HSP stands for Highly Sensitive Person. It is a term coined by Dr. Elaine Aron, and describes 15-20% of the population. Also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity. It is not a disorder but a trait in a large amount of the population.
Some signs from Dr. Elaine Aron include:
- being observant before acting
- being more aware of subtleties in your environment
- being more easily overwhelmed or overstimulated therefore needing time alone to “recharge”
- being called shy or “too sensitive” (some HSPs are extroverts though)
-having a rich or complex inner life.
Sadly, a lot of HSPs can end up with Low Self Esteem because they feel abnormal for having these traits that are different from others and that others may not understand and call “too sensitive”. I am here to say you are wonderful just as you are! HSPs have a very special gift and are highly creative as well as deep thinkers. In fact, some of the worlds most famous and successful people are HSP, like Alannis Morissette for example. There is an interview of her on YouTube where she identifies herself as an HSP and her parents struggles with that. And to
name a few others, Martin Luther King Jr., Albert Einstein, Nicole Kidman and many more!
If you want to learn more, I highly recommend reading Dr. Elaine Aron’s book “The Highly Sensitive Person”. There are also many HSP groups on Facebook that are great! I hope that one day, you can see it and use it as a strength too! You can sign up for a free 15 minute phone consultation on my home page under “contact us“ or call 780-236-3313.
Comments