The New York HSP Group
A discussion, support and social group for the highly sensitive person living in New York
2008.07.28 2008.07.30
Am I REALLY a Highly Sensitive Person?
People are sometimes confused about the meaning of "sensitive." And with good reason. There's a big difference between the standard interpretation of someone being "sensitive," and being "highly sensitive," as an actual inborn physiological trait.
One of the most common (mis)interpretations of a "highly sensitive person" is of someone who is "emotionally fragile," timid, and gets their feelings hurt at the drop of a hat. Whereas that may be true for some HSPs, it's only a small part of the picture.
A much more complete description-- and the one used on this web site, and in the New York HSP group-- was coined by research psychologist Dr. Elaine N. Aron, and formed the basis for her 1996 book, "The Highly Sensitive Person."
When Dr. Aron describes a "Highly Sensitive Person" she is talking about sensitivity as a inborn trait-- people who have a highly attuned nervous system. The sensitivity described has emotional, psychological, physical and environmental components.
If you're interested, there's a very useful "sensitivity self test" on Dr. Aron's web site. You might find it quite eye-opening, if you have not taken it, already:
High Sensitivity is a NEUTRAL trait, it is not an "illness" or other pathology.
There is a common misconception-- both among HSPs, as well as among people who meet someone who's sensitive-- that there is something "wrong" with the person, and that the sensitivity can be "treated" and/or "fixed." I have also run into a number of people who feel "unsure" as to whether they are really HSPs. Either the description doesn't seem to completely apply to them, or there are certain ways they feel they are very IN-sensitive, OR they feel like they are too "out there" to be a Highly Sensitive Person.
There are certain incidences in which being an HSP may not "look like" the description. One such would apply to the extraverted HSP. Approximately 25-30% of HSPs are extraverted, and they contend with both feeling dependent on the company of others to be energized, while simultaneously getting just as easily overstimulated as introverted HSPs. Similarly, Elaine Aron characterizes some HSPs as being "High Sensation Seekers" (HSS). An HSS-HSP constantly seeks out novelty, change, excitement, risk, and can seem very un-HSP like in some ways. And yet, the very variety and excitement they seek, also tends to overstimulate and exhaust them.
The important thing to understand about being Highly Sensitive is that it is neither a "defect" nor a "pathology," but merely within the normal spectrum of human experience.
Some things High Sensitivity is NOT
Shyness. Neither high sensitivity (nor introversion) are the same thing as shyness. Shyness occurs due to social conditioning. Sensitivy (and introversion) are inherent traits.
Social Anxiety (Or Generalized Anxiety). Again, these are disorders while high sensitivity is a trait. Whereas an HSP may be afflicted with either of these disorders, being an HSP does NOT mean you have a disorder. Some mental health professionals argue that HSPs may be more prone to anxiety disorders, simply because they experience their environment "more intensely."
Asperger's Disorder (formerly Asperger's Syndrome). There are a lot of overlaps between the diagnostic criteria for Asperger's (a form of high-functioning autism) and the description of High Sensitivity. That said, the two are not the same, and an HSP may have Asperger's, but being an HSP doesn't mean you have the disorder.
Sensory Integration Dysfunction. Whereas this does involve the central nervous system, it essentially refers to a disorder in which a person senses physical stimuli normally, but perceives them abnormally. This is not true about being highly sensitive.
IN GENERAL, be wary of people-- mental health professionals, or just lay people-- who seem determined to label your sensitivity as a disorder or pathology. In most cases you'll find that they are taking this approach in order to make their lives easier, not your life easier.
