“You are a Frignona!”
“Don’t be a tantrum”
Voices of the past? And what about this sentence pronounced with the best intentions: “Are you too sensitive to be happy?”
If you are similar to me, you will have heard phrases similar to these many times, and you may have thought that there was something different in you. I too had convinced myself that I had a background defect, which I had to hide and who condemned me to a second floor life. I thought I was wrong. “
(taken from: E. Aron, highly sensitive people)
How the research on highly sensitive people was born
In 2012 Elaine Aron, researcher in psychology, university professor, psychotherapist and writer, published a summary of the theories and research existing on the phenomenon of Sensory Processing Sensivity (in Italian “sensory sensitivity”). This can be easily found on the website www.hsperson.com in the “Research Articles by Elaine and Her collaborators” section.
Together with her husband, neurologist, Aron formulated a test for detecting the typical characteristics of the Highly sensitive person (Highly Sensitive Person or People– HSP). It is available in its Italian version on the page https://www.personeallylysensiBi.it/sei- ipersensibile/.
The website www.personeal Valvensesbili.it is part of the “Highly sensitive people – HSP Italia” project supported by Dr. Elena Lupo, Italian consultant on the “High Sensitivity” section such as HSP Consultant Advanced Training.
The collection of data and research works that Elaine Aron started in 1991 were aimed at reflecting on “high sensitivity” as a trait of personality. In addition to answering a question with profound ethical and therapeutic implications: “High sensitivity” is equivalent to other personological traits designed in literature and familiar to clinicians such as introversion or neuroticism (tendency to be depressed or excessively anxious)?
The outcome of the studies of Aron and his collaborators showed that in fact the “high sensitivity” trait was distinguished from neuroticism and introversion (despite being related to them).
High sensitivity: a genetic factor?
A study conducted by Suomi on Rhesus monkeys born with a stretch called Up Tight (anxious, nervous) showed how they suffered from a congenital serotonergic deficit that increased their vulnerability to anxiety and depression (in contact with stressful living conditions).
In the social groups of these monkeys, the presence of individuals Up Tight He also equivalent to having in his own individuals more capable of evaluating the danger/goodness of environments and foods. Determining – relatively to their expense – an advantage in terms of survival and adaptation for the group.
Finally, the Rhesus monkeys that had the stretch in question, if raised by expert mothers, showed developing development, resilience to stress and ability to become a leader.
Dr. Aron, inspired by this work, identified that the Very sensitive people They are characterized by the presence of a predisposing genetic condition: it noted that 15-20% of the population has greater receptivity towards stimulation (then described as a PAS section, together with the other distinctive characteristics).
He then wondered: What valid motivation can there be in nature because so many people have an evolutionary disadvantage as the tendency to depression?
Very sensitive people and problematic development
In 2005 the Aron found that the hypersensitive people With a problematic childhood they risked more than becoming depressed or anxious than people with a similar but less sensitive childhood (not pas).
The studies carried out noted that even the stressful conditions of life could, in the person Pas rather than in the non -Pas, catalyzes the development of anxious depressive symptomatology.
It is not uncommon for Pas people to have had a difficult childhood, as often their temperament is not understood or is disabled (“you are exaggerated”; “What you feel is wrong”; “You shouldn’t feel like that” …).
Here the negative feelings due to the PAS trait can lead the person to feel even more uncomfortable, in crisis or annoyed. Not just for thehigh sensitivitybut also for the label of inadequacy or inappropriateness that you learn (or resign yourself) to combine us.
Pas trait: advantage or disadvantage?
In general, the minority that inherited hypersensitivity adopts a survival strategy that consists in taking time to control, to observe, to reflect and process more deeply what is happening in the internal and external environment, before deciding what to do.
By virtue of these observational and reflective skills, moreover, in contact with a current situation that shows similarity with a pass, before and better than the non -Pas, the stakeholders of the stretch are more capable of reacting to a danger or an opportunity.
THE’high sensitivity has its price – A well known element to those who recognize themselves in this description: if a past experience has been very negative, HPS (or Pas) can generalize it and try to avoid it or feel anxious in different situations.
