What Does It Mean to Be a Highly Sensitive Person?
The term Highly Sensitive Person might be something you’ve heard recently or perhaps are more familiar with. But are you still feeling a little unclear on what it actually means? In short, a Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, is someone who is sensitive to or highly stimulated by sensory input and various factors in their environment. They may also be easily highly empathic and attuned to the emotions and energy of people. It is a personality trait you are born with and about 20% of the population is HSP. Therefore, it’s considered a neurodivergent trait and affects people equally across the gender spectrum.
Someone who resonates with the profile of an HSP may experience the world around them in a different way. They may feel different or even alienated, from those around them. But being highly sensitive is not a problem to be solved. It’s simply a different way of being and processing sensory input.
Is HSP a Personality Type?
Being a Highly Sensitive Person can be challenging—which we will discuss a little bit later in this blog post. And while people who identify as HSPs can feel “othered” by people and the world around them, it’s important to know that being Highly Sensitive is not a disorder. Because it affects almost 20% of the population, it is considered a personality trait.
What “Causes” a Person to Be Highly Sensitive?
While things can be challenging or negatively impact HSPs, high sensitivity, as mentioned above, is an innate trait or aspect of a person that is present throughout the person’s entire life and doesn’t develop following a particular incident or experience. Being highly sensitive in this way is just how your brain is wired.
Some Common Traits of Highly Sensitive People
Highly Sensitive People experience the world in a unique way, and it may be different for each person. However, there are a set of traits that are often found present in HSPs. The extent to which people experience these traits will vary with each person.
Were labeled as sensitive or oversensitive
Highly empathic and attuned to the emotions, moods, and feelings of others
Often overstimulated or overwhelmed by the smells, sounds, or stimulation of other senses
Deeply pained by depictions of violence on tv, in movies, or on the news
Considered shy in childhood and adolescence (HSP children are not inherently shy, but due to sensory overwhelm often develop shyness as a way of coping)
Frequently avoid crowds and stressful or overstimulating environments (i.e. busy malls, grocery stores, bars, etc.)
Struggle with people-pleasing tendencies—especially with close friendships and relationships
Reasons Why HSPs May Seek Out Support in Therapy
Being highly sensitive can be a challenge because the world can feel as if it’s not made for those who are HSPs. Children who are HSPs and experience trauma and/or adversity in their childhood, are twice as likely as non-HSP kids to develop depression, anxiety, and other expressions of psychological distress. Highly Sensitive People may seek out support in therapy for these issues and others. Many HSP folks show up to therapy feeling there is something wrong with them. They wonder why they can’t ‘just get over it.’
Therapy can be a powerful tool for HSPs. Highly Sensitive Person therapy helps to normalize and validate the HSP experience. It also helps HSP folks learn how to track what overstimulation and overwhelm feel like and how to take steps to manage those feelings. Because many work environments, social experiences, and more can be set up in a way that is overstimulating and overwhelming. Skills learned in therapy can be invaluable for an HSP.
How Our Holistic Therapists in Los Angeles Can Support Highly Sensitive People
A Highland Park Holistic Therapy, our holistic Los Angeles therapists use an affirming approach when working with HSPs. Being holistic therapists simply means that we consider the whole person—mind, body, and soul—as we support Highly Sensitive folks and provide coping strategies and treatment plans. And many of the therapists here are HSP themselves, so they bring a personal working knowledge of what it’s like to navigate the world with high sensitivity.
Interested in learning more about our therapists and the next steps? Contact our Care Coordinator today to get started!
Meet with an HSP Therapist in Los Angeles, CA
At Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy in Los Angeles, we have a wonderful team of therapists who work with Highly Sensitive People. We provide support in learning coping strategies to help HSPs navigate a highly sensitive world. Follow these simple steps to help get started with Highly Sensitive Person therapy.
Contact us for a free consultation
Meet with one of our skilled HSP therapists
Begin to take control of your sensitivities
Other Services Offered With Highland Park Therapy
Our team of holistic LA therapists is here to support you on your unique healing journey. We provide a wide range of mental health services — both through online therapy statewide in California as well as in-person at our Los Angeles, CA office. Other services we offer include depression treatment, teen therapy, grief counseling, eating disorders, stress management therapy, group therapy, and LGBTQ+ therapy. We would be honored to support you in learning new coping methods to help you cope with future anxiety symptoms. You can also read more by visiting our blog, FAQ, about us, or groups page.