Are You an HSP and/or Empath?
How can I find out if I am an HSP (Highly Sensitive Person) or Empath?
Let's just start by saying that finding out that you are an HSP and/or Empath is an enlightening experience to say the least! Suddenly, once you know you're an HSP/Empath, your life makes so much more sense! It's as if you have this great epiphany that begins to explain the answer to so many questions you have had about yourself in the past and perhaps are truly struggling with in the present.
Here are some of those questions:
-Why do I feel so different?
-Why does watching the news seem to affect me so deeply, yet other people seem to handle the horror just fine?
-Why am I so exhausted after being around people all day?
-Why am I bothered by bright lights, noise, and smells that others don't even seem to notice?
-Why do I so strongly dislike being rushed, working under pressure, and having too many things going on at once?
And the list goes on...
Lest you begin to think that being an HSP Empath somehow makes you defective, well STOP RIGHT THERE! By recognizing that you have this trait, you are empowered to nurture and celebrate this quality as the incredible asset and gift that it is. In fact, once you learn and embrace the keys to healthy self-care for optimal functioning, you will come to know your highly empathic nature as the amazing blessing that it is. As a Holistic Wellness Life Coach, my area of expertise is to help Empaths to do just that! I would be honored to accompany you on your journey to acknowledge, accommodate, and accentuate your trait for your overall well-being of mind, body, and spirit. Holistic Wellness Life Coaching is a beautiful, healing process that leads to more peace, more love, and more joy. Who wouldn't want that?
ARE YOU AN HSP (HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSON)?
The name is a bit misleading. It implies that HSPs are people who are just more emotional and wear their hearts on their sleeves. That is not the case. The trait was researched and studied by Dr. Elaine Aron who first coined the term. Many now refer to the trait as Sensory Processing Sensitivity" which is NOT the same as the disorder. It is a trait that is found in at least 20% of the population and 100 species of animals as well because it serves an evolutionary purpose. There is a need for those of us who are meant to be the "Royal Advisors" as Dr. Aron has explained. For more in-depth information, you can visit Dr. Aron's website.
In brief, to describe being a Highly Sensitive Person, Dr. Aron uses the acronym DOES to explain the major aspects of the HSP trait.
D - Depth of processing
O - Overstimulation
E - Emotional responsiveness
S - Senses subtleties
To determine if you are an HSP, you can take a free online quiz courtesy of Psychology Today.
WHAT IS AN EMPATH?
For some experts in the field, an Empath is simply a person who is at the high end of the sensitivity scale. For more specific information, I turn first to Dr. Judith Orloff, the author of The Empath's Survival Guide which is an excellent resource that I highly recommend. She says that Empaths share all the traits of being a Highly Sensitive Person - an HSP - but it goes further than that because Empaths also sense the subtle energies of people and environments. Dr. Orloff states that "The trademark of an Empath is that they feel and absorb other people's emotions and/or physical symptoms because of their high sensitivities." She emphasizes that if you tend toward being an emotional sponge, you need to know how to ground, center, and stay in your own energy in order to thrive. I couldn't agree more. Energy healing and management is definitely a key component of holistic self-care for Empaths.
You are welcome to Click Here to visit Dr. Orloff's website and to take her quiz.
Another expert in the field is Anita Moorjani, author of Sensitive is the New Strong: The Power of Empaths in an Increasingly Harsh World which is another one of my favorite books on the topic. In the book, she talks about how absorbing other people's emotions can lead to sensory overload and confusion. She also cautions Empaths against the tendency to give away more energy than they can afford to give. Anita Moorjani is a wealth of knowledge in this area and offers a powerful perspective on the need for Empaths to become empowered to help bring about a much needed shift in the consciousness of the planet and how we are uniquely qualified to do so.
Please Click Here to visit Anita Moorjani's website and to take her "Are You an Empath?" quiz.
Lastly, we can turn to the healing work of Wendy De Rosa, the author of Becoming an Empowered Empath: How to Clear Energy, Set Boundaries, and Embody Your Intuition which is packed with practical tools for grounding and healing. I love what she told Gabby Bernstein years ago, "You don't have to be the victim of the energy. Instead, you are here to raise the consciousness and lead by example with sensitivity and heart." That is so relevant, especially today! Like me, Wendy teaches how to release blocks to be able to access and step into the power of our True Self. In her words (p 15), "When you know who you are and why you are here, you can change the pattern of absorbing energy and live in alignment with your True Divine Self." Isn't that beautiful?
Click Here for Wendy De Rosa's website.
I hope that this has been helpful for you. As it's been said, "knowledge is power." This is especially true if you have the resources you need to put that knowledge into practice. So once you have taken the assessment and/or identify yourself as an HSP and/or Empath, if you are interested in the support you need to get out of the stress and struggle and start to enjoy a more balanced lifestyle, please don't hesitate to contact me at 440-670-1518 or by email to schedule a complimentary phone or online consultation to find out how Nurture U Life Coaching can benefit you.