Ann at all times knew she felt issues extra deeply than maximum society.
She’s at all times been simply abash, fast to scream and felt crushed in crowded parks. “As a kid, I used to be referred to as ‘too sensitive,’ a ‘crybaby,’ and ‘thin-skinned,” Ann said. As a result, she often felt inadequate and an “inappropriate amount of shame.”
Today, Ann, now 63 would be described as a highly sensitive person (HSP), a term coined in 1996 by psychologist Elaine Aron, Ph.D., bestselling author of The Highly Sensitive Person and dozens of scientific studies on HSPs.
As evidenced by hundreds of research studies, HSPs — who comprise up to 20% of the population — process things uniquely, especially when it comes to perception, emotions and empathy.
Licensed clinical psychologist Mary Kate Roohan, PsyD, who specializes in working with highly sensitive people, described an HSP as a person who takes in the world — both positively and negatively — more deeply. “It’s like having a mind that can pay difference consideration to the subtleties of their atmosphere,” she mentioned.
Characteristics of extremely touchy society
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5),used by clinicians and researchers to diagnose mental disorders, does not classify being an HSP as a mental health disorder or condition. Instead, experts say that highly sensitive people are high in a normal innate personality trait, known as sensory processing sensitivity (SPS).
Most people are sensitive to some degree, but HSPs are particularly sensitive. One of many characteristics of a highly sensitive person is that they are more affected by their environments, especially in childhood. Like Ann, they’re often told they can’t take criticism or they need to grow thicker skin.
In addition to sensitivity to criticism and feedback, HSPs are easily affected by triggers in their physical environment. For example, bright lights and noises, violence on TV or a clothing label that feels like sandpaper can be overwhelming for an HSP.
An HSP needs to take their time — rushing or multi-tasking can be especially stressful. With a nervous system working in overdrive, highly sensitive people can feel overwhelmed and exhausted, often needing downtime to recharge. For example, they may leave a social setting early or need to complete a task in solitude to concentrate better.
HSPs are also highly sensitive to the dispositions of others, often absorbing another person’s mood, which can be emotionally exhausting. And while it might seem that all HSPs would be introverts, that’s not the case: Up to 3 in 10 are extroverts, according to Roohan. “This makes sense, as HSPs often value connection and community,” she said.
Because of their deep sensitivity and stronger tendency to process emotions and responses, a highly sensitive person may be more prone to depression and nervousness, in step with a 2023 study. Thankfully, with enough quantity familial and folk help from a tender presen, Aron mentioned that HSPs can serve as extraordinarily smartly. However and not using a just right get started, they’re simply wired and in finding it tougher to manage.
Coping with being a highly sensitive person
Being an HSP can be a strength, but it can also be challenging. In order to cope with high sensitivity, Aron suggests reframing your past and focusing on the positive aspects of the trait. It’s also important to understand what you need and give yourself grace. For example, take as much time as you can to make a decision, and then resist feeling guilty if you make a decision that doesn’t work out.
Try to state your needs without embarrassment or hesitation. Roohan said, “I tell my clients that the majority of the population are not HSPs, and people don’t often understand them. If there’s enough rapport in the relationship, there are ways to articulate to someone you love why what they say is hurtful.”
In addition to clearly communicating your needs, it’s a good idea to try to spend time with other HSPs. According to Aron, this connection can help reinforce that the trait is real and help you feel understood and heard.
Supporting a highly sensitive person
In the way you would support other friends or family, it can be helpful to ask an HSP what they need and then try to accommodate. For example, be mindful that certain things in the environment can really affect them, so dim the lights or turn down the music if they’re feeling overstimulated. Also, understand that HSPs need downtime, and it’s not a reflection of how they feel about you.
The good news is that research shows that couples with one or more partner who is an HSP get more from marital counseling and communication training — so it could be helpful to participate if you need it.
Being a extremely touchy consumer could be a power
Even if being an HSP is related to upper ranges of rigidity, nervousness and melancholy and would possibly intrude with day-to-day actions, HSPs have distinctive neurological wiring that lets them be extra perceptive and aware of their atmosphere.
In step with Aron, extremely touchy society are steadily particularly inventive and feature affluent prosperous and complicated internal lives. Research, together with an MRI study that checked out HSPs time they have been viewing facial expressions, have proven that HSPs have larger mind job in boxes that relate to empathy, motion making plans and consciousness.
Those distinctive characteristics, together with advanced processing belief and empathy assemble it simple for them to tie to others. Consequently, they steadily assemble stunning leaders.
HSPs additionally do smartly being self-employed, and they’re extremely competent, so they are able to be triumphant at virtually the rest.
Reflecting again, Ann, a mom of 3 who spent a part of her operating profession as a educating laborer, sees the distinct benefits of being an HSP. “I definitely think being an HSP made me a better mother and a better teacher. Being extremely patient and analytical allowed me to get inside children’s heads and feel what they might be feeling.”
*First identify simplest has been impaired for privateness.
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