Signs Of A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) & What To Do About It | BetterHelp

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A highly sensitive person (HSP) is an individual who feels deeply and can struggle to manage their sensitivity. This condition is also referred to as sensory processing sensitivity (SPS). People with this condition have high levels of empathy and can easily understand the feelings of others.
These individuals are often sensitive to lights, sounds, and crowds of people. If they’re over-stimulated, they may need to step away from these overwhelming situations to decompress. Often highly sensitive individuals like to be alone to recharge and get back to a place of balance. For people who are highly sensitive it’s essential to engage in self-care and set boundaries with those people around them.
Psychologist Elaine Aron and her husband Arthur Aron created the term highly sensitive person or HSP in the 1990’s. Elaine Aron published the book The Highly Sensitive Person to talk about how this condition affects this group of individuals. In the book, she outlines the character of an HSP and how to identify one. She also demonstrates social and emotional techniques that people with this condition can use to live a good quality of life.
Sensitivity can be a gift. People with high levels of empathy can go on to become mental health professionals or caregivers and help others. However, it’s crucial to learn to manage sensitivity and not let it overwhelm you. If you believe you need help managing your sensitivity, a licensed therapist or counselor can support you in figuring out the balance between being sensitive and having boundaries with others.
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