HSP or Highly Sensitive People are often misunderstood as overly dramatic. They are often trated harshly by individuals who could not understand their condition. The Telegraph website gave out a sneak peek on what is it like to be in their shoes.
One of the most famous singers Alanis Morissette is a self-confessed HSP who made an appearance on the documentary entitled "Sensitive The Movie," which recently premiered in San Francisco. The woman behind "Jagged Little Pill" shared that:
"My temperament is highly sensitive. I'm very attuned to very subtle things, whether it's food or minerals or lighting or sounds or smells, overstimulation happens pretty easily."
Though it may seem that HSP is just another personality type, such as being highly tempered, shy, or outgoing, the website stated that being a Highly Sensitive Person is usually defined as "having a hypersensitive nervous system." They are easily overwhelmed by emotional factors, they are highly responsive to the slightest emotional triggers, physical stimuli, temperature, and almost everything that surrounds them.
Dr Elaine Aron, who focused on the research on HSP stated that:
"Being HS is genetic. Twenty percent of us are born with it and it affects both sexes equally. I explain the condition in four letters: DOES. D is for depth of processing, which is the key to the whole condition. They process everything around them very deeply. O is for over stimulation, which is brought about because of D. E is for emotional reactivity and empathy. Research shows HSPs respond more to the emotions of others and to situations in general. And S is for sensitive stimuli - they're incredibly sensitive to smells, sounds and light. However, not all HSPs are alike. For example, we know that around 30% are extroverts rather than introverts, which is what most people expect them to be."
Another psychologist, Dr Ted Zeff who is the author of Highly Sensitive Person's Survival Guide then added that each individual is different. He elaborated that HSP would usually have a hard time in coping with the real world because most individuals would could not understand their condition are unforgiving of them.
"Every sensitive person is different," he says. "It's also important to remember that some people have some of the traits, like empathy, but they're not HSPs. People who are HS don't have a natural shield - they find it hard to tune stuff out. For example, somebody standing close behind them and peering over their shoulder will really unsettle a HSP.
