I walked into the post office recently early one Saturday morning to mail a package. The empty station’s radio was playing commercials; a loud, bright and annoying jingle. The female postal clerk finished helping her customer and left to take the package to the back.
Commercial #2 comes on, just as loud, even more annoying. I realize I am able to avoid commercials these days, either by switching a station or muting. When the 3rd commercial comes on, I’ve had it. I walk up to the boombox, ready to . . . OK, not go postal, but at least turn the volume down. But I can’t find the volume button. Back in line, the postal clerk returns; it’s my turn. I mention the noisy commercials, and the clerk s nods and laughs. No big deal to her. I conduct my business with my finger in my left ear, the one nearest the radio. . .
THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON – HSP
“Sensory processing sensitivity” first appeared in 1997 as a new human trait. Later termed Highly Sensitive Person or HSP, it applied to 15-20% of humans born with a more sensitive nervous system. Shyness, introversion, inhibition, and low social interest had been studied before, but author Elaine Aron maintained that the HSP was different. They were not always timid, some were extroverts, some were male. Cultural views had impact too. In cultures like Japan where this is valued, “sensitive” and “shy” children were more popular, but in Canada, those traits were not the popular ones.
HSPs are a minority – 15-20% of humans carry this type. In the research, further proof was found in the animal kingdom, where this same trait was found to exist in 15-20% of creatures . Maybe your pet is an HSP too.
WHAT IS A HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON?
So what’s an HSP? This type of human has a more sensitive nervous system. They’re more aware of subtle factors in their surroundings. If that’s you, you will notice and even change the lighting and music volume when entering a room. Or, you might wish to adjust radio volume at the post office. HSPs might be similar to today’s term “empath”, coined by Judith Orloff and others. HSPs are more permeable, and can be more easily jangled by things non HSPs hardly notice.
Here is a list of some common HSP traits, and in parentheses, (how these translate to real life.)
- HSPs process things more deeply (longer time for decision making)
- Easily overstimulated by lights, noise, smells, crowds (tire more of social time, need quiet time)
- More empathy and reactive emotions (feel more impact from positive and negative events)
- Sense more subtleties (advanced ability to read people, to sense and intuit moods and the disquiet of others)
If you are an HSP, you’ll need to learn how to work with this trait and learn the pros and cons – there are great gifts with this package. HSP information, good self care and recovery practices help. Otherwise, you can struggle a lot with HSP overwhelm and shut down. Author and HSP expert Julie Bjelland likens this overwhelm to a supercomputer that freezes up. Love that analogy!
HSP challenges include:
- Anxiety, overwhelm, over the top emotions
- Fatigue
- Ruminating, stuckness
- Difficulties with crowds
- High expectations of self and others and the associated perfectionism that can be unconscious
I’ll cover more about how you can best navigate the world if you’re an HSP. There are more books today and the original researcher has a website with online tests and resources to tell if this is you or someone you love. See resources below for more.
In my view, you don’t need to go around the world super-cushioned or follow all HSP advice. For example, HSPs are cautioned to avoid public speaking, performing etc. I’m an HSP and need to do both in my soul mission. Part of my mission, like many of my fellow HSPs, involves ancestral healing areas. So, not only do I need to have more recovery time after events, and tools to keep perspective and manage expectations. I also need to get beyond my sensitive nature (get over myself 🙂 to do the “it ends with us” side of healing the ancestral trauma. I’ll need support during or after public events, yes, especially if I’m presenting my soul mission work. That soul mission can override HSP warnings and so called contraindications.
The point here is that HPS sensitivity has gifts that makes you even more suited to the soul work you’re shining on the world. It’s my belief that this soulful minority is leading the charge to change the world. You might not find us at carrying the megaphone at a rally, but you could find us on Instagram, humbly offering our guidance on how to stretch beyond limits in order to help this needy and evolving world.
I’m guessing you may have similarly adapted to keep the soul work going alongside sensitivity. Share your tips and experience on what helps you thrive as a sensitive in this noisy, harshly lit world.
Warmly,
Denise
RESOURCES: Blogs, Podcasts, Tests, Books
More from Denise on HSPs
7 Completion Challenges for Sensitives
Fiery Politics – Thoughts for Sensitives
Take an online test to see if you or your child are HSPs, on original author E. Aron’s website.
https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/
The Hidden Superpowers of HSPs – Recent podcast, by The Good Life founder and host Jonathan Field, speaks with “bestselling author Jenn Granneman (Sensitive: The Hidden Power of the Highly Sensitive Person in a Loud, Fast, Too-Much World).
Books
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You, Elaine N. Aron
Highly Sensitive People in an Insensitive World: How to Create a Happy Life, Ilse Sand
Brain Training for the Highly Sensitive Person: Techniques to Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelming Emotions, Julie Bjelland
Finely Tuned: How to Thrive as a Highly Sensitive Person or Empath, Barrie Davenport
HSPs often have finely tuned intuition but they may not always trust it. If you have a sense that it’s time to expand your work or business, it could be a great time for this:
💥✌️💕😊🌄 HSP SUPPORT: Spring 2025 Special: The Radiant Work Power Pivot💥💥
90 minute single session with two days of Voxer follow on support as step forward
Save $100, 5 4 spots left
First step, book a free, no pressure phone consult (or request the questions to answer)
Take your place as a HSP helping to change the world, on heart-based step at a time…
