Having trained directly with Elaine Aron and as a coach for HSPs for the past six years, I can affirm that the science conducted over the past twenty years, with adults, with children and even animals, has shown that being HSP is not a diagnosis, but instead is a temperament trait.

When a population of 20–30% exhibits the same characteristics, this moves it into an evolutionary advantage rather than a disorder.

We can see why it would be an advantageous for a certain number of humans to be deeper thinkers, more empathetic to others, pausing to reflect more often and be able to notice the subtleties in the world around us. We also need those who charge right in and are less reactive to their environment.

Sensitivity to stimuli is a human trait, some are more, some are less sensitive.

Elaine Aron identified 4 characteristics that comprise being highly sensitive:

• Depth of processing or how deeply we take in and process all information
• Tendency to become overstimulated
• Emotional responsiveness and empathy — brain scans have shown that we respond more to both positive and to negative stimuli than others
• Sensitivity to subtleties — we notice all of the details, patterns, subtle changes

Overstimulation seems to get the most attention because until someone understands their sensitivity, they don’t know how to care for and advocate for themselves. Once they begin to make conscious choices about what they engage in and practice daily self-care, this immediately gets better.

I am concerned about seeing more articles linking HSP to autism and calling for a diagnosis to be included in the DSM. Being more sensitive is simply how we are wired and we need to continue to spread the message to other HSPs that nothing is wrong with you.

Psychology seems to have a fascination with qualifying what is ‘normal’ and what is ‘abnormal’, which often translates into: this is a problem and you need to take medication. Sometimes that is helpful, sometimes it is not.

Being highly sensitive is normal for 1.4 billion people across our planet. We don’t need to make it into anything else.