What is HSP and what does the phrase Highly Sensitive Person actually mean? After all, every person is sensitive about their feelings and about their values. Most people also feel empathy or at least sympathy for a friend or family member in need. But the term Highly Sensitive Person refers to a special genetic trait that occurs in less than 20 percent of the population. The
It is believed that HSP, which is also called Sensory Processing Sensitivity, is a variation that occurs in some people which greatly enhances reactions of the nervous system and brain. Whereas most people don’t notice minor details about every conversation, or every look, an HSP individual will. While this gives them an advantage to experience passion fully, it can also leave them with a chronic condition of being overstimulated and frequently misunderstood by other people.
Some speculate that our world, our culture, might be contributing to the prevalence of the HSP gene, because there are so many stimuli to take in – more now than there has ever been before. It’s a reaction, an evolution of humankind, at least in theory.
The question is, do you have it? How do you know if you have the condition? Most importantly, how does it affect your relationship with others?
Let’s first consider four signs that might indicate you are a Highly Sensitive Person based on lifelong characteristics.
1. It takes a long time to make decisions because of your enhanced perception.
You have greater depth of processing than the average person, thanks in part to an active “insula”, the part of the brain that affects self-awareness and the perception of things around you. You don’t just make a decision. You must stop, think about it, weigh the pros and cons and concentrate on the process. This approach might cause a delay and require more downtime in between making decisions. Other people may find this deeper processing time frustrating.
2. You very often get overstimulated and need a break.
Overstimulation is caused by paying too much attention to all these details during processing and feeling too much emotion within a short period of time. Social stimulation is particularly vexing and even a conversation or two will exhaust your mental resources. You require breaks in between tasks or perhaps taking off the rest of the night in many cases of overload.
3. You have almost too much empathy for other people.
Too much empathy might also be called high emotional responsiveness. In this case, you have more active mirror neurons which produce feelings of empathy for others you know, observe or even meet for the first time. There’s no choice of being detached. You feel intense episodes of empathy, feeling positive and negative emotions along with the other person. If they are stressed, you get stressed. You also feel their elation. You might also find watching reality TV or dramatic performances too intense.
4. You notice little things that other people never seem to notice…and they bother you!
You notice every subtle thing about how other people communicate. You pick up on non-verbal cues very easily. You also notice very small changes in your environment or even the “vibes” a person brings to the room. However, this condition goes beyond how you perceive others. You are also very sensitive to bright light, loud noises, or even strong smells. Even feeling something particularly rough on your hand or skin can assault your senses.
How It Feels Living with the Condition
A Highly-Sensitive Person, naturally, may have difficulty getting along with others. Many people just assume that everyone feels the same experiences equally and that we all need to toughen up for our own good. Unfortunately, scientific evidence refutes this viewpoint. Some people will struggle with this state of mind and suffer from episodes of overstimulation.
The symptoms are usually:
● Feeling exhausted
● Overwhelmed with responsibility
● Frequent bouts of anxiety, panic or depression
● Poor concentration or even what feels like ADHD
● More prone to catching the flu or cold
● Digestion problems
● Even things that are pleasurable can cause you anxiety while preparing for it
How This Affects Relationships
Most notably, Highly Sensitive People may face challenges in relationships, specifically because trusting someone requires intimacy, confidence and the ability to relax. A person that suffers from overstimulation and withdraw may back away from relationships that move too fast, or may even lash out if they feel panic or the loss of control.
Depression is common, as well as anxiety, because the person wants to be happy and feel love and intimacy, but the part of the mind that’s stressed from social interaction and stimuli-overload just wants more recovery time. This recovery time might even require some alone time to space out and do something fun or distracting.
Having anxiety and experiencing emotional intensity (especially if you interact with people who have a lot of drama in their lives) takes its toll, since you feel what they feel to the extreme and not by choice.
Lastly, the HSP lifestyle can leave a person feeling shy and unwilling to take chances – even something as simple as going out and meeting new people. You also worry that you come across as rude to others, when you have to establish boundaries early on – for your own comfort and control.
If you find yourself stressed because of this condition and in dealing with other people, remember these tips:
● Discuss your needs and limits with your dates/partner and explain why you might not always feel sociable
● It’s OK to take baby steps and to set minor goals
● Schedule more time to reflect on decisions and don’t rush yourself to take rash action
● Express yourself when you can and find people who appreciate your thoughtful nature
● Don’t set far-reaching goals or create situations of high social pressure – be more modest in planning
● Get more in touch with nature and with pets that can be of great comfort in times of distress
● Don’t isolate yourself too long, since low self-esteem and loneliness only cause more anxiety – find friends who appreciate your qualities and keep in touch, even if it’s by email or chat
In conclusion, remember that HSP is not considered a disorder, even though some symptoms could be indicative of a disorder – like general anxiety or obsessive-compulsive. However, Sensory Processing Sensitivity is a normal temperament variation and is not in and of itself considered a personality disorder.
Maintaining relationships is very important even if they sometimes feel like more trouble than they’re worth. Talk things out with people you care about and continue to share thoughts and feelings when you can. Treat the condition like a gift, not an illness. Feel things vividly and let your empathy endear you to people.
You can still find happiness, maybe even greater happiness than the norm, because you have this gift of high-empathy.
The 5 Word Phrase That Destroys a Man’s Love For You And Drives Him Out Of Your Life
There’s a simple 5 word phrase that will destroy any man’s love for you and drive him out of your life completely…
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Have you figured out what it is yet?
Many women send this as a text message when they’re feeling insecure…
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