A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is someone born with a nervous system that processes information more deeply and responds more intensely to the world around them. This trait—known scientifically as Sensory Processing Sensitivity—is found in about 15–20% of the population. It is not a diagnosis, but a normal variation in temperament.
Highly sensitive people tend to notice subtleties, feel emotions deeply, and become more easily overstimulated by noise, chaos, or emotional intensity.
While this sensitivity can create feelings of overwhelm, anxiety, or burnout—especially in a fast-paced or demanding environment—it also brings unique gifts: empathy, insight, creativity, intuition, and a profound capacity for connection.
Common Experiences of Highly Sensitive People
If you are a Highly Sensitive Person, you may recognize yourself in some of the following patterns:
Feeling emotions intensely, both your own and others’
Easily absorbing others’ energy or emotional states
Needing more time to decompress after socializing or stimulation
Being deeply moved by music, art, nature, or beauty
A strong startle response or sensitivity to noise, light, or clutter
Difficulty functioning in chaotic, fast-paced, or high-pressure environments
A rich inner world, vivid imagination, or strong intuition
Feeling misunderstood, “too sensitive,” or “overly emotional”
You may have been told you are “too much,” when the truth is that you simply feel more—and process more—than the average person.
Where Sensitivity Becomes Challenging
Sensitivity becomes overwhelming not because there is something wrong with you, but because our culture often values productivity over presence, logic over emotion, and independence over connection. HSPs can struggle with:
Anxiety or chronic stress
Emotional exhaustion or compassion fatigue
Difficulty setting boundaries
Overthinking or rumination
Feeling responsible for others’ emotions
Burnout in relationships or helping professions
Therapy provides a space to understand your sensitivity, regulate your nervous system, and build resilience without losing the depth and empathy that make you who you are.
Understanding Sensitivity as a Strength
By recognizing that this depth of processing, emotional awareness, and intuitive attunement brings unique gifts—such as empathy, creativity, insight, and a profound capacity for connection.
While high sensitivity can sometimes lead to overwhelm or burnout in an overstimulating world, it also allows for a richer inner life, meaningful relationships, and a heightened ability to notice subtle nuances that others may overlook. When supported, sensitivity becomes a powerful asset rather than something to manage or suppress.
