Highly Sensitive Positive Traits + Most Difficult Challenges by Jade Eeles

Guest article by Jade Eeles

Favorite Highly Sensitive Positive Traits of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) 

Here is a sample of the top responses from a recent poll of highly sensitive people (HSPs) and members of the Sensitive Empowerment Community: 

  • Creative/creativity understanding it, and when it is flowing, high levels of creativity 

  • Empathy/Empathic 

  • Compassion

  • Intuitive/conscious awareness, ‘6th sense’

  • Vision/envisioning opportunities, possibilities for ourselves + others

  • Deep feelers

  • Good Listeners

  • Deep thinking & thoughtful

  • Noticing + seeing beauty in many things in the world, nature, & surroundings 

  • Integrity 

  • Friendliness

  • Loving deeply 

  • Zest & passion for life experiences 

  • Sensory pleasures with scents, incense, candles, aromatherapy, taste/foods/drink, feel-good textures/fabrics 

  • Attention to detail

  • Ability to pick up others’ energy 

  • Love of connection (including people/relationships)

  • Aware of subtleties in the environmental surroundings, people, sensory awarenesses, and more information that others miss 

  • Sensory recall

  • Emotional sensitivity + development ~ emotionally sensitive + intelligent (EQ)

  • I know things,  learning to trust in my knowing 

  • Connection with nature + animals 

  • Noticing details in nature 

  • Joy being in nature brings

  • Appreciate that I pick up on subtleties, being in tune to other people’s needs

  • Tuned in to people, easy to find detail to connect on + harmony in a group

  • Reasonable + objective communication seeing situations clearly for what they are 

  • Seeing all sides of things I like that I’ve considered every option and possibility 

  • Quiet + caring

 Sensitive Empowerment Community (SEC) Highlights

  • Happy with, and the need for alone time ~ process, rest, reduce overwhelm 

  • Differences in self-care + individual needs for healthy balance and wellness (HSP way)

  • In addition to the SEC ~ Helpful tools, training + courses to support HSPs to thrive, reduce anxiety, overwhelm + more.

The Most Difficult Challenges of Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) 

Here is a sample of the top responses from a recent poll of highly sensitive people/HSPs + members of the Sensitive Empowerment Community: 

  • Overwhelm (sensory, energetic overload)

  • Self-blame + shame 

  • Intense feelings

  • Multitasking, being rushed + watched 

  • Decision making

  • Tension + tightness throughout my body 

  • Overstimulation from too many busy thoughts, worries from being nervous

  • Feeling more hurt, than joy

  • Feeling fragile sometimes, need lots of downtime and space to reflect 

  • A high volume of uncomfortable physical sensations (balance/swing of under + overstimulation) 

  • External noise, chaos, light, other’s emotions, cities, shared spaces 

  • Not letting go of the behavior of others that are less compassionate

  • Suppressing feelings

  • Being/feeling misunderstood, assuming I will be misunderstood 

  • Too empathetic, in tune with the pain and feelings of others (I get overwhelmed by it)

  • People pleasing

  • Lack of self-love 

  • Maintaining boundaries 

  • See + feel pain and suffering in the world 

  • Self-compassion 

  • Perfectionism, self-criticism 

  • Overthinking 

  • Withdraw, pace, or push ourselves + our energy levels 

  • The world is less supportive/not designed for the SPS trait + HSPs

  • Finding a sustainable good fit, and getting it right as an HSP + at the highest end of the sensitivity scale in schooling, education/training, job/careers/workplaces

  • Anxiety (10%+), anxiety + depression (80%+), including overwhelm from anxiety/caused by overwhelm 

  • Susceptibility to issues in general health, mental health + chronic illness (E.g. fibromyalgia, autoimmunity, digestion, burnout, sleep issues, anxiety, depression, major depression) 

 SEC Highlights

  • It’s a package deal, highly sensitive positive traits + challenges as an HSP

  • Self-care, self-compassion, honoring our needs, pace/protecting our energy for balance, wellness, and burnout prevention

  • In addition to the SEC ~ Helpful tools, training, resources + courses to support HSPs to thrive, advocate, grow, be empowered, and bloom to their highest potential + more

Jade Eeles 

Sensitive Empowerment Community Member + Ambassador