Are you a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?
Have you always thought that you are somehow “different”?
Do you cry more easily or more often than others around you? Do you feel overwhelmed by environmental factors (bright lights, loud noises, large groups of people)? Do you have a rich and complex inner world full of thoughts and perceptions about yourself, others, and the world? Have you gotten the message “you’re too sensitive” often in your life? If so, you may have a highly sensitive temperament. This is a normal genetic trait found in approximately 20% of the population. You are not alone.
Dr. Elaine Aron began the study of the innate temperament trait of high sensitivity in 1991. She is a pioneer in studying the inner worlds of Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) and the psychology of love and close relationships. She has defined the key attributes of sensitive people with the acronym DOES:
D: Depth of Processing
The tendency to process information more deeply. HSPs simply process things more, whether they are aware of this tendency or not. HSPs tend to take their time to consider all options prior to making a decision. HSPs show more brain activation in the area called the insula, a part of the brain that combines moment to moment knowledge of inner states, body position, and outer events, also known by some as the “seat of consciousness.”
O: Overstimulation
HSPs tend to be more easily stressed by overstimulation both environmental and social, than others. If you notice all the subtle details about a situation and the situation is complicated (many things to remember at once), intense (noise, bright lights) or happens for for an extended period of time (a long travel day), then it makes sense that you would feel exhausted and a must faster rate. Others who may not have this intensity in taking in the environment may not have this same tendency to exhaust themselves through sensory overwhelm. HSPs have a tendency to avoid these types of intense situations more than others.
E: Empathy
HSPs show more activity in their mirror neuron system, which is responsible for knowing the intentions of others and how they feel in the moment. Mirror neurons are largely responsible for the universal human capacity to experience empathy. When mirror neurons are more active in people, there is a greater ability to feel what others are experiencing emotionally. HSPs don’t just know how someone else feels, they can actually feel the emotion of the other to some extent. HSPs tend to react more to positive emotions such as curiosity, anticipation of success, a pleasant desire for something, contentedness, or joy. They feel these emotions intensely and have the tendency to anticipate a positive outcome.
S: Sensing the Subtle
HSPs notice subtle stimuli in the environment that other people do not. Awareness of subtleties can be beneficial in many ways. From enjoying the simple pleasures in life to noticing nonverbal cues in others about their mood or trustworthiness, for example. Noticing the subtle can provide a variety of useful tools in communication as well as finding deep satisfaction in moment to moment awareness. On the other hand, when overstimulated, HSPs can be the least aware of anything, other than their need for a break!
If this is all sounding familiar to you, it could be helpful to take this brief Questionnaire to determine if you are a Highly Sensitive Person. Here is the link to the questionnaire on Dr. Elaine Aron’s website: