Have you ever felt like you’re “too sensitive”? Or maybe you find that you become easily overwhelmed and are prone to overstimulation. Maybe you experience your feelings deeply, are incredibly empathetic, and the person loved ones turn to the most. Perhaps you require more quiet time and rest to recharge in order to feel like yourself again. If any of these descriptions resonate with you, you may in fact BE a highly sensitive person.

Being a highly sensitive person is an innate trait you are born with. The Highly Sensitive Person trait is found in 15-20% of the population. If you’re curious to learn if you are a highly sensitive person, consider taking Dr. Elaine Aron’s quiz https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/ and keep reading on.

Dr. Elaine Aron is a pioneering researcher on High Sensitivity alternatively named, Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS). When describing a highly sensitive person, she uses a helpful acronym DOES to outline the common aspects of being a highly sensitive person. DOES stands for the following: Depth of Processing, Overstimulation, Emotional Reactivity and Empathy, and Sensing Subtly.

DOES in Detail:

Depth of Processing-

A core component of the highly sensitive person trait is one’s depth of processing. As a highly sensitive person, this looks like taking in more information around you, noticing all the details, and reflecting on your environment and experiences in a more thoughtful and deep way than most. As a highly sensitive person, depth of processing often looks like pausing and thinking before acting and taking more time when considering decisions. You may find you’re someone who has a rich inner life, has been considered an “old soul”, or is deeply intuitive. All these characteristics can be credited to your innate depth of processing.

Overstimulation-

As a highly sensitive person, you pick up on more subtilities and nuances in your environment. It’s almost as though you are a sponge to the world around you. With these traits in mind, you are more prone to overstimulation. As a highly sensitive person, it’s important to find ways to decompress when overstimulated. Highly sensitive persons benefit greatly from quiet time and moments of solitude.

Emotional Reactivity and Empathy-

Research illustrates that as a highly sensitive person, you experience your feelings more deeply and intensely than most, both the positive and more painful emotions. As a highly sensitive person, you are born with a greater number of active mirror neurons in the brain. Mirror neurons are responsible for empathy. Therefore, as a highly sensitive person, you are often incredibly empathetic. You are sensitive to the feelings, experiences, and energies of those around you. Empathy comes naturally to you as you are deeply compassionate to others.

Sensing Subtly-

Highly Sensitive Persons are more aware and perceptive to subtleties in their environment. As a highly sensitive person, you likely notice intricate and small details that others simply miss. This trait can make you extremely astute at social cues and help you notice beautiful details in your environment. Again, like all the other characteristics, this can be a great strength, however, it can also lead to feelings of exhaustion, burnout, and overwhelm.

Final Thoughts from a HSP Therapist in NYC, NY

As someone who personally understands and deeply respects high sensitivity, Liz recognizes the unique experiences and challenges that highly sensitive persons face. It takes tremendous courage to explore one’s sensitivity with compassion and kindness. Suppose you’re interested in better understanding yourself as a highly sensitive person. In that case, Liz has extensive experience working with highly sensitive women and adolescents as they navigate life as highly sensitive souls. Liz is passionate about the transformative power of psychotherapy to foster meaningful insight, healing, and lasting growth.