According to Dr. Elaine Aron, a psychologist who has been studying HSPs for over 20 years, about 20 percent of the population are highly sensitive (sometimes referred to as super or ultra sensitive), and according to Dr. Michael Smith, who has been studying Empaths for about as long, says about 5 percent of these are Empaths.
Dr. Aron has authored half a dozen books about HSPs and just recently (Sept. 2015) had the premiere showing of a new documentary called Sensitive - The Untold Story , which is excellent. Learn more about it here. Dr. Aron is a HSP herself. There is now solid research from scientific studies done on the brain and genetic analysis showing that highly sensitive people have differences in their brain activity and process things differently, along with having a sensitive nervous system. Being highly sensitive is an innate temperament trait, not a disease or a disorder.
There has also been research done in other species such as dogs and rhesus monkeys to name a few. In fact, researchers have found that over 100 different species all have 20% of their populations that are highly sensitive compared to the rest. Interesting, huh?
Dr. Aron says there are four keys to being a HSP; which are described more in-depth in the movie but are as follows:
Depth of processing
Over-stimulation
Emotional Responsiveness and Empathy
Sensitivity to Subtleties
When I am able to share with others close to me what I discover on my never ending journey of learning about myself and Who I Really Am, it sometimes helps them in discovering things about themselves too. For example, just recently I shared a list of traits of HSPs with my mother. She was surprised to discover she also answered yes to all of them. My mom has never been aware that she is considered to be in the 20 percent of the population that is highly sensitive. I didn't know this about her either; though it makes sense given that I am, and it typically is inherited. I haven't always known I was an Empath or an Indigo either. I discovered these just a couple years ago. It's all part of our awakening and shifting into higher levels of consciousness.
In comparing the list of traits for Empaths and the list of traits for Highly Sensitive People, though they share a few common characteristics, the traits are different. Here is a clear definition of and distinction between them written by Liz Zambrano in a recent article in OM Times magazine:
A HSP, or highly sensitive person is a person having the trait of high sensory processing sensitivity (or innate sensitiveness) as Carl Jung originally coined it. According to Elaine N. Aron and colleagues as well as other researchers, highly sensitive people, who comprise about a fifth of the population (equal numbers in men and women), may process sensory data much more deeply and thoroughly due to a biological difference in their nervous system (Wikipedia).
An Empath, goes a bit further (Wikipedia), by “observing another person’s emotional state, activates parts of the neuronal network involved in processing that same state in oneself, whether it is disgust, touch, or pain”. Empaths have the ability to scan another’s energy for thoughts, feelings and possibly for past, present, and future life occurrences.
Check out this new (June 2016) TEDx Talk (16 min.)The Gentle Power of Highly Sensitive People:
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In addition to Dr. Elaine Aron's books on Highly Sensitive People, Dr. Ted Zeff also has written some good books on the subject.For more information on the internet, check out these websites and articles:
Traits of Highly Sensitive People
This list of traits was compiled and condensed from several different sources on the internet. I tried to be thorough but not be repetitive by combining the ones that were similar. I answered yes to all of these myself. If you answer yes to most if not all of these statements, you are probably considered highly sensitive.
👉I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input; by things like bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics or sirens close by.
👉I am aware of subtleties in my environment.
👉Other people's moods effect me. I can pick up on the feelings of those I love. I am highly intuitive.
👉I tend to be very sensitive to pain and fear pain (like getting blood drawn, for example) more than most.
👉I am sensitive to feelings and changes in my body.
👉I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
👉I can always tell if someone is being genuine or not.
👉I have a rich, complex inner life.
👉I am super creative and think outside the box. I have a passion for a creative hobby.
👉I have an intuitive nature which tends to make me appreciate and recognize things faster than most, making me the ultimate tastemaker.
👉I can't stand loud or annoying noises. I will have to quiet them or get away from them as soon as possible.
👉I am deeply moved by the arts or music.
👉I become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is going on around me.
👉My nervous system can sometimes feel so frazzled that I have to go off by myself.
👉I find myself needing to withdraw during busy days, into bed or into a darkened room or any where
👉I can have some privacy and relief from stimulation.
👉I am conscientious.
👉I startle easily.
👉I tend to react more strongly to things because I feel more strongly and things can have a long lasting impression.
👉I get rattled when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
👉When working in an office, I work better if I have my own cubicle or privacy. I work best when working from home.
👉When people are uncomfortable in a physical environment I tend to know what needs to be done to make it more comfortable (like changing seating or lighting).
👉I feel ALL the feelings. My emotions are very vivid. I am moved easily.
👉I am not afraid to let the tear ducts take over. I cry over sad things and happy things. I cry easily. Crying to me is not a sign of despair but a sign of being alive.
👉People have often looked down on me for my emotional tendencies, or have told me “not to take things so seriously.” I’ve had people, especially very logical people, be rather surprised at my reactions, because they can’t connect.
👉I am annoyed when people try to get me to do too many things at once.
👉I try hard to avoid making mistakes or forgetting things.
👉I am often polite and notice when others are polite. (This does not hold true if I am angry.)
👉The thought of criticism is terrible and I usually will go to great lengths to avoid it. I would consider myself a people-pleaser.
👉I have or have had an issue with saying "no".
👉I often put off things like taking proper breaks, exercising, making it a point to eat a healthy, balanced meal or may even skip a meal because I don’t have time right now .
👉I make it a point to avoid violent movies or TV shows. I am more sensitive to violence or frightening situations, even in movies.
👉Being hungry creates a strong reaction in me, disrupting my concentration or mood.
👉Changes in my life shake me up.
👉I am slow to make decisions, even small ones. I tend to mull it all over and even envision how I would feel if I chose each route.
👉I notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds or works of art.
👉I am incredibly detail oriented and very observant.
👉Because I'm such a detail-oriented person, I notice mistakes much faster than others. I tend to be a perfectionist in many things I do, especially if I work in a field I'm passionate about.
👉I make it a high priority to arrange my life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations.
👉When I must compete or be observed while performing a task, I become so nervous or shaky that I do much worse than I would otherwise. I avoided team sports as a child as I felt uncomfortable being watched and judged. My most ideal workout is in my own living room.
👉When I was a child, my parents or teachers seemed to see me as sensitive or shy.
👉I am not the only one in my family that is highly sensitive.
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