4 Reminders for Highly Sensitive People

High Sensitivity is a trait that is present in between fifteen and twenty percent of the world’s population. This means that it is not uncommon, but many Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) don’t know how to navigate it.

4 Reminders for Highly Sensitive People

Here are four reminders that Highly Sensitive People might need to hear.

1) Sensitivity to the emotional pain of others does not mean you have to fix them

HSPs regularly become confidants and safe places for friends, coworkers, or family. As most HSPs tend to be sensitive and emotionally mature people, they make for the ideal safe space for people to offload and vent to. Being this person for others feels special, but it can become problematic if you aren’t careful.

It isn’t easy to give space for others to express their emotions while not trying to find solutions to their problems. Because HSPs tend to absorb and feel what others feel, their issues can begin to feel like yours. Even when they have trusted you with personal information, the things they face are theirs to face. You may offer emotional support and give them space to express themselves, but you will quickly become drained if you try to fix everyone’s problems.

2) You have a powerful intuition — trust it

Being highly sensitive means innately having information about others without knowing how or why. If you have ever gotten “bad vibes” after meeting a stranger or reached out to a friend because you sensed that they were feeling down, you were likely operating from your finely tuned intuition. There are many different theories on intuition, and each case might be unique. One thing is certain: intuition is helpful.

You might feel bad for feeling like you are judging someone without knowing anything about them. It’s important to remember that intuition is an instinct, not an action. Feeling like you can’t or shouldn’t trust someone is not the same as calling them a liar. You can still be respectful of others while trusting your intuition.

3) Expressing emotions is healthy

Emotions can be overwhelming for highly sensitive people. Your ability to absorb other people’s emotions means you are often like a raft tossed around on an ocean of feelings, most of which are not yours. This isn’t easy to cope with, but it is dangerous to repress your emotions.

In the way friends might come to you for emotional support, you might need someone to vent to. You will feel much better if you can cry on their shoulder, express anger that is not directed at them, or feel fragile with them as you try to process things. Emotions can be messy, but as the saying goes, “Better out than in.”

4) Instead of simply coping, you can thrive

High sensitivity is not a disorder, but simply a trait. That means your nervous system does certain things, unlike a disorder where your brain, nervous system, or body cannot do certain things, and might need medication or treatment. Highly sensitive people have peculiarities and unusual abilities, but none should be debilitating. It might require some boundaries, disciplines, and further education on the trait, but as a highly sensitive person, you can thrive.

If you are a highly sensitive person, it might be helpful to talk with a mental health professional about it. Building boundaries and developing helpful routines is always easier when you do it with someone. Contact our office today at Texas Christian Counseling, Keller if you would like to connect with a professional counselor in Keller, Texas.