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You're too sensitive
Being "too sensitive" can have big benefits (and don't let anyone tell you otherwise)

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“You’re too sensitive”
Raise your hand if you’ve ever gotten this feedback 🙋♀️
And they say it like it’s a bad thing…
I’m a very sensitive person in almost all the ways. I feel big feelings, I get easily overwhelmed, and I tend to take on a lot of emotional and mental burdens (even though no one asks me, too!).
So when Christina Gaspar brought up being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) when we chatted recently, I was super stoked to find a kindred spirit.
What’s an HSP anyway?
The term was coined by Elaine Aron, a psychologist, in the 90s to describe individuals “with a deep sensitivity to the physical, emotion, or social situations and information around them.” It may also be called “sensory processing sensitivity.”
What it is: a trait that exists in individuals to varying degrees
What it isn’t: a mental health disorder
HSPs might experience…
overstimulation
difficulty processing stimuli
deep emotional bonds with others
adverse reactions to violent movies, tv shows, and games
deep empathy for the people around them
very strong emotional responses to situations, both positive and negative
And my personal favorite…
a rich inner life
Do any of these traits resonate with you?
You might be an HSP!
And while you might be thinking, “gosh, that sucks because there’s a lot of negative stigma about being ‘too sensitive’ in the workplace,” you should count yourself lucky for the adaptive strengths that come from being highly sensitive:
social skills
empathy
being more attuned to your environment
But with great sensitivity comes great responsibility (that’s the quote, right?!). If you are an HSP, take the right steps to put your mental health first.
5 ways to protect yourself as an HSP at work 👇
Find a good therapist!
Create a safe office space for yourself that limit overwhelming stimuli.
Avoid things that cause you excessive stress (if possible) — for example, block your calendar to prevent last-minute meetings from cropping up.
Learn to say “no” more and set clear boundaries with your coworkers.
If you’re comfortable doing so, share with your supervisor and team your working style and the best ways to communicate with you to manage expectations and set a foundation for better experiences.
More Mental Health Matters
🎧️ Listen: Christina Gaspar’s episode of Everything’s Coming Up Marketing, where she talks about perfectionism and discovering more about being an HSP
👀 Browse: Sensitive Refuge for articles about navigating the world as an HSP, and take the Highly Sensitive Person Test
👀 Read: Highly Sensitive Person (HSP): Signs, Challenges, And Coping Tips via Simply Psychology