Discovering I’m an HSP made sense of everything
HSPs are the orchids of the human world
Discovering I'm an HSP
It made so much sense of:
🧩 my past
🧩 how I behave
🧩 how I react to certain situations
🧩 why I'm not like a lot of other people I know
During the Covid pandemic lock downs, I realised I loved being at home. I thrived not having to be with people (other than my family) every day. I thought I'd discovered that I'm an introvert.
Then I discovered sensory processing sensitivity, otherwise known as being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). We HSPs process much more sensory data than non HSPs and we process it deeply. And that takes energy so we get tired more easily. There are many more strands to the trait but these were the ones that hit me first.
Introvert or Extrovert
The more I learn about being an HSP, I think I'm probably an extrovert HSP - it's the HSP side of me that needs rest to recharge rather than introversion. Mind you, what difference does it make? I just know that I need time by myself to recharge after peopling.
25-30% of the population are HSPs and of those roughly 80% are introverts and 20% extroverts. When I discovered how many HSPs there are, it was overwhelming to think that all this time I'd felt so alone when really there are a lot more people like me. I just didn't know any back then.
Not Broken
What was also overwhelming, and this is going to sound weird, was the realisation that I wasn't broken. I had identified as not good enough and broken for over 40 years and to realise that wasn't the case was .….. well, mind boggling. It took quite some time to sink in.
I share this because if you have recently discovered you are an HSP, you are not alone
🤔 if it is taking time to make sense.
🤔 if you're not really sure what to do
🤔 If you have no idea who to share this information with.
HSPs are known as the orchids of the human world. They don’t thrive in the same conditions as the majority (non HSPs), but given the precise conditions that are suited to them, they will thrive and shine. I want you to shine!
To find more about being an HSP, you can listen to the HSP Connection podcast that I co-host with Robbie Leigh. If you want to connect with other HSPs, you can join the HSP Connection Community that I co-run with Robbie. It’s important to connect with other HSPs who just get it. Find your people.
And if you want support with how being an HSP shows up for you, how to shape your life in a way that supports you better and what is your particular sensitive strength, Philippa is an HSP coach and she'd love to have a chat so contact her using the contact button at the top of the home page.
