Are you a highly sensitive person?

„You’re too sensitive for your own good”
“You need to toughen up”
“You take things to heart too much”
“Stop over-thinking things!”
“Stop worrying!”
Have you heard this before? I have. I thought something was wrong with me until I learned about high sensitivity. It changed my life and how I see myself.
So if you these phrases sound vaguely familiar to you you might also be a highly sensitive person (HSP).

Great! But what does this have to do with being a creative person? Well, bare with me :)

First of all, high sensitivity is a trait that is normal. It is found in 15 to 20% of the population. It is not a disorder, but since we HSPs are a minority it isn't really well understood and our world is built in a way that we can make us feel as if something was wrong with us. In reality, it's most likely that we are just overwhelmed.
High sensitivity is innate. In fact, biologists have found it in over 100 species (and probably there are many more) from fruit flies, birds, and fish to dogs, cats, horses, and primates. This trait reflects a certain type of survival strategy, being observant before acting. The brains of highly sensitive persons (HSPs) actually work a little differently than others’. 
We are more aware than others of subtleties. This is mainly because our brain processes information and reflects on it more deeply. We are also more easily overwhelmed. If we notice everything, we are naturally going to be overstimulated when things are too intense, complex, chaotic, or novel for a long time.
The German psychologists Eduard Schweingruber who wrote about the sensitive person as early as 1935 characterised the sensitive person as having:
An increased response to stimuli, and because of this a greater chance of excessive irritability, also as having complex emotional processes. And having more difficulty with releasing/processing their emotions. He also describes how all the stimuli also influences the body of the sensitive individual.

There are four main indicators/categories in which the characteristics of being Highly Sensitive is grouped:
Depth of processing
Overarousabilty
Emotional intensity
Sensory sensitivity


What does that mean?

1. Depth of Processing (this being the key trait of HSPs): Being more affected and distressed than others by the same events in childhood or adulthood. Highly Sensitive People seem to ponder these events more deeply, not only leading to a stronger emotional reaction but also being fed by it. Reflecting (more than others would) about the ‘way the world is going’, the meaning of life, spirituality or their line of work. Feeling deeper and more empathy for others, including the suffering of animals and social injustices. Giving careful and thorough analysis to decisions/tasks/situations sometimes to the point of being unable to decide or take action. Often being highly conscientious and having a tendency to be perfectionistic.
   
   

1. Overarousability: High levels of stimulations lead to high level of arousal, especially in HSPs. Overarousal presents itself more often in HSP during important life transitions, even pleasant ones. Chronic overarousal leads to feeling stressed out, being burnout, feeling overwhelmed or a sense of ‘not being able to handle it anymore’.
   A few examples of overarousability in HSPs:
   Are often more aware of subtleties in their environment and because of this, overstimulated quicker than others.
   Tend to be easily startled and often feel overwhelmed by loud sensory inputs, violent films or large crowds
   Tend to need more time on their own in order to reduce their level of overstimulation/over-arousal, often preferring being in nature or in a quiet, less stimulating environment to do so.
   Get easily rattled in stressful situations and under time pressure.
   Are easily shaken up and distressed by changes and thus need more time to process and reflect on what is happening.
   Do less well in “multitasking” situations.
   
   

1. Emotional intensity: Highly Sensitive People bring more emotional reactivity to EVERY event in life. The sensitive person is touched by many things. They are affected strongly by positive and negative situations.The most negative emotional intensity is felt around emotions such as shame, guilt, disdain, compassion and fear of abandonment.
   We might see this as:
   Having stronger feelings about almost everything.
   Being easily moved to tears of joy, gratitude or relief.
   Being easily moved to laughter.
   This also means that HSPs react more to the emotions of others and might know more than others what you are feeling.
   
   

1. Sensory sensitivity: This sometimes manifests as a low threshold, sometimes as the ability to distinguish subtleties, and sometimes as low tolerance of high levels on sensory input. If you’re lucky, you only experience one of them, but often all three are present.
   This sensitivity presents itself as:
   Being more sensitive to physical pain (lower pain threshold).
   Often having physical disorders (due to stress or lower pain threshold) like migraines, fibromylagia, chronic fatigue, unusual allergies, extreme premenstrual syndromes, back and neck problems, and environmental sensitivities.
   Often being sensitive to loud noises, strong scents, coarse fabrics or bright lights (e.g. sirens, airplanes, woolen jumpers, fluorescent lighting etc.).
   Being more senstive to the effect of stimulating substances (e.g. caffeine).
   Responding to lower doses of medications than most people.
   
   

Most people self identify with being Highly Sensitive when reading or hearing about it. It’s like all the pieces of the puzzle fall into place: ‘That’s me!’ and ‘I’m not crazy!’. All these different personality qualities and innate traits are what make you YOU. No two highly sensitive people are exactly the same. 
So now lets come to the point why I'm talking about this here:
Studies have shown that the number of Highly Sensitive People is significantly higher in the creative community. When you think about, the typical traits a Highly Sensitive Person brings to the table really serve the creative process. We notice more details around us, we have a higher awareness of the world around us, a lot of us understand much better how someone else is feeling, we feel deeper. While sometimes this can be a disadvantage, when it comes to creating art this is a huge advantage!
If this rings a bell, if you feel this could give you some more understanding, you might want to try HSP expert Elaine Aron's self test.

📕Here is a list of recommended reading:
Elaine N. Aron, The Highly Sensitive Person*
English: https://amzn.to/3ctDau1
Deutsch/German: https://amzn.to/306dQri
Georg Parlow, Zart Besaitet*
Deutsch/German: https://amzn.to/2U3Pt9Z 

Being sensitive is not being weak. It actually takes courage to live life in full awareness. 
It is time for us to start honouring our sensitivity, embracing our inspiration, our passion, our creativity. 
Lots of love,
Romana xx

“Being highly sensitive means being able to enjoy life in high definition, the natural world, light, music and art, friendship, comfort and solitude can all bring acute happiness. In the absence of stress, being highly sensitive can be beautiful.”– Kate Coady

*affiliate link(s)