Hands up if you’ve heard the term ‘highly sensitive person’ before?
Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron, who is one herself. It is an innate human trait found in just 20-30% of the population, equally so in men and women, and is a subset of a personality trait known as sensory-processing sensitivity, or SPS.
High sensitivity is not a defect or a disorder, but a genetic trait you’re either born with or not, that is associated with an increased awareness and responsiveness to social and environmental cues.
The highly sensitive person’s ability to notice details means they would have been the one in the tribe to pick up threats – such as an incoming storm due to a barometric pressure change, or the scent of a predator.
They equally would have picked up on opportunities – what foods were safe to eat and who best to mate with. All important stuff!
- 1 in 4-5 people are highly sensitive
- Equally affects men and women
- It is not a defect or disorder
- It’s genetic – you’re either born with it, or not
- Found in over 100 other species
- Different to introversion and shyness
- Increases risk of anxiety and burnout
🌈 “The truly creative mind in any field is no more than this: A human creature born abnormally, inhumanly sensitive. To him… a touch is a blow, a sound is a noise, a misfortune is a tragedy, a joy is an ecstasy, a friend is a lover, a lover is a god, and failure is death.” – Pearl S. Buck
🧬 It’s in your genes….and environment
Research shows that sensitivity has a genetic basis, with genes explaining up to about 50% of differences in sensitivity between people. The remaining differences are shaped by environment and life experiences, especially in early childhood.
Rather than being linked to just one or two genes, sensitivity is likely influenced by thousands of genes, each contributing in a small way [Source].
Environmental factors play an equally significant role, beginning in the womb and continuing through adulthood.
❤️🔥 What it means to be an HSP
Now that we’ve looked at how sensitivity develops, we should talk about what sensitivity looks like for the individual.
One leading theory (by Dr Elaine Aron) on high sensitivity uses an acronym by the name of DOES to describe just what it means to be an HSP.
D. Depth of processing
Highly sensitive people think a lot, and deeply. They take time to reflect, have a need for depth and meaning, and can be interested in spiritual ideas, or philosophy – ideas beyond the surface. They naturally tend to ruminate more.
The tendency to think and reflect more can mean more time is required to make decisions. – weighing all the pro’s and con’s carefully, they pause to check, they’re very considered.
In conversation, they won’t settle for small talk and will look to explore a topic in-depth.
Thinking more deeply than others can have negative effects, it can make highly sensitive people more prone to high-functioning anxiety and chronic worrying, keeping them in a feeling of being ‘on edge’ all the time.
O. Easily overwhelmed or overstimulated
Highly sensitive people process things very thoroughly, and sometimes, there is more stimulus than they can keep up with.
They can become overstimulated and overwhelmed by sensory and social stimuli, which can then affect cognition and mood. Tiredness, exhaustion, irritation and frustration are all natural consequences of overstimulation [Source].
E. Emotional reactivity and increased empathy
Highly sensitive people experience intense emotional responses to both positive and negative events, taking more time to process their feelings.
They are deeply moved by nature, art, and small details, like the crunch of autumn leaves or morning birdsong. However, they’re also easily disturbed by violence and world events and can be more affected by criticism than others.
HSPs often have a heightened ability to sense others’ emotions, reading a room intuitively. They may prioritize others’ needs over their own, sometimes leading to “people-pleasing.”
S. Sensitivity to subtleties and nuances
HSP’s perceive a greater quantity of information, and perceive it in greater detail. It’s almost like there’s no filter – they notice things others don’t, in high definition. I like to call this my radar – nothing goes undetected!
🪻 “I sometimes specifically notice that when you walk past some place while you’re with someone, you might see something really beautiful and the person you’re with just completely misses it or walks past it.” – Study participant (Bas et al., 2021)
🌸 Are YOU an HSP?
Dr Elaine Aaron has a 27-question on high sensitivity on her website here.
The benefits of assessing yourself and becoming aware of your sensitivity is not feeling as isolated or perhaps not feeling as though you’re “not normal”. You can now see your differences through a different lens [Source].
💁♀️ Supporting the highly sensitive nervous system
Finally, being highly sensitive can be a gift, but it also means your nervous system may be more easily overstimulated, heightening your risk of burnout. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, drained, or constantly on edge, you don’t have to navigate it alone.
As a Naturopath, I offer personalized support to help strengthen your stress resilience and bring balance back to your nervous system. Together, we’ll explore natural strategies tailored to your needs so you can thrive in harmony with your sensitivity. Ready to start?
Hope that helps – next week, we’ll have a look at what it means to be a highly sensitive person, in business/the workplace – there are immense gifts, and a few challenges!
Lauren.
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