Sensitivity to Sensory Processing does not have to be a problem

Sensitivity to Sensory Processing is a relatively new and developed psychological construct mostly by psychologists Elaine and Arthur Aron, who began writing about him over the years 90.

Since then, it has been studied what are the implications that this phenomenon has in people's lives, that today we understand as a characteristic that straddles the personality trait and predisposition neurological.

Highly sensitive people, which are those with a marked Sensory Processing Sensitivity, have a nervous system with a greater intensity of reaction to stimuli and the processing of emotions, which makes that although they do not have to suffer from a disorder, they experience a series of recurrent needs and problems and features.

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How are highly sensitive people?

As we have seen, Sensitivity to Sensory Processing it is not a disease or a mental health disorderRather, it is something more like a personality trait that is possibly shared by about 15% of the population.

On the other hand, it has been observed that people with high scores in Sensory Processing Sensitivity tend to have more activated the brain regions associated with the regulation of attention and the integration of sensory information, as well as empathy and planning chores.

All this fits with the behavioral and psychological aspects that have been observed in highly sensitive people; let's see what they are.

1. Sharp and intense sensory perception

As stated, highly sensitive people are able to perceive with greater intensity a great variety of sensations and stimuli coming from their environment, as well as capturing a greater number of differential nuances between them.

2. They are more affected by intense stimuli

In addition to experiencing emotions intensely, highly sensitive people are also affected by intense stimuli, such as strong lights, smells, or intense noise.

3. Strong emotionality

Another characteristic of this psychological predisposition is the intensity with which people with high sensitivity experience any type of alteration related to their own emotional environment or that of another person with which it interacts, especially if it affects a friend, family member or close loved one.

Being very empathetic people, they are able to put themselves in the place of the other at all times, they can perceive small changes emotional in the other person and experience any type of emotion in a more intense way (both positive and negative).

4. Willingness to seek calm and solitude

It is relatively common for social situations that others find normal to generate anxiety and stress. due to the amount of information they receive, especially if they are in a place where there are many people around them.

On top of that, these people have a harder time concentrating when in the company of others, which is why they generally prefer to work alone. However, this does not necessarily imply that they tend to be shy, since in this case it is characteristic is the fear of looking bad in front of the rest, not the sensitivity to emotions and stimuli.

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5. Tendency to saturation

This it is due to the torrent of information and sensations they receive daily through their environment and also to the intensity with which they live these sensations or emotions. This can lead to trouble concentrating, as well as anxiety.

6. Ease of artistic expression

There are studies that suggest a probable greater predisposition to art and crafts on the part of highly sensitive people. This fits with the idea that these are individuals of a sensitive, creative, contemplative and strongly emotional nature, which would that art is a field in which they feel comfortable and in which they can express everything they feel according to their own rhythms and rules.

In the same way, creative and artistic professions require a solitude and a recollection that is ideal for people with high sensitivity.

Sensory Processing Sensitivity Doesn't Have to Be a Problem

Many people with Sensory Processing Sensitivity don't even think they have a trait distinctive psychological and that deserves to satisfy a series of needs that others cover with ease. Others are overwhelmed by their day-to-day experiences, but even in these circumstances, it is possible to lead a perfectly normal life.

The cases of people with high sensitivity who experience this phenomenon with a very high intensity They can overcome this kind of difficulties through psychological support. In therapy, they can “train” emotional processing and attention focus management skills such as the following:

• The ability to anticipate moments when they will become mentally “saturated”
• The ability to manage anxiety in the short and long term
• The ease of creating work environments that do not give them problems
• Learning guidelines to manage personal relationships, adapting them to your sensitivity
• The creative use of your own potential to capture the nuances of your emotions

Are you looking for psychological assistance?

If you are interested in having professional psychological support, I invite you to contact me. I am a psychologist specialized in cognitive-behavioral psychology and I have been working for years to help people with difficulties in aspects of life such as managing emotions or relationships personal.

Bibliographic references:

• Acevedo, B.P., et. to the. (2014). The highly sensitive brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions. Brain and Behavior, 4 (4): pp. 580 - 594.
• Elst, T.V., et. to the. (2019). Who is more susceptible to job stressors and resources? Sensory-processing sensitivity as a personal resource and vulnerability factor. PLOS One, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0225103.