Highly sensitive people

If you are often told that you take everything very "personally", you become easily distressed while others do not flinch or you consider yourself a very observant person, perhaps you are a " highly sensitive person”(PAS).

Two decades ago the psychologist and scientist Elaine Aron coined the term to define the people who have a sensitivity above normal. It is estimated that between 15 and 20% of the population are PAS.

Signs that you are a very sensitive person

There are 4 the pillars basic that the person must have to be considered PAS. These pillars respond to the acronym in English “DOES” (:

• Intense and deep processing of all information. Reflect and try to understand everything to the fullest.
• Overstimulation and saturation by processing the large amount of sensory and emotional information that it is capable of perceiving. According to Aron, a PAS has a finer neuro-sensory system than usual, which is why it records more information than a non-PAS, which would lead to blockage.
• High emotionality before various situations and sensations. The PAS experience and express joy, sadness, injustice with great intensity. They are also very empathetic people.
• High sensitivity in the five senses (sight, hearing, touch, smell and taste), as well as to capture small subtleties around him or in the emotional state of people.

Is it a bad thing or a good thing?

Depending on how the person perceives and understands this sensory capacity, it can have different implications.

Can be seen as a conviction if the possible drawbacks are located in a very significant position:

• Low tolerance to the noises, smells or lights, generating a high negativity in the person.
• Lower pain threshold, so they feel more pain than someone who is not PAS. It should be noted that this threshold can be modified with a
• They are very susceptible to criticism.
• They take longer to make decisions, since they think a lot and have found all the options.
• Difficulty setting limits to people or say "no."
• They adapt poorly to changes.
• Being more sensitive people, they are also more vulnerable to problems in general, so they can develop more easily depressive or anxious-type disorders.

On the other hand, being hypersensitive can be a gift for the person:

• They are persons willing to help to others and improve the world. High capacity of. They are usually involved in issues such as the environment, animals, justice ...
• Are great thinkers and they get deeply involved in their projects. Great analytical and concentration capacity.
• They know how to appreciate the art and beauty.
• Are good teamwork.
• Ability to enjoy the little things.
• They are usually intuitive people.
• They convey feelings easily.
• They feel good in solitude.
• Love for a job well done.

Given all this, high sensitivity is a capacity that should be consider as neutralSince none of the above characteristics are good or bad in and of themselves, they are part of a continuum.

For example, love of a job well done can be a virtue, but it is a drawback when taken to the extreme, turning into perfectionism.

Being a sensitive person does not mean being weak

All people have potentialities and vulnerabilities, it is about self-regulation in the most efficient way.

 Highly sensitive people they are not special beings with superpowers, the fact that a person has more sensory and emotional acuity does not make them out of the ordinary. We all have skills, aptitudes, or abilities in different areas.

 They are not introverts either.Not necessarily (it is estimated that around 30% of PAS are extroverts). There are no more highly sensitive women than men. However, due to social conventions, some men inhibit some sensitive behaviors so as not to be criticized.

Understand yourself to know how to handle it

The first thing is don't let the label highly sensitive person conditions you. Although the classifications can help to better understand some aspects of oneself and reality.

You don't hide either in being PAS so as not to change what you don't like about yourself. For example, if you are affected by other people's criticism excessively, don't say to yourself “I can't help it, I'm sensitive”, Go further and try to solve this difficulty.

Sensory thresholds, that is, how sharpened your senses are, they are not static. They can vary at different vital moments and can also be influenced by other elements. It is a proven fact that the perception of pain not only comes from physiological factors but also from psychological and social factors, therefore, it can be modulated.

If high sensitivity interferes with your well-being and prevents a good adjustment to your day-to-day life, seek specialized psychological help.

• Sensitivity is a personality trait that refers to greater sensory and emotional perceptibility. Depending on how the person perceives and understands this sensory capacity, it can have different implications.
• The objective would be to recognize and exploit potentialities and learn to transform inconveniences into allies.
• In the event that high sensitivity interferes with one's own well-being and prevents a good adjustment to day-to-day activities,

Specialist in Clinical Psychology