Albert Einstein, actress Nicole Kidman, Jim Hallowes – Founder of HighlySensitivePeople.com, Greta Garbo, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Judy Garland and Martin Luther King Jr are some famous personalities known as highly sensitive people (HSP). It is worth noting that highly sensitive people account for 15 to 20 percent of the population of the world who are highly creative and brilliant people. The list given above that they are great artists, actors, scientists, social reformers etc. Sensitive people have depth in thinking and therefore take their work seriously; their nervous systems are fine-tuned therefore they outstand whatever task they take in hand.
Dr Elaine Aron who is a Clinical Psychologist, coined the term “highly sensitive” in her 1996 book, “The Highly Sensitive Person”. She explains that high sensitivity, or sensory processing sensitivity (SPS), is an inherited, genetic trait that affects approximately 20 percent of the world’s population. HSPs have a sensitive nervous system, so they absorb and process more information than average, and they ponder on it more deeply. This trait is often mistaken for being introvert and highly emotional, standoffish, insecure, apprehensive, neurotics, depressed etc, etc. A study by Aron shows that high sensitivity of a person is misunderstood as his/her weakness, but, the fact is that HSPs are highly capable, diligent and aware people, who are just more accustomed to their environment and others’ feelings than most people. HSPs are empathetic by nature. It’s just that they are biologically wired differently. They have an entirely different approach to their physical environment, and that is not a weakness but strength.
They are highly intuitive: Although this may be a rephrase of his thoughts on the subject, Albert Einstein has been widely quoted as saying, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant”. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift. In my opinion, even Steve Jobs was a HSP. The co-founder of Apple has also said that he believed that intuitive heart leads to success. The opposition to Einstein’s landmark theory of relativity in the 1920s was unprecedented and extremely fierce, but the physicist followed his instinct and stood by his work. Einstein’s general theory of relativity is now renowned as a pinnacle of modern-day physics. Steve Jobs had said that when someone feels that familiar tightness in chest before doing something, it’s the reason that the brain sends signals to stop. Get into the habit of not brushing it off with excuses. One must trust intuition.
They are shy and prefer to withdraw from crowd: These sensitive people jump to help people easily because they understand needs of people easily. The “King of Late Night” television show host Johnny Carson was in total control during his shows, but, once he stepped away from the spotlight he was shy and aloof. One day while going to a recording session, as Orson was getting out of the limo a homeless guy rushed up to him suddenly. It seems it took about a half hour for Mr. Orson to regain his composure. Carson rarely gave interviews and remained a very private man, despite his public persona. He once revealed, “I can get in front of an audience and be in control… backstage, I’m aloof because I’m not very comfortable.”
HSPs have different approach to their physical environment: Being considerate and well mannered HSPs tend to get affected when someone is not. They are also detail-oriented and notice things that others may miss. Additionally, they are gifted, they can read people well and know when they are lying or being deceiving. The tone, pauses, body languages are all clues which they easily catch. They get stressed with over thinking, which leads to low immunity, which may result in frequent cough and cold. They don’t like anything in exaggeration; they don’t like to be in large groups, too many lights, strong smells, loud noise. They are not party persons. A lot depends on how they feel. With incredible intuition, they work according to their gut feelings.
They are more expressive in their relationships: HSPs crave for deep connections. According to Aron’s research, sensitive people tend to get bored in marriage than non-sensitive people, mostly due to the lack of meaningful interaction. Aron says that HSPs tend to withdraw from a relationship which lacks meaning and involvement. They look for meaningfulness in all that they do in life. The key to a successful relationship for an HSP is communicating what they want out of a relationship and finding a partner who understands their emotions. “Sensitive people can’t help but expressing what they’re feeling,” says Aron. They show their anger, they show their happiness. Appreciating that is really important. Also, they find it difficult to deal with people who are pessimistic and want to demean because it drains their energies.
They are boon to the society: People often react adversely or get reticent around HSP. What they don’t realize is that the extremely sensitive person is vulnerable because he/she is hurt in the past. Many feel that such people are fragile and unable to handle themselves, but they have their own reasons for behaving the way they do. At such times, it is best to give them space to analyze the situation and get a hold of themselves.
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS, HSP, or Highly Sensitive Person) is not a condition, a disorder, or a diagnosis. It is a neutral trait evolved in 20% of the human population and many non-human species as well. HSPs process stimuli deeply due to a biological difference in their nervous system. As a result, they easily get overwhelmed and often need more self-care than others.
If you are a HSP, be proud because you are unique and you are born to do something good for the humanity. Cheers!!