Have you ever heard of the term Highly Sensitive Person or HSP? Have you suspected that this might describe you? A Highly Sensitive Person experiences the world in a more heightened way. This can look like feeling overwhelmed in crowded or chaotic settings, being easily startled, or having intense emotional reactions (positive or negative). Sometimes strong smells, certain fabrics, or bright lighting can feel like too much. Or you may feel like you absorb the emotions of those around you. This trait is thought to be shared by 15-20% of people. Being an HSP is normal and a biological disposition – your body’s senses have heightened sensitivity!
Leading researcher, Elaine Aron, describes the highly sensitive person as someone with highly attuned awareness.
You notice things that others miss. Aron also shares that being an HSP means you are more easily overwhelmed by environments that bombard your senses. If you are somewhere that is loud, bright, and chaotic for too long, you may start to feel anxious. Sometimes feeling exhausted in a “nervous-system sort of way” leaves you feeling irritable and angry. Aron developed the acronym “DOES” to summarize high sensitivity,
Depth of Processing
HSPs take in information and process it on a deep level. This means your brain and nervous system are constantly taking in information and investigating every angle. Research has shown that HSPs show more activation in the areas of the brain related to “deeper processing.” This depth of processing means greater awareness internally and externally. This can lead to a strengthened intuition. Burnout can also happen more readily because your processing capacity depletes faster than others.
Overstimulation
Because of the depth and volume of processing from everyday stimuli, HSPs can become overwhelmed faster than a non-HSP. This makes sense because the Highly Sensitive Person is constantly absorbing, consciously or unconsciously, the details often overlooked by others. Your brain and nervous system are on overdrive leading to exhaustion quicker than a non-HSP. This can happen even when the day is packed with fun activities. For example, while on vacation a full day of exploring new places followed by dinner at a loud restaurant and then heading to the local nightclub might cause overstimulation. As an HSP you may need to be intentional with how many activities are in a day. Or perhaps sightsee in a different way that allows for breaks to provide some sensory processing relief. 
Emotional Reactivity / Empathy
The heightened sensitivity not only applies to your physical senses, it also applies to your reactions to positive and negative experiences. It is probably easier to remember strong reactions to negative experiences, but research is showing that HSPs respond strongly to positive experiences too. This increases a Highly Sensitive Person’s creativity and curiosity. Empathizing and emotional reactivity, like the traits explained above, are about the depth of your own experience and empathy for others’ experiences.
Sensing the Subtle
The Highly Sensitive Person does not have “super-human” senses, nor does it mean that they necessarily have sensory issues.
Aron makes the distinction that HSP’s have “sensory processing sensitivity.” Your brain and senses are busy processing your internal and external experiences with increased depth. Therefore, you will likely be noticing the subtleties in an environment or conversation. This can contribute to overstimulation because the volume of processing subtleties in your environment depletes your energy. As an example, think of ink in a printer. One printer only prints the artistic outline of a single tree. The other printer is tasked with printing the story about the tree – full text from the top of the page to the bottom of the page. Which ink is going to deplete and need refilling faster? Neither printer is better than the other, or not working properly, it is simply the amount of processing that depletes the ink supply.
Each of the characteristics described above are strengths that can positively influence creativity, relationships, and overall sense of self.
If being a Highly Sensitive Person hasn’t always been on your radar, these experiences may have felt isolating. Or perhaps you’ve received messages that sensitivity is something to be fixed. Maybe you’ve been told to “grow thicker skin.” Sensitivity in today’s culture is often viewed as a weakness and to be avoided.
Being a Highly Sensitive Person does not mean you are destined to watch life from the sidelines.
It’s hard for any human to thrive when feeling mentally, biologically, and emotionally overwhelmed. All humans feel overwhelmed at various points, but a Highly Sensitive Person’s nervous system is more susceptible to overwhelm and depletion. The important thing to know is you are not alone.
Therapy for HSPs at ME-Therapy can help you untangle from the overwhelm. You can begin to see your sensitivity as a strength. We are committed to helping you connect to your authentic being and embark on the path to wholeness. Each HSP’s experience is unique. What might be overwhelming to you, might not be overwhelming to a fellow HSP. The ME-Therapy therapists can help you gain awareness. This awareness can help you forge a new relationship with your processing sensitivity.
We strive to collaborate on ways to heal and move forward with confidence.
If your sensitivity hasn’t been celebrated, it is likely you found ways to try and hide it. To cope with being sensitive in a world that is not friendly to your HSP self. You found ways to survive and make your way through. ME-Therapy in St. Petersburg can help you let go of that burden, find acceptance, and bring healing to the unheard parts of yourself. You can thrive by learning to set boundaries, putting care plans in place before an overwhelming event, and learning skills to manage overwhelm. ME-Therapy is here to support you.
Ready to Start Therapy to thrive as a highly sensitive person in Florida?
Beginning the journey back to peace is easier than most of the things we’re all doing right now! Counseling does not have to wait. You can get the mental health support you need with a skilled therapist in St. Pete or with online therapy in Florida. To begin, just follow these simple steps:
- Contact us to request an appointment
- Meet with one of our experienced therapists.
- Get support & begin your journey toward mental wellness & connection today!
Other Mental Health and Wellness Services at ME-Therapy
Therapy can take many forms. At our St. Petersburg therapy & wellness clinic, we want to will help your mind but also want to feed your soul. This means our therapists and wellness team take a holistic approach to your wellbeing. In order to do this, our therapists offer individual therapy for women, therapy for men, trauma therapy, therapy for anxiety, and holistic, spiritual therapy. In addition to standard marriage counseling & couples therapy, our relationship therapists also provide sex therapy, affair recovery counseling and poly-friendly kink aware therapy.
All of these services can be provided in-person at our St. Petersburg, FL counseling clinic or anywhere in the state with online therapy in Florida. If you have any questions about therapy, please visit our FAQ page! Also, you may consider reading more of our blog posts to get to know us a bit better. Finally, thank you for allowing ME-Therapy to be a part of your life journey!
