Story of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)

Have you ever heard of a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?

It’s a term coined by American psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron in the 1990s. Through her research, Dr. Aron identified that around 15–20% of the population falls into this category, and I am one of them.

There are incredible benefits to feeling deeply – emotional depth and intensity can help develop empathy, understanding of others and general emotional intelligence, HSP’s tend to have emotional radars that sense the emotional charge in a person, group of people or space (friendly, tense, sad, if there is animosity or aggression etc) and can serve as an early warning system; sensory sensitivity heightens spatial and environmental perception (the quality and intensity of light, type, nature and intensity of sound and spatial acoustics, air movement and temperature, the quality of textures and materials to the touch, sensations from the skin to name a few) 

The are also challenges. Getting so much input and feedback all the time can be exhausting, and HSPs tend to exhaust their capacity faster. It can be hard to keep boundaries between your feelings and those of others.

Emotions can be very close to the surface and sometimes impossible to contain. I need more downtime, rest, disconnection from the daily world, and connection with nature. I am very social but need limits—you won’t find me partying until 3 a.m.

I am the one who comes for 2-3 hours and leaves to recharge and get some peace ;)—this does not reflect the quality of the company or the meaningfulness of the gathering. 

The thing is, we all have traits that are both positive whilst also at times challenging.

Mine makes me a very insightful and perceptive architect who also has the ability to connect with people and place on a deeper level. 

The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You,