Sensory Processing Sensitivity does not have to be a problem.

Let's look at what Sensory Processing Sensitivity is and how it is often experienced.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity is a relatively new psychological construct developed primarily by psychologists Elaine and Arthur Aron, who began writing about it during the 1990s.

Since then, the implications of this phenomenon, which we now understand as a characteristic somewhere between a personality trait and a neurological predisposition, have been studied in people's lives.

Highly sensitive people, who are those with a marked Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPSS), are those with a marked Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPSS).The personality of the young, have a nervous system with a greater intensity of reaction to stimuli and the processing of emotions, which makes that although they do not have to suffer a disorder, they experience a series of recurrent and characteristic needs and problems.

What are highly sensitive people like?

As we have seen, Sensory Processing Sensitivity is not a disease or a disorder. is not a disease or a mental health disorder, but is something more like a mental health disorder.Rather, it is something more like a personality trait that is shared by possibly about 15% of the population.

On the other hand, it has been observed that people with high Sensory Processing Sensitivity scores tend to have more activated brain regions associated with attention regulation and integration of sensory information, as well as empathy and task planning.

All this fits with the behavioral and psychological aspects that have been observed in highly sensitive people; let's see what they are.

1. Acute and intense sensory perception

As indicated, highly sensitive people are able to perceive with greater intensity are able to perceive with greater intensity a great variety of sensations and stimuli coming from their and stimuli coming from their environment, as well as to capture a greater number of differential nuances among these.

2. They are more affected by intense stimuli.

In addition to experiencing intense emotions, highly sensitive people are also affected by intense stimuli, such as strong lights, smells or intense noise.

3. Strong emotionality

Another characteristic of this psychological predisposition is the intensity with which highly sensitive people experience any type of disturbance related to their own or another person's emotional environment. they interact with, especially if it affects a close friend, family member or loved one.

Being very empathic people, they are able to put themselves in the other person's shoes at all times, can perceive small emotional changes in the other person and experience any type of emotion more intensely (both positive and negative).

4. Predisposition to seek calm and solitude

It is relatively common for social situations that others find normal to generate anxiety and stress for them due to the amount of information they receive. due to the amount of information they receive, especially if they are in a place where there are many people around them.

In addition, these people find it more difficult to concentrate when they are in the company of others, so they generally prefer to work alone. However, this does not necessarily imply that they tend to shyness, since in this case the characteristic is the fear of looking bad in front of others, not the sensitivity to emotions and stimuli.

5. Tendency to saturation

This is due to the torrent of information and sensations they receive daily through their environment and also to the through their environment and also the intensity with which they experience these sensations or emotions. This can give rise to problems when concentrating, as well as anxiety.

6. Facility for artistic expression

There are studies that suggest a probable greater predisposition to art and craftsmanship on the part of highly sensitive people.. This fits with the idea that these are individuals of a sensitive, creative, contemplative and strongly emotional nature, which would make art an area in which they feel comfortable and in which they can express everything they feel according to their own rhythms and norms.

Similarly, creative and artistic professions require a solitude and seclusion that is ideal for people with high sensitivity.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity does not need to be a problem

Many people with Sensory Processing Sensitivity do not even consider that they have a distinctive psychological trait that requires them to satisfy a series of needs that are easily met by others. Others are overwhelmed by their day-to-day experiences, but even in these circumstances, it is possible to lead a perfectly normal life.

The cases of people with high sensitivity who experience this phenomenon with a very high intensity can overcome this kind of difficulties by means of psychological support.. In therapy, they can "train" emotional processing and attentional focus management skills such as the following:

• The ability to foresee the moments when they will be mentally "saturated".
• The ability to manage anxiety in the short and long term.
• The ability to create problem-free work environments.
• The learning of guidelines to manage personal relationships adapting them to their sensibility
• The creative use of their own potential to express the nuances of their emotions.

Looking for psychological assistance?

If you are interested in professional psychological support, I invite you to get in touch with me.. I am a psychologist specialized in cognitive-behavioral psychology and I have been working for years to help people with difficulties in aspects of life such as the management of emotions or personal relationships.

Bibliographical references:

• Acevedo, B.P., et. al. (2014). The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions. Brain and Behavior, 4(4): pp. 580 - 594.
• Elst, T.V., et. al. (2019). Who is more susceptible to job stressors and resources? Sensory-processing sensitivity as a personal resource and vulnerability factor. PLOS One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225103.