Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) is a trait rooted in a differently wired neurological system but may coexist with a disorder or be mistaken as a disorder, such as cyclothymia, high-functioning autism (HFA), or Asperger’s syndrome (Aron, 2010). (Aron, 2010). However, SPS can be separated from HFA because of the presence of high degrees of empathy and response to social stimuli. SPS is similar to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), however, it varies in that a High Sensitive Person (HSP) can focus for lengthy periods when working in a quiet atmosphere (Reijnders-Mies, 2021).
Due to a lack of understanding, along with a tendency to retreat and self-isolate after overstimulation, SPS might make certain persons more sensitive to anxiety and despair (Dyer, 2018). SPS, on the other hand, is a trait that poses a unique set of obstacles while also providing certain benefits to HSPs and the social groups to which they belong at work, at home, and in the community. According to Aron (2010), High Sensitive people (HSP) account for around half of all patients seeking psychotherapy, owing to the difficulty in connections with others who misunderstand their characteristics and the patient’s conceptualization of their SPS as a set of negative symptoms.
Aron (2010) describes how to work with SPS by giving psychoeducational interventions and remedial nurturing to compensate for HSPs’ lack of support and understanding in the less sensitive outside world.
Also Read: Tips To Help You Treat Sensory Processing Sensitivity
