Psychologist, Elaine Aron, first coined the term “Highly Sensitive Person” to describe a neurodivergent individual who often has an increased or deeper central nervous system sensitivity to social, physical, or emotional stimuli.

Does This Sound Like You?

• You feel everything deeply and often have strong emotions

• You tend to get overwhelmed easily by stress at work or in relationships

• You withdraw/isolate when you’re overwhelmed, perhaps retreating to solitude or a public bathroom to cry or regroup

• You are a perfectionist or people-pleaser, and can be strongly self-critical

• You are more impacted by busy places/large crowds, hot/cold temperatures, scratchy fabrics or tags, loud noises, or strong smells

• You struggle with changes/transitions and making decisions (especially under time pressure)

• You need alone time to decompress after a busy day or social outing

• You struggle to let go of things that have happened or been said, chewing it over a long time

• You frequently feel worried, anxious or emotionally exhausted and don’t know why

• You have trouble getting to sleep because of everything on your mind

If these resonate with you, you may be a highly sensitive person. This is not a disorder diagnosis, but rather a normal trait that occurs naturally in a small percent of the human population. While sometimes it may feel like a curse, it is often an absolute gift. Therapy can help you understand this perspective!