Have you ever wondered if there are HSP types?
According to various estimates, roughly 20 to 30 percent of the world’s population are highly sensitive. This means that there are more than one and a half billion HSPs in this world. And each one of those HSPs has a different combination of characteristics, preferences, and needs. Each one of those one and a half billion HSPs is unique.
With that being said, I do think it can be immensely helpful and practical to look for common patterns that often repeat themselves among the HSP population. And that’s the purpose behind the HSP Types I have identified based on my work with highly sensitive people.
Many HSPs struggle with similar challenges. While a few lucky ones may have sidestepped or already overcome all of these challenges, most of us still have work to do and often this work continues in one form or another throughout the rest of our lives.
Below is a brief description of the HSP Types I encounter most often in my coaching practice. Each of the HSP Types is struggling with a particular pattern and challenges associated with that pattern. Some of us may only identify with one or two HSP Types, while others identify with several or even all of them.
(If you’d like to know more than what I have shared below, you can click here to take the HSP Types Quiz and receive a free booklet with more detailed descriptions and potential avenues of personal growth for each type.)
HSP Types
1. the accommodator
The Accommodators are highly sensitive to other people’s feelings and skilled at predicting and fulfilling other people’s needs. Although these can be beautiful gifts when balanced with healthy self-interest, Accommodators often run into problems when they sacrifice their own wellbeing in order to accommodate others.
2. THE DRUDGE
The Drudges feel stuck in a career that is not a good match for a highly sensitive person. They dream of a more fulfilling career but feel uncertain about next steps and overwhelmed by the career change process.
3. THE FEELER
The Feelers are overwhelmed by and have trouble dealing with the intense emotions that are one of the hallmarks of the HSP experience. They may experience meltdowns, broken record emotions (same triggers causing issues repeatedly), and overwhelm from other people’s energies and emotions.
4. THE OVERDOER
The Overdoers want to do more than a highly sensitive person can tolerate and feel constant inner conflict between the side that wants to hit the gas and the side that needs to hit the brakes. While the Accommodators overcommit due to external pressures, the Overdoers struggle because of pressure from within, typically identifying as high achievers, highly creatives, high sensation seekers, or highly sensitive extroverts.
5. THE REACTOR
The Reactors frequently feel unwell due to unaddressed environmental sensitivities and/or erratic self care practices, both of which tend to affect the highly sensitive population more than others.
6. THE STRESSCASE
One of the defining characteristics of high sensitivity is a more reactive stress response system. The Stresscases feel stuck in a lifestyle that is too stressful for HSPs and/or lack the tools to keep their stress levels manageable.
7. THE DISGRUNTLED
The Disgruntled HSPs are dissatisfied with several aspects of their lives and dreaming of change, but they are held back by overwhelm, self doubt, and procrastination.
Want to Find Out Your HSP TYPE?
Does any of this sound like you? If yes, click here to take the HSP Types Quiz. You’ll find out which patterns fit you the most and receive a free booklet with more detailed descriptions and potential avenues of personal growth for each type.
