Sensitivity to skin flower

We often confuse hypersensitive people with those who have high sensitivity. But, in reality these are two different conditions.

Written and verified by the psychologist Elena Sanz.

When we say that someone is very sensitive, we may be referring to very different situations.. From the person who is bothered by a smell that goes unnoticed by the rest, to the person who cries while watching a movie. Or, perhaps, who is offended by an unimportant comment. Concepts related to sensitivity are often confused and used incorrectly. That is why today we will try to shed some light on the matter.

Surely at some point you have heard about highly sensitive people (HSP), and also about hypersensitive people. At some point they may have seemed very similar or interchangeable concepts to you. But actually, These are two very different entities, both in their origin and in their consequences.

High sensitivity

High sensitivity is a biological predisposition of the person who has the most developed nervous system. than most people. They are individuals with high sensory sensitivity, so they perceive much more information through their senses than average.

It is common for them to feel affected by bright lights, strong smells and noises. As well as becoming overwhelmed and saturated in an overstimulating environment. This quality It is present in around 20% of the population and has a genetic or hereditary origin.

Highly sensitive people experience everything with greater depth and have a more intense emotionality.. This way they can be easily moved by a landscape or a movie. And they can truly suffer from the pain of others. Their great capacity to perceive nuances and subtleties leads them to develop a high level of empathy and understanding. But, for the same reason, they can feel overwhelmed more easily than someone who only perceives the superficiality of an issue.

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Hypersensitivity

For its part, Hypersensitivity refers to emotional fragility. To susceptibility and the tendency to feel offended and react in an apparently disproportionate way. Hypersensitive people are damaged people, who experienced negative experiences that they have not yet overcome.

This leads them to appear insecure and defensive towards others, and they can interpret any indication as an offense or a personal attack. Their high susceptibility leads them to use strategies such as aggression or emotional blackmail.in order to feel a certain superiority.

They often tend to be considered surly, moody or exaggerated. This causes them to feel even more frustrated and misunderstood, and their tendency to be alert to the hostility of others increases. But in reality, it is not a dramatic performance. Their reaction is proportional to the intensity of the emotion they are experiencing. This is simply much higher than other people’s.

A positive approach

As we see, hypersensitive people are different from HSPs both in their perception and in their reactions. But both can learn to deal with their condition. This way they will achieve a happier life and more adaptive and functional strategies.

HSPs, if they develop good emotional intelligence, can get a lot out of their sensitivity.. They must learn to protect themselves from excess stimuli and begin to regulate them to avoid feeling overwhelmed.

This way they will enjoy greater self-knowledge and personal growth than others. And, furthermore, they will enjoy more satisfactory social relationships thanks to their high intuition and empathy. If you are able to not get too involved, you will be able to take advantage of your qualities without feeling damaged or overwhelmed.

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For their part, hypersensitive people must be aware of their excess reactivity and increased susceptibility. It will be necessary for them to work on their childhood wounds and heal what led them to feel that the world was a hostile place. that they had to defend themselves. If you can strengthen your feelings, if you can love and accept yourself completely, you will stop being so emotionally affected by others.

In any case, we should never make anyone feel guilty for having a particularly high sensitivity. We all deserve to be understood and respected in our differences. And we all have issues to work on.

After all, Both hypersensitive people and people with high sensitivity can teach us something. To be careful with other people’s emotions, to observe and delight in the world around us. To get involved and live intensely.