This tension is explained by the overloading condition of the nervous system, i.e. the achievement of the maximal limit of information that can stimulate a human being without feeling overwhelmed, superimposed, exhausted or overwhelmed. The HPS (or Pas) reach this condition long before the others.
For fundamental characteristics according to Aron
When it comes to High Sensivity (often erroneously translated with “hyper-sensitivity” in Italian) There is no reference to an abnormal or pathological condition. The correct and endorsed translation by the author is the literal “high sensitivity”. In 2011, in “Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person”, the author uses the acronym Does To help specialists and interested parties to know the high sensitivity:
- D as a depth (Depht) of the elaboration: a PAS person observes and reflects before acting and elaborates more element of the experience. The HSPs submit everything to greater attention, connecting and comparing what they notice to past experiences, to recent and similar ones, both consciously and unconsciously. We can compare this construct to that of “intuition”, which the Pas possess. Neuroscience studies have also investigated this feature, noting how the Pas use, in the processing of information, more “deep” brain centers (such as the insula) in spite of the non pas.
- OR For over -straction (Sopra-Stimulation) in which the person Pas inclures easily: paying more attention to every detail tires before-the stimuli from the internal and external world, vividly perceived, can become overwhelming. The HSPs tire quickly due to the over-stimulation or, having learned the lesson, they tend to avoid more than other situations considered unnerving (which is why they can also be improperly identified as introverted or socially avoidant). Even the simple passage of a daily day, given the depth of sensory elaboration, can tire a PAS long before a non -Pas!
- AND stands for emphasis (Emphasis) typical of emotional reactions as well as by empathy (Empathy), bearing columns of the internal experience of the person Pas. These people show a greater activity of mirror neurons, as noted by Acevedo. When we talk about emotional reactivity we mean that a Pas, placed in the face of an emotionally characterized situation, not only does he intensely feel the emotion of the other as if It was his own (empathy), but he also feels led to act (reactivity).
- Sort stands for Subtetlies (Being sensitive to detail): Pas people manage to see the small details that others escape. This applies to both the perception of the environmental elements (lights, noises, colors …) and for the internal perception and others (personal experiences, elements of the interpersonal experience, experienced of the other person …). This micro-perception is the basis of the experience of over-stimulation but also of the greater ability, having time available, to interact with the internal and external environment by producing smarter (adaptive) answers.
Practical indications for hypersensitive people or for those who have to do with them
- Pas are more likely to over-stimulation, they also experience a higher activation state in situations that would be moderately stimulating for others. They may appear anxious or neurotic even without being!
- Hurry to a Pas or showing impatiently increases their level of stimulation, therefore stress increases, which does not help them communicate.
- Nobody makes good performances when it is over-stimulated: the more a PAS is subparting the more it will fail, which becomes demoralizing!
- High levels of stimulation (example a noisy room) stressed and tires a PAS long before and more intensely than a non pas. This may involve withdrawal and isolation or, on the other hand, hyperactivity (for example in children).
- Pas can socialize less because they need more time to elaborate their experiences privately. This can make them less visible or inserted in the context.
Among the many ideas that the reflection and the works that Aron has produced, it is to be emphasized that the elements of over-stimulation and emotional reactivity often make “non pas” and “pas” believe (place that there are all the intermediate expressions of this stretch) that the latter have a defect.
If we then consider that in addition, Pas with a tormented or difficult past have less control over their reactions, the trait is associated with serious psychological difficulties.
Regardless, therefore, by the officer recognition of this stretch by official diagnostic categories (see DSM), it can be useful for the clinician or for each of us who loves to observe their internal functioning, keep in mind the reflection and accurate work of Dr. Aron and his collaborators.
Bibliography
- https://hsperson.com/
- https://www.personeallylysensible.it/
- Aron (2018). Highly sensitive people. How to be in balance when the world overwhelms you. Mondadori, Milan.
- For information on new developments regarding highly sensitive people to sign the “Comfort Zone” newsletter on the HSperson.com website
