Ep. 102: The Highly Sensitive Person with Colleen Murphy

Have you ever been told that you’re “too sensitive” or that you “shouldn’t think so much,” particularly by people who strike you as too insensitive or who you believe should think a little more? You may be a highly sensitive person, or HSP.

Are you easily overwhelmed by such things as bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens nearby?

We base our discussion on Dr. Elaine Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person, who first coined the term in the 1990s, when she began researching high sensitivity.  There are many others who share similar characteristics and it's thought that 15-20% of the population are HSPs. 

Highly sensitive people notice more stimuli in their environment, even lower threshold ones, and are more sensitive to pain, hunger, lights, and noise; have increased responsiveness to both positive and negative influences; and get easily overwhelmed.  And let’s be honest, this sensitivity is viewed differently in different cultures, and this trait is often misunderstood.

While highly sensitive people are sometimes negatively described as being “too sensitive," it is a personality trait that brings both strengths and challenges.

And these are just some of the traits.  Colleen Murphy, who was previously on the podcast talking about Parenting on episode 97, is here today to discuss the Highly Sensitive person.  She is a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator as well as Parent coach, and now teaching parenting classes and workshops at Live Oak Family Resource Center.  You can find her at fromtheheadtotheheart.com.  And check out Dr. Elaine Aron’s website hsperson.com!