What is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?
What is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?
Highly sensitive people (sometimes known as hyper-sensitive people) have higher rates of general sensitivity to the world around them. They are deeply attuned to their external environment and the feelings and needs of others. A highly sensitive person may appear to be overly sensitive during childhood, which can be confusing or even frustrating for caregivers. Such sensitive traits tend to persist over a lifetime.
Highly sensitive person traits may include:
- Sensitivity to lights and sounds
- Sensitivity to caffeine and medications
- Feelings of being overwhelmed by crowded places
- Feeling more drained than others after spending time with people
- Affected by the energy and moods of the people around them
- Startling easily
- Difficulty with transitions and change
- Avoiding violence in television and movies
How Many HSP's Are in the World?
Research has suggested that HSP's make up at least 15-20% of the total population and does not favor one gender over another.
A number of factors may contribute including genetic predisposition, lack of parental affection and traumatic life events.
There are BENEFITS to Being an HSP!
It's not all doom and gloom! Some of the positive traits presented by HSP's include:
- HSP's tend to be highly empathetic toward others
- While HSP's may be more sensitive to pain and threatening elements, they also often feel intense pleasure
- HSP's are creative and excel in creative environments
- Hightened self-care, due to being highly attuned to their own needs and feelings
- Highly intuitive and able to tap in to inner resources for improved decision making
When to Seek Help
Being a Highly Sensitive Person can become problematic when life stressors become seemingly too much to handle. Traumatic events, sustained long term stimulus and relationship challenges are just a few factors that can lead to increased anxiety, depression and substance abuse. A therapist can help you better understand your emotional triggers and teach you adaptive ways to cope with your distress.
