Understanding the Traits of a Highly Sensitive Person

Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) possess a unique trait of sensory processing sensitivity, making them more acutely aware of and affected by the environment and social stimuli. This article explores the defining traits of HSPs, their experiences navigating the world, and strategies to support and nourish their sensitivity.

The Nature of High Sensitivity

What Makes a Person Highly Sensitive?

High sensitivity is a trait that occurs in around 15-20% of the population. It is characterized by deep cognitive processing, high emotional responsiveness, and increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli. HSPs are not just humans who feel things deeply - they process all forms of stimulation more thoroughly and reflect more on their experiences.

Key Traits of HSPs

Key traits of HSPs can include heightened awareness and perception of subtleties in the environment, a propensity for overstimulation in complex or highly stimulating environments, deeper cognitive processing of information, and higher levels of emotional reactivity.

The Highly Sensitive Person's Experience

Navigating a Not-So-Sensitive World

Being highly sensitive in a world that often values speed, productivity, and sensory overload can be challenging. HSPs may struggle with feeling misunderstood or out of place, dealing with overstimulation, or grappling with deep emotional responses. They often need more downtime to recover from high-stimulation situations.

Emotional Depth and Empathy

HSPs are often deeply empathetic and affected by other people's moods and emotions, which can lead to rich relationships but also emotional exhaustion. They can experience positive emotions more deeply but also have strong reactions to negative experiences.

Supporting a Highly Sensitive Nature

Self-Care and Boundaries

As HSPs are prone to overstimulation, self-care is crucial. This may involve creating a calm, serene environment, setting boundaries to protect energy levels, and allowing time for quiet reflection and rest.

Embracing Sensitivity

Embracing their sensitive nature can help HSPs see it as a strength rather than a liability. It allows for deep connections with others, a rich inner life, and the ability to appreciate subtleties and beauty in the world that others might overlook.

Being a highly sensitive person comes with its unique challenges and gifts. By understanding these traits, we can better appreciate, support, and nourish the rich inner world of HSPs.

Grouport Offers Online Group Therapy & Online DBT Skills Group

Grouport Therapy provides online group therapy for anger management, anxiety, borderline personality, chronic illness, depression, dialectical behavior therapy, grief and loss, obsessive compulsive disorder, relationship issues and trauma and PTSD. Our licensed therapist leads weekly group sessions conducted remotely in the comfort of members' homes. According to participant feedback, 70% experienced significant improvements within 8 weeks.

You don't have to face these challenges alone. Join our community and work together towards a brighter future. Sign up for one of our courses today and begin your journey towards meaningful, lasting change and renewed hope.

Due to licensing restrictions, our online group therapy sessions are for Florida, New York, and New Jersey residents. If you are not a resident of either state, consider our dialectical behavior therapy skills group. It is a therapist-instructor-led online group that will teach you strategic new skills to replace behaviors and emotions causing friction in your daily life and relationships. It is excellent for interpersonal connections and building social skills concerning relationship issues.

Join a Group Support Session

We offer online group therapy, & each group has a personalized program of guidance, support, skills, and advice developed by our therapists.

Space is limited, so reserve your seat today.