Understanding Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)
Ivy Griffin
*This is a blog geared towards people who don’t identify as HSPs but would like to increase their understanding of HSPs.
Since I started working with HSPs, I’ve come to notice similar themes emerge around challenges they face due to ongoing stigma for being highly sensitive. Those challenges include: negative core beliefs, wishing others were more aware of the trait, and working through the constant battle of having to conform to a world that tends to value extroversion and sometimes devalues sensitivity. I also think it is important to highlight the gifts of being an HSP and what role you may be playing in an HSP’s life.
In conversations with clients and those in my personal life, a response I’ve heard about what it’s like to be an HSP in an insensitive world is that HSPs sometimes form core beliefs that they are bad, lesser than, or unworthy compared to those who don’t identify as highly sensitive. When I hear these comments, I get it. It’s tough having to first learn how you operate differently and then to navigate experiences outside of your comfort zone. That being said, I find there’s a simultaneous desire from HSPs to feel less judged, more accepted and also to have more awareness within themselves and from others.
HSPs may also experience enjoyment that isn’t as widely talked about. The gifts of being an HSP may include:
innate empathy
attunement to others
being open-minded and inclusive
increased creativity
If you think about it, this makes sense right? Navigating the challenges I mentioned earlier might lead HSPs to seek out the positives in order to move forward and use their gift to their advantage. I think it’s safe to say that we would be at a loss without HSPs, especially in this challenging time. I read recently that when we look back on this time in our lives, what we will remember are the books we read, movies we viewed, and art we admired, which would not have been possible without creative and sensitive souls!
After hearing about the ups and downs of being an HSP, I challenge you to reflect on what your role may be in an HSPs life. Do you find them amongst your family, friends, colleagues, etc? What kind of gifts do they bring to your life? How have you shown up (or not) for an HSP and how can you continue to or improve on showing up for them? I encourage you to reflect on your takeaways from this in order to better understand and support the HSPs in your life!
Warmly,
Carly Kubochi, AMFT #102737
Supervised by Ivy Griffin, LMFT #51714
https://thrivetherapyandcounseling.com/carly-kubochi
916-287-3430
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