What the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is Not

Sometimes being highly sensitive can mean not being understood by others.  Here are some labels that the HSP may encounter and what they may really mean.

Weak 
     Although things impact us more than most people, we are not weak.  Our central nervous system happens to be triggered more significantly so we feel things more intensely.  It can sometimes be difficult to move forward when most of our senses are aroused at one time.

Afraid
     We are not afraid.  We are processing things rather deeply and how they relate to us.  Sometimes situations occur that trigger a painful event in our past and we are attempting to overcome that by seeking a more comfortable route while still moving safely through that difficult barrier.

Disorganized
     We are keenly aware that we may sometimes not appear to be organized and unable to bring order to things.  Executive functioning does not come easy to us with so much information processing in our brains, it’s challenging to make sense of how to put things in their rightful place.  (That does not mean we do not care.)

Distracted (or inattentive)
     Sometimes when we need to get many things done it can be overwhelming, especially when we have a small window of time to complete tasks.  At times this is due to our challenge with executive functioning or being overstimulated by the rush.  If you find us feeling irritable it may mean we are plagued by having to do too much or struggling to process a problem effectively.

Loners
     Although we may prefer to spend time alone it does not mean we do not want to be around others.  It is a way to help calm our central nervous system when we feel over-aroused by stimulus in our environment.  Some of us have strong reactions to too many things at once, like attending a party.  It can drain our energy because we focus so intently on talking and listening, observing and processing, all while being highly aware of our surroundings.  If we tend to turn down offers for get-together's it may mean we are overwhelmed or overstimulated and need to recharge our energy.

Know-it-all’s
     We often have the ability to creatively solve problems quickly and are eager to share this with others.  We are in a constant state of seeing the world in how things can be better or improved. It is not an effort to outshine anyone or prove we are better.
 
Perfectionists
     Because we are passionate about delivering things the best way possible we may tend to work longer at getting things done the right way.  We take time to ensure we cover all the details.  We are loyal to the “rules” of things and may point out discrepancies simply because of the passion we constantly feel.  Sometimes this may feel too rigid to others but we also do this because we feel so much empathy and sympathy and how things may impact others.  We have hope that everyone can be on the same page and nobody feels slighted. 

What we are is…
Brave, caring, attentive, empathetic, sympathetic, nurturing, intuitive, mindful, inclusive, deep thinkers, creative innovators and more.  

Look for the next blog post on positives of the HSP!  Coming soon...

​Creative Pathways- Rochester Art Therapy- specializing in treating the Highly Sensitive Person, is devoted to helping individuals face their struggles in a supportive and gentle way. If you are considering therapy options, Art Therapy may help you achieve your personal goals and develop in-depth solutions. If you would like to learn more and meet with a therapist, please contact us today to determine how we can help.​​