Ever wondered why you feel so strongly? About everything? You may very well be amongst the 20% who have the highly sensitive trait built in. It´s a superpower, wired in our brain for the survival of our species. And – as always with super-powers, it does come with a twist…
“HSP 101” – Julie Bjelland´s vast knowledge from the field of psycho-therapy is a great resource if you want to know more. About 30 years ago psychologist Elaine Aron pioneered research in the field of HSP. She summarized the HSP trait with the acronym DOES, which stands for depth of processing, overstimulation, emotionally responsive, and sensitivity to subtle stimuli. HSP is not a disorder. This trait has evolved more as a survival strategy of populations and offered greater sensitivity and responsiveness to environmental and social stimuli. People with this trait developed abilities that helped them be good at finding food, mates, and a safe place for the tribe to live. Researchers have found this trait in over hundred species so far, equally divided between genders, and found that over seventy percent of HSPs are introverts.
There are certain challenges (ok, a lot!) associated with being a highly sensitive person. For example, we may experience more overstimulation, depletion, and often feel misunderstood and different than others, especially because we are the minority and experience the world sometimes very differently. We also tend to have increased awareness and are more intuitive, more empathetic and feel things more deeply.
One of the more difficult aspects of this trait is that we can often feel overwhelmed and overstimulated. Julie thinks of it like having a supercomputer brain where we are downloading and processing more information than eighty percent of the population. There are different levels of sensitivity that people experience, so thinking about things in terms of the physical senses might mean that we need to adjust lighting, we may be more impacted by smells, noises, textures, or tastes, and we also tend to be more drained by the collective energy from other people, crowds especially.
This demands self-care and knowledge of ourselves. There are resources out there, and I find Julie´s to be the most generous, non-judgmental (she´s HSP herself), and organized. There are communities under her wings as well, for business, self-evolution, and more. If you suspect this might be you, take Julie´s quiz, and read up on her pages. Oh, and in case you haven´t guessed it, I´m an HSP too. Which I find gives me an advantage as a coach!
Finally, I re-post this quote from Julie´s site, because I feel it captures the HSP essence well: Highly sensitive beings suffer more but they also love harder, dream wider, and experience deeper horizons and bliss. When you’re sensitive, you’re alive in every sense of the word in this wildly beautiful world. Sensitivity is your strength. Keep soaking in the light, and spreading it to others.
— Victoria Erickson