/or overused. Use it intentionally on the people who matter in your life.
Emotionally Reactive: The HSP’s amplitude for emotions is much greater than the average person’s, allowing them to experience higher highs… and lower lows.
Pros: When HSPs are experiencing more “positive” emotions, they feel it wholeheartedly.
Cons: When HSPs are experiencing more “negative” emotions, they feel it wholeheartedly. This can lead to a stronger prevalence of anxiety and depression.
Goal: Validate your experience, most definitely including when it feels “extra” as compared to others.
Creative: HSPs possess a rich inner world, causing them to seek out depth and purpose.
Pros: This creativity can be channeled into one’s hobbies, career, and intellectual pursuits. Oftentimes, HSPs are drawn to vocations which provide them and others with meaning and beauty, including art, spirituality, psychology, music, writing, etc.
Cons: Our society tends to esteem jobs in business, which can make HSPs feel as though they don’t belong. While more tactical jobs are essential for any society, so are creative ones.
Goal: Own your unique giftings, even if they don’t always feel conventional.
While being highly sensitive can lead to challenges such as anxiety and overstimulation, it also brings strengths such as creativity, intuition, and the capacity for deep relationships with others. Understanding and embracing this trait can lead to a fulfilling life where HSPs can thrive.
If you’re curious how being highly sensitive impacts you, I’d love to help.
I understand that investing in a relationship is a big deal — especially a relationship with a therapist.
I offer complimentary 20 minute phone calls to get to know each other a little and to see if it seems like we would be a good fit before scheduling an initial session.
My goal for you is to find a therapist that you feel safe + known with, and if I’m not the best fit for you, I have a list of incredible referrals I would love to provide you with. Reach out here to schedule a free consult.