The Highly Sensitive Person or HSP personality trait, makes up about 15-20% of the population. According to expert, Dr Elaine Aron having this trait is not a condition or disorder, though the HSP is thought to be more prone to anxiety and depression. Many people have no idea they have this normal, healthy personality trait, yet they can go through life feeling like there’s something wrong with them. It’s easy to understand why this may be the case, when many HSPs have heard the words, “you’re just too sensitive!” or similar, from parents, teachers, co-workers and the like, so this can lead to feeling like there is something wrong and different about you. You might even be asking yourself “Why am I so sensitive?”
Like anything in life, being a Highly Sensitive Person or HSP has both an up-side and a down-side.
What is a Highly Sensitive Person?
Dr Elaine Aron, coined the term, but what is an HSP? Some confuse it with introversion and while about 70% of HSPs are introverts, about 30% are extroverts. As an HSP you have a biological difference in your nervous system. Dr Aron developed a scale that measures the degree to which a person has this personality trait, it is called the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS). She has also said that the opposite of being highly sensitive is not insensitive, but rather very impulsive.
Some of the characteristics of an HSP means you’ll pick up on subtleties in your environment such as the look on a person’s face or their tone of voice for instance. You have a rich thought life which is complex and this can be one reason the HSP is prone to anxiety and depression. Aware of what’s going on in your body, feeling hungry, bright lights and loud sounds can irritate you. Having a good heart/mind balance and caring deeply means you’ll have a great deal of empathy for those around you. You feel deeply moved by music and won’t enjoy thrilling or violent movies. You are moved by beauty and love experiencing nature, you enjoy your alone time, and dislike being observed while doing something, which can lead to overwhelm. Does this sound like you?
Living as a Highly Sensitive person brings both gifts and challenges!
So how do you best cope in the world as a highly sensitive person? Firstly, understanding your temperament can go a long way to feeling better. Connecting with other HSPs or understanding friends, can help you feel less isolated. As your thought life as an HSP is more complex and through picking up more readily on emotional cues in your environment, you can feel more deeply affected. Therefore, more prone to anxiety, depression, sadness and emotional vulnerability.
As a Clinical EFT Coach I’ve found the Emotional Freedom Techniques (Tapping) to be extremely beneficial in helping men and women feel more centred, less hurt, overwhelmed, and triggered by what is going on in their life, as well as affected by the past. Therefore, reducing the negative and often overwhelming feelings that can accompany this temperament. Working together can help you feel stronger and more empowered to make changes in your life for the better, so you can go out and share your gifts with the world with less limitations, allowing you to maximise the benefits of your high sensitivity and celebrate it instead.
Want a free 15 minute chat to see if working together is right for you or are you ready to schedule your session? See the Contact button below 🙂
Wondering if you’re an HSP? Take Elaine Aron’s HSP Test.
