Lexie Carroll’s Reviews > Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person > Status Update

High Sensation Seeking: a separate variable. When high it can lead to extroversion (but not always). HSS introverts can seek sensation in ways that do not increase sociality with unfamiliars. They are conscientious, dislike risk & impulsivity, and have concern for others. They may use their SS to travel or support a cause.
The author has not yet seen the combination of high sensitivity and low intelligence.

The HSP extrovert: outgoing and social but still needs more down time than other extroverts. They have stronger emotions (v other extroverts), prefer deeper conversation topics, have more concern for others, easily hurt feelings, love of nature, and deep intuition/spirituality. They enjoy the creative process but immediately want to share the results with others, & enjoy the collaborative process (like committees).

Work/career problems offer an opportunity to discuss boundaries, idealizing, victimized, & other issues that are impeding their life in all areas. There may be parallels between their work group & their dysfunctional family; coworkers rekindle sibling rivalry, reactions to superiors mirror parental issues. HSPs can gain insights from noticing their Work behaviors, and reduce shame by noticing how they tend to react.

HSPs will be bothered by working conditions that do not affect non-sensitive employees. If these organizations value them, they can ask for changes. Otherwise, they will have to adapt without withdrawing too much from others. They can also consider self-employment.

HSPs often need to turn up their volume at work, especially if they manage others, so that their needs are met, viewpoints are heard, and they are not perceived as weak or less intelligent. They should continue to seek training in order to gain more influence, and move on if they are in hopeless interpersonal situations.

Career choice is more difficