HSPs - Highly Sensitive People - do exist! Statistically about 20 per cent of the population are considered sensitive. Sensitivity is basically a neural trait, meaning the HSP has a sensitive nervous system. This means the HSP is aware of subtleties in his surroundings and stays on guard for potential "danger". For example, dark clouds or slippery pavements. The highly sensitive person is more easily overwhelmed when he has been out for too long in a highly stimulating environment, where he has been bombarded by sights and sounds and comes home with an exhausted nervous system.
Being sensitive has both advantages and disadvantages; in some societies, being sensitive is highly esteemed. In Western culture however, being sensitive is not considered ideal, and parents and teachers will spend time trying to help you "overcome" it.
The HSP can feel out of step with the rest of the world, because they are in the minority. They are easily "hurt" or affronted when non-HSP people speak or interact with them in a way that the HSP would not. The HSP therefore cannot understand how others can be so direct, critical, or confrontative. Typically, the HSP will not challenge the interaction, but will withdraw and then dwell on the exchange that took place, trying to understand what went wrong, especially what did he do wrong, and why was the other person so nasty?
It is unlikely that the non-HSP will know that anything is "wrong". His nervous system is not impacted by conflict, confrontation, and raised voices and therefore he has no awareness that the HSP now has an aroused nervous system and is "hurting". This is the reason however, why the HSP calls him "insensitive" or mean.
What seems ordinary to others, like loud music or crowds, can be highly stimulating to the HSP nervous system and thus stressful. A certain amount of these stimuli can initially feel good to the HSP, but when it is "too much" the stimuli become disturbing. The HSP often needs time to be alone, in order to give his nervous system time to calm down, in preparation for the onslaught of stimuli that it is going to receive again tomorrow.
On walking into a room at a party, an HSP can be instantly aware, whether they wish to be or not, of much more than just the furniture or the people in the room. They will be aware of the mood in the room, friendships and hosilities between various people, and notice whether the air is fresh or stale. HSPs notice small things, for example, threads on the rug, how the curtain is tied back, and whether the picture frame has been dusted.
HSP's do not necessarily judge these things, but they notice, and the nervous system becomes overwhelmed with all these things it has to "notice". The HSP becomes easily overwhelmed in new environments as the nervous overarousal is usually experienced as anxiety leading eventually to the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Fear should not be confused with arousal. Typically, an HSP will feel arousal by subconscious thoughts or low level events but outwardly display no obvious emotion. Increasing levels of arousing chemicals felt in the body of an HSP will cause them to feel fearful, even though intellectually there is nothing to feel fearful about. This is often referred to by HSPs as an indication of their "craziness" - when their feelings are absolutely incongruous with their awareness or thoughts. - 20896
Being sensitive has both advantages and disadvantages; in some societies, being sensitive is highly esteemed. In Western culture however, being sensitive is not considered ideal, and parents and teachers will spend time trying to help you "overcome" it.
The HSP can feel out of step with the rest of the world, because they are in the minority. They are easily "hurt" or affronted when non-HSP people speak or interact with them in a way that the HSP would not. The HSP therefore cannot understand how others can be so direct, critical, or confrontative. Typically, the HSP will not challenge the interaction, but will withdraw and then dwell on the exchange that took place, trying to understand what went wrong, especially what did he do wrong, and why was the other person so nasty?
It is unlikely that the non-HSP will know that anything is "wrong". His nervous system is not impacted by conflict, confrontation, and raised voices and therefore he has no awareness that the HSP now has an aroused nervous system and is "hurting". This is the reason however, why the HSP calls him "insensitive" or mean.
What seems ordinary to others, like loud music or crowds, can be highly stimulating to the HSP nervous system and thus stressful. A certain amount of these stimuli can initially feel good to the HSP, but when it is "too much" the stimuli become disturbing. The HSP often needs time to be alone, in order to give his nervous system time to calm down, in preparation for the onslaught of stimuli that it is going to receive again tomorrow.
On walking into a room at a party, an HSP can be instantly aware, whether they wish to be or not, of much more than just the furniture or the people in the room. They will be aware of the mood in the room, friendships and hosilities between various people, and notice whether the air is fresh or stale. HSPs notice small things, for example, threads on the rug, how the curtain is tied back, and whether the picture frame has been dusted.
HSP's do not necessarily judge these things, but they notice, and the nervous system becomes overwhelmed with all these things it has to "notice". The HSP becomes easily overwhelmed in new environments as the nervous overarousal is usually experienced as anxiety leading eventually to the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Fear should not be confused with arousal. Typically, an HSP will feel arousal by subconscious thoughts or low level events but outwardly display no obvious emotion. Increasing levels of arousing chemicals felt in the body of an HSP will cause them to feel fearful, even though intellectually there is nothing to feel fearful about. This is often referred to by HSPs as an indication of their "craziness" - when their feelings are absolutely incongruous with their awareness or thoughts. - 20896
About the Author:
More expert advice on handling overarousal and understanding and taking control of your emotions is available from Karen Gosling's website, which is all about surviving sensitivity.
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