Resources
Discover more about High Sensitivity trait
What is it like to be highly sensitive?
A highly sensitive person is someone who is born with a biological and neurological basis for processing more external and internal stimuli. This is not a condition, a disorder or a flaw. It’s a natural trait. It has always existed. But it has been recently discovered and given its own name.
Around 20% of the population have sensory processing sensitivity (in other words, they are highly sensitive) (Aron and Aron, 1997). Latest studies show this number to be higher - 30% ((Lionetti et al., 2018, 2019; Pluess et al., 2018). And not just humans, but about 100 other species (Wilson et al. 1993). Evolutionary theories suggest that High Sensitivity has evolved as one of two strategies of helping species to survive (Aron and Aron, 1997; Wolf et al. 2008).
It is easier to understand High Sensitivity with the acronym DOES, introduced by Dr. Elaine & Arthur Aron, who discovered this trait and studied it in 1996. It stands for four of the most common characteristics of High Sensitivity: Depth of Processing, Overstimulation, Emotional Reactivity and Sensitivity to Subtleties.
Because highly sensitive people
take in so many more stimuli from
their surroundings, their nervous
system becomes overstimulated
more quickly by all the sounds,
smells, reactions and other details
in the environment that go unnoticed
by non-HSPs.
Deep and intense internal work to process this leads to overload
Highly sensitive people need timeout to sort it all out and be ready for the next round of interaction.
In addition, HSPs
respond to their environment
and stimuli with a wide variety of positive
and negative emotional experiences. This is what emotional reactivity is all about.
Not only do HSPs process the world around them deeply, but they are also deeply affected by both positive and negative experiences.
An HSP can be literally moved to tears by music, nature or art, or feel someone else’s pain
HSPs process not only more but also deeper information from the world around them. Reflecting on the events of the day and going over the information numerous times is a natural pattern for highly sensitive people, resulting in seeing «the essence of things» and «the bigger picture».
As a result - it will take time to come to the right conclusion, but it will definitely be well considered and well thought out.
Highly sensitive people are sensitive to subtleties on 4 levels:
-
physical (food, caffeine, etc.),
-
social (people’s moods, non-verbal cues etc.),
-
sensory (bright lights, loud noises, strong smells etc.)
-
internal (subtle changes in their own inner world: thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations).
HSPs do not choose which stimuli
to accept and which to ignore.
They absorb everything.
High Sensitivity
=
Sensitive Processing Sensitivity
=
finely attuned nervous
system
S
O
D
E
Depth of processing
Sensitivity
to subtleties
Emotional Reactivity
& empathy
over-
stimulation
Deeper processing -
cautious reaction
to environment -
less impulsive actions -
better decisions in the long run
Overstimulation as a
protective response for
the safety
of the unique trait
Higher empathy -
deeper social connections -
better chances
of survival
of the species
More attention to detail -
more chance of spotting
something earlier
(danger, or other
unusual pattern).
In conclusion, highly sensitive people are born with a deeply responsive sensory processing system, or, in other words, a very finely attuned nervous system. They play their role in society, as well as many other more commonly known temperaments. But still, due to the novelty of discovery two decades ago and the lack of widespread of information about it, HSPs are often misunderstood by modern rushing society. High Sensitivity is either misinterpreted as a flaw or weakness, or classified into «understandable» categories, such as introvert, shy, fragile, or vulnerable.
Thanks to research of the last 30 years, which shed light on this newly discovered but widespread trait, we get an opportunity to understand High Sensitivity much better and value it to witness how it thrives.
Are you or your Child An Orchid?
Quizzes for adults
-
Common test on High Sensitivity for adults in English, German and Italian here
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A different test on High Sensitivity on three subscales (Ease of Excitation, Aesthetic Sensitivity, Low Sensory Threshold) in 14 Languages here
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Deep test on 6 core aspects of High Sensitivity, developed by Dr. Elaine Aron here
Quizzes for Kids
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Test your own child on High Sensitivity if they are between 4 and 18 years of age here
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Test on High Sensitivity for children between 8 and 18 years of age here
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Test your student on High Sensitivity here
Individual HSP Assessment
-
Are you looking for an HSP assessment to find out if you or your child is highly sensitive? The assessment involves a 90-minute in-depth and thorough interview. Feel free to contact me to book it.
Find out in a short Quiz
I offer coaching sessions
for highly sensitive people (HSPs),
where you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the trait
and work on the challenges you face
in your unique life circumstances.
Learn more about my holistic approach here.
Recommended Resources
Books
-
The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Survive and Thrive
When the World Overwhelms You by Elaine N. Aron (start with this one) -
Confessions of a sensitive man by William Allen
-
The Highly Sensitive Parent: How to Care for Your Kids When You Care Too Much by Elaine N. Aron
-
The Highly Sensitive Child: A comprehensive parenting
guide for raising confident and capable children by Elaine N. Aron -
Understanding the Highly Sensitive Child by James Williams
-
The Strong Sensitive Boy by Tedd Zeff
Videos, Podcasts & Interviews
-
A 2013 lecture by Elaine Aron, in Wellington, New Zealand, on the highly sensitive person here
-
An interview with Dr. Tracy Cooper on the topic of what it is like to be a highly sensitive man in the modern society here
-
Highly Sensitive Humans Podcast by Jules de Vitto here
-
The Movie Sensitive
For deeper knowledge
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