I am Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits.
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Are you a highly sensitive person, or just a little excitable sometimes? What does it mean to be an HSP? What does it mean if I am one of the 15% to 20% of humans with this characteristic?
If you’re wondering if you or someone you know checks all the boxes for an HSP designation, we’re here to help. Here is a bare-bones crash course on what many psychologists believe is a highly evolved personality trait.
HSPs Have Sensory Processing Sensitivity
Sensory processing sensitivity means that a highly sensitive person’s senses are very good at what they do. While most of us were taught that we have five senses, that might be the tip of the iceberg.
Neuroscientists, psychologists, and some philosophers believe humans could have anywhere from 22 to 33 different senses. These include chronoception (our sense of the passage of time) and equilibrioception (the sense of balance).
The highly sensitive person can be viewed as having superhuman abilities to some extent.
This individual will show greater responsiveness to certain sensory inputs. Some of their senses (but not all of them) may be more finely tuned than in most people.
Is ESP the Same As HSP?
ESP stands for extrasensory perception. Hollywood has glorified this trait so that we think someone with ESP can read minds. That’s not at all true.
Nicknamed the sixth sense, ESP is similar to sensory processing sensitivity. It may seem like magic or some paranormal ability because a person’s sensory system is better than others, and this can give them valuable insight that most people don’t have.
HSPs display extrasensory perception. Their senses are extra powerful to some degree. Again, this doesn’t necessarily mean a person enjoys enhanced perception across all senses.
If I Am an HSP, What Does That Mean for Me?
The highly sensitive person can sometimes experience deep reactions or emotions to a situation where most people don’t respond that way. Additionally, highly sensitive individuals react more intensely to negative situations or circumstances.
If you are highly sensitive, you might be more aware of your environment and what’s happening around you. You may be able to perceive the emotions and thought processes of others. While this can be beneficial in some situations, it can lead to overstimulation.
How Can You Test for the HSP Trait?
The Highly Sensitive Person Scale is a self-test that measures your level of sensitivity. This free test can be found online. Don’t be concerned if it reveals that you may be highly sensitive. This is a trait or characteristic like any other, such as blue eyes or black hair.
It would help if you understood that this is not a medical diagnosis. Being highly sensitive is not a disorder. It only means that, in some way, your senses are highly responsive to the world you experience. Knowing this helps you understand why you may feel overstimulated by some experiences that are otherwise commonplace and unremarkable to others.
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I’m Dr. Hassan, a Board-Certified Physiatrist and Independent Practice Owner. I help physiatrists start and grow their own profitable practices so they can achieve financial independence and live without limits. Please go to businessofrehab.com/contractnegotiations to pick up the free guide to help you negotiate the contract of your dreams.
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