Highly sensitive persons (WWO) or otherwise HSP (highly sensitive person) live a deep emotional and inner life. Their reactions are intense, their empathy deep and their perception very subtle. Because of their uniqueness, this type of person may have difficulty finding their way in most stressful situations that lurk in the workplace, among others. How do you work with them? Can they be helped? These questions will be answered below.
Highly vulnerable people - who are they?
Individuals with high emotional sensitivity show the ability to deeply empathise with their own emotional states as well as those of others. Their empathy goes beyond the average ability to understand and share feelings, allowing them to intuitively sense subtle changes in the moods of those around them.
This extraordinary sensitivity to emotions, both one's own and those of others, manifests itself through a rich palette of affective responses and can lead to the intense experience of both positive and negative emotional states.
In a psychological context, such emotional hypersensitivity can be a so-called double-edged sword. On the one hand, it enables deep interpersonal connections and can be a source of a rich inner life. On the other hand, it can also make highly sensitive people more prone to experiencing emotional discomfort in the face of conflict or negative social interactions.
Consequently, these individuals may need additional support in managing emotional boundaries and maintaining mental balance.
Characteristics of a WWO person - highly vulnerable person scale
Every highly sensitive person is unique and their behaviour changes according to the moment and their mood. The characteristics of highly sensitive people are:
- deeply experiencing emotions,
- high empathy and sensitivity to changes in the moods of others,
- perceptiveness and sensitivity to small differences,
- the ability to remember and analyse many details,
- sensitivity to external and internal stimuli (including those that others may overlook),
- difficulty coping with an excess of sensory stimuli (such as loud noise, intense smells, bright lights, crowds),
- vulnerability to stress, overwhelm and emotional exhaustion,
- a tendency to think about many aspects before making a decision,
- striving for perfection, conscientiousness and accuracy in action,
- creativity and a rich imagination,
- sensitivity to beauty and art,
- strong intuition,
- difficulties in performing multiple tasks simultaneously,
- excessive emotionality in social situations,
- the need to establish deep, intimate relationships, an aversion to superficial conversations,
- avoiding conflict, seeking tranquillity and harmony,
- Reluctance to change and difficulty in adapting to new situations.
It is worth remembering that HSP does not equal introvert, although the two personalities often go hand in hand.
7 signs that you may be a highly sensitive person
Highly sensitive people have a number of characteristics that allow them to be recognised. Here are seven signs that may indicate high sensitivity:
- Sensitivity of the senses to external stimuli - WWO people pick up external and internal stimuli more intensely, making them more susceptible to stress and therefore to neurotic disorders.
- Withdrawal - may tend to withdraw, especially in high-stimulus situations.
- Difficult to make decisions and avoid conflict - often struggle with decision-making issues and try to avoid conflict.
- Workaholism or perfectionism - these are often people who strive for perfection or overwork themselves, which can be a symptom of their vulnerability.
- Irritability and nervousness as a reaction to pressure - they may react with irritability and nervousness when they feel pressure.
- Empathising with other people's emotions - such people often feel deeply about the emotions of others, which can lead to emotional exhaustion.
- Deep thinking - these are also characterised by deep processing of thoughts and information.
Does high sensitivity interfere with work?
Highly sensitive people experience fatigue and emotional overload more quickly and have difficulty processing stimuli, making it difficult to concentrate. Their nervous system works more intensely, making them more susceptible to stressors. However, being aware of one's sensitivity allows one to take steps to protect oneself from over-stimulation.
It is important to observe yourself and take care of your needs. Rest, adequate sleep, relaxation techniques, mindfulness and stress management are extremely important. Developing assertiveness helps us to sense when our limits are being crossed and when certain tasks are beyond our capabilities. In such cases, it is useful to slow down, give up some tasks and take care of self-regulation.
Professional relationships, the way they communicate, the management style preferred by superiors, the workload and time pressure have a strong impact on the well-being and functioning of highly sensitive people. A friendly working environment with a good atmosphere and appropriate conditions brings out the best in highly sensitive people. Otherwise, they may experience stress, job burnout, anxiety and depression.
How to help a person with over-sensitivity? - limit external stimuli
If you know that there are people with high sensitivity in your team, you can help them adapt to the environment. The best solution will be for them to create an environment that is conducive to working, for example by limiting stimuli and organising the work space.
If you find it difficult to work in noisy offices, remote working may also be an alternative. A structured schedule, planning tasks in a way that minimises stress, and avoiding constant jumping between different responsibilities will also help. Sensitivity often goes hand in hand with creativity, which can be an asset in creative activities.
Helpful training for living with high sensitivity
If you want to get to know your employees and their problems better, professional training courses prepared by experienced psychologists will help you. You will learn how to understand your employees and how to meet their needs.
In this aspect, we particularly offer you training such as:
- Closer to the needs of managers - be closer to your colleagues' needs and understand how they really work and what they expect.Â
- I'm OK, you're OK - The ability to think of yourself and others as "I am OK - you are OK" enables true collaboration and unlocks communication.
Summary
Accepting the diversity of the human psyche is a key part of building a better society. Highly sensitive people should be celebrated and supported so that everyone can discover their uniqueness and draw strength and inspiration from it.
