You might have heard a phrase like “you’re so sensitive” repeated over and over again in your life, and so you might wonder if you’re one of those “highly sensitive people” or HSP’s for short.
My hope is that this short article might give you a little more insight as to whether this is you and what therapy may be able to do in supporting you in this state of being.
Signs You May Be a HSP
- You’ve been labeled as “shy” or “sensitive”
- You have a sense of being “different” from others or like you don’t fit in
- Relationships can feel empty
- You feel that others don’t really “know you”
- You experience a feeling of deep loneliness
- You find small talk difficult, preferring deep conversation
- You find being around others very draining
- You feel things very deeply and can dwell on your feelings or feel stuck in them
- You need to spend time alone frequently
- You feel overstimulated easily
- Crowded places are almost too much
- You’re the “go-to person” when someone needs to talk
- You have vivid dreams
- You have a keen imagination
This list is by no means exhaustive but if you find yourself nodding to many of these statements it might just be that you are a HSP.
If that is the case, you might dislike this about yourself and wish that you were less sensitive.
Often, HSP’s have received negative messages about the way they are and so can begin to dislike these qualities and see them as problematic or burdensome.
Sometimes this makes you want to hide away and block out the whole world, it’s all too much.
The truth is that being highly sensitive is a wonderful and unique gift.
This gift can actually be used to enrich your life, have deep meaningful relationships, and empower and strengthen you.
How Therapy Can Help the HSP Thrive
Some things that you might expect therapy to address are:
- Exploring your thoughts and attitudes toward your own emotions
- Defining your unique sensitivities and learning to accept and value these qualities
- Boundary setting in relationships
- Ways of coping with overstimulation
- Learning to relax and become mindful of your inner experiences in a healthy way
- Reframing past events that might have been distressing
- Addressing underlying traumas
- Addressing negative self-beliefs and learning to connect with yourself
- Learning how to use your sensitivities in a way that serves you
If any of this resonates with you and you’re feeling overwhelmed knowing how to navigate being a highly sensitive person, I would love to support you on this journey. Please feel reach to get in touch and we can talk through your unique situation together.
Author: Cindy Porter, BPsych (Hons), MClinPsych, MAPS
As a registered psychologist, Cindy has experience working with mothers, infants, adolescents and adults. She aims to help people on their healing journey through understanding and empowerment, allowing them to overcome whatever is currently holding them back. In doing so she strives to help people flourish and create the life they desire.
To book with Cindy try Online Booking or contact M1 Psychology Loganholme on (07) 3067 9129.
Reference
Aron, E. A. (2017). The highly sensitive person. HarperCollins Publishers.