Shyness and Sensitivity
Are you somewhat introverted or shy?
Do you feel overstimulated by crowded places, frenetic activity or loud noises?
Do you become exhausted or feel the need to decompress after social interaction?
If so, you may be a highly sensitive person.
If the world sometimes feels like too much for you, or if you become easily overwhelmed by sensory stimulation, you may be what's called a highly sensitive person, or HSP. Being shy or introverted and being a highly sensitive person are actually two different things. Many highly sensitive people are also introverted, due to the need to modulate overexposure in social settings. However, one doesn't need to be an introvert to be considered highly sensitive. In fact, according to psychologist Elaine Aron, who has written extensively on the subject, 30% of all HSPs are actually extroverts.
What introverted and extroverted HSPs have in common is a tendency to experience the world more deeply than others. In that the majority of people are not highly sensitive, HSPs often end up feeling alienated or marginalized by society, with an overriding sense that they just don't fit in. This sometimes shows up as an HSP struggling with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationships or career challenges. As such, HSPs sometimes need some help to create a positive sense of themselves and their place in the world.
According to Aron, HSPs make up 15-20 % of the population, but they often don't have an explanation for why they have felt so different their entire lives. If you think you might be a HSP, by starting therapy and learning the characteristics associated with this trait, you can begin to reframe these aspects of yourself as positive attributes, rather than flaws, and ultimately come to understand and appreciate yourself on a deeper level. (For more information on Dr. Aron's work, as well as an HSP self-test, see http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm.)
If you'd like to better understand how sensitivity may be a factor for you, call me to set up a free telephone consultation: (415) 292-5888 or email me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Do you feel overstimulated by crowded places, frenetic activity or loud noises?
Do you become exhausted or feel the need to decompress after social interaction?
If so, you may be a highly sensitive person.
If the world sometimes feels like too much for you, or if you become easily overwhelmed by sensory stimulation, you may be what's called a highly sensitive person, or HSP. Being shy or introverted and being a highly sensitive person are actually two different things. Many highly sensitive people are also introverted, due to the need to modulate overexposure in social settings. However, one doesn't need to be an introvert to be considered highly sensitive. In fact, according to psychologist Elaine Aron, who has written extensively on the subject, 30% of all HSPs are actually extroverts.
What introverted and extroverted HSPs have in common is a tendency to experience the world more deeply than others. In that the majority of people are not highly sensitive, HSPs often end up feeling alienated or marginalized by society, with an overriding sense that they just don't fit in. This sometimes shows up as an HSP struggling with depression, anxiety, self-esteem, relationships or career challenges. As such, HSPs sometimes need some help to create a positive sense of themselves and their place in the world.
According to Aron, HSPs make up 15-20 % of the population, but they often don't have an explanation for why they have felt so different their entire lives. If you think you might be a HSP, by starting therapy and learning the characteristics associated with this trait, you can begin to reframe these aspects of yourself as positive attributes, rather than flaws, and ultimately come to understand and appreciate yourself on a deeper level. (For more information on Dr. Aron's work, as well as an HSP self-test, see http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm.)
If you'd like to better understand how sensitivity may be a factor for you, call me to set up a free telephone consultation: (415) 292-5888 or email me. I look forward to hearing from you.
SARITA REDALIA, MFT Psychotherapy and Counseling 2211 Post Street, Suite 300 San Francisco, CA 94115 (415) 292-5888 License # MFC44670 |
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