HSP

D

D stands for deep processing: the base for the HSP trait is to process information on a deeper level. HSP people relate and compare with previous experience, take their time to make conscience decisions. And they make unconscious decisions by using their intuition, however also these decisions include deep processing.

Research by Jadzia Jagiellowicz shows that a person with HSP use parts of the brain that are associated with deep processing of information to a larger extend, particular the subtle part of the information. Other research shows a higher brain activity with HSP people in a certain area (insula) that constantly integrate knowledge about inner state, emotions, body position and outer events – sometime this is named the foundation of the conscience mind.

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Question: Are you spending time to process what someone said, how they said it and what expression they had in their eyes, tone of voice and melody while saying it? 

O

O stands for overstimulation: all details are being registered and if the situation goes on for a longer period of time a HSP person tends to be worn down ahead of a person without this trait. New impressions can also overstimulate the system and a HSP will gain from a silent break in between activities.

Elaine carefully points out that high sensitivity is not about being tortured by high stimuli, even if this occurs. It is important to not mix up HSP with any other problematic diagnosis. The overstimulation transpires when a HSP person is thorough in their observations and this can cause stress when pressured.

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Question: How do you reload when you feel the need for some quiet time? Have you experienced stress when you get overwhelmed? 

E

E stands for emotional susceptibility and empathy: research has shown in several studies that HSP reacts more on pictures with a positive message or face, but the same is true for any negative experience for a HSP. During the last twenty years the role of mirror neurons in the brain has been discovered. They are activated in our brain when we see someone do or feel something. Hence, how we learn from imitating someone else. And, together with those areas that are shown to be more active with HSP, they help us understand others intention and how they feel.

The mirror neurons are considered to be accountable for the universal capacity of empathy.

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Question: Have you experienced emotions from somebody else?

S

S stands for sensitive to the subtle: this is the most obvious part for others to notice about a person with HSP. HSP notice the small subtle things, like color on the chairs in a room, the context of a communication instead of the actual words spoken.

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The subtle sensitiveness can gain the HSP in several ways, from the simple fact of enjoying life to finding strategies of how to react on non-verbale signals (that the other person might not even be aware of sending) of mood or reliability.

It is also not uncommon for some senses to become overly sensitive towards light or sound, and due to this it might be advantageous for a HSP to resident in the calmer part of the office.

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Question: Do you seem to notice things that others don’t?