What is a Highly Sensitive Person?
In my counseling practice I work with many Highly Sensitive Persons, otherwise known as HSPs. This is a trait that I understand thoroughly since I am one myself. I have followed the scientist, psychotherapist and author Dr. Elaine Aron on the subject since a counselor told me about the trait of high sensitivity when I was an undergrad in college and getting bombarded by my own very sensitive emotions.
Yet it still surprises me how many people, psychotherapists and psychiatrists included, who have never heard the term HSP! Essentially an HSP is someone who was born with, I repeat BORN WITH, a nervous system that is more sensitive to stimuli than the average person. High Sensitivity is not a flaw or diagnosis, it is simply a trait, just like any other genetically defined disposition. Importantly, it is not the same thing as a trauma response (PTSD) although trauma can manifest as sensitivity to stimuli but with a very different cause. The trait of high sensitivity has been studied in over one hundred other species including insects! There are many resources where you can find out more about this if you think you might be an HSP, that is, one of the 20 to 30 percent of humans with a more sensitive nervous system than the other 70 to 80 percent. See the link to Elaine Aron’s website below. As a starter, I will pass on this very easy acronym for what defines an HSP, which stems directly from the research on this trait:
Depth of Processing
Overwhelm (happens easily)
Emotional Reaction and Empathy
Sensitivity to Subtlety
So there you have it! Do you relate to these 4 descriptors? If so, welcome to the sweet, wide world of highly sensitive persons! If you take the time to get to know your trait, you will likely find it to be a superpower. Still not sure? You can take a more in depth self test and find many more resources at https://hsperson.com. You can also book an appointment with me through the Connect page of this website.