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What Causes HSP?
It is believed that a mix of genes and family backgrounds, environment, and life events all contribute to high sensitivity. However, the exact causes are still unknown. According to studies, HSPs have a more reactive nervous system and have more activity in their attention, action-planing, awareness- and empathy-related brain regions. High sensitivity can also be more likely to develop if a person grows up in an overstimulating setting, like a dysfunctional household or a busy city.
Additionally, people with traumatic childhood experiences are likelier to be extremely sensitive. Trauma can make us overly vigilant, making us more careful and prone to avoiding situations that have previously caused us harm.
How Trauma is Related to HSP
If you’re a very sensitive kind, you may be more vulnerable to post-traumatic stress disorder after suffering trauma. It means you might become more easily overwhelmed when your nervous system goes beyond its normal activity level, called the “window of tolerance.” The optimal state allows you to function well in your daily life even if you are under normal pressures of life. When you exceed this state, you may experience “hyperarousal,” like the normal “fight or flight” response. Also, you may withdraw, ignore the situation, or isolate yourself, which is called “hypo-arousal.”
With trauma and HSP, you may experience vivid flashbacks and nightmares or feel a stronger need to avoid anything that reminds you of the traumatic event(s). Other PTSD symptoms can appear, including persistent feelings of guilt and shame, trouble controlling emotions, and ongoing relationship difficulties. Hypervigilance is also common, which can also cause physical symptoms like nausea or dizziness.
What a non-HSP might keep adaptively in their memory, an HSP might feel more deeply, leading to a “stuck” nervous system. It is common for an HSP to experience shame regarding how you respond to the traumatic event. Sadly, such feelings might make the healing process more difficult.
High Sensitivity and Anxiety
There is a complicated relationship between anxiety and HSPs, and it depends on various factors. One of these factors is their heightened sensitivity to external stimuli like loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells. As a result, HSPs may feel overstimulated and overwhelmed by their surroundings, which can contribute to anxiety.
Perfectionistic inclinations are another source of stress and anxiety for HSPs because of the pressure to live up to their own high standards. Additionally, due to their high levels of empathy and sensitivity, HSPs may be more likely to absorb the stress and anxiety of others, which can further contribute to their anxiety levels.
Overthinking and ruminating can also be a problem for highly sensitive people, leading to excessive worry and anxiety about topics that may not affect others to the same degree. Highly sensitive people are more likely to experience intense emotions than the general population. It can leave them feeling overwhelmed and unable to control their emotions, leading to anxiety.
HSPs and Low Self-Esteem
Sensitivity to Criticism: As an HSP, you tend to take criticism to heart, interpreting it as a reflection of your true self and hurting your self-esteem. This heightened sensitivity to criticism compared to non-HSPs can make you feel inadequate or not measure up.
Overthinking and Self-Doubt: Being an HSP, you may often engage in overthinking and rumination, which can further increase your self-doubt and lower your self-esteem. You may find yourself constantly second-guessing your decisions and excessively worrying about them, leading to feelings of inadequacy.
Difficulty with Boundaries: Setting and maintaining boundaries can be challenging for HSPs, resulting in feeling undervalued or taken advantage of. These experiences may also contribute to low self-esteem, as HSPs may believe they are undeserving of respect or consideration.
High Empathy and Self-Blame: As an HSP, you possess a high degree of empathy, which can sometimes cause you to blame yourself. You might absorb the emotions of others and feel accountable for their difficulties, which can trigger feelings of guilt and low self-esteem.
Perfectionism: As an HSP, you may have lofty standards for yourself, resulting in tendencies towards perfectionism. When you cannot attain your own expectations, it can contribute to feelings of disappointment and low self-esteem. You may also spend most of your time comparing your progress to others, leading to further feelings of inadequacy.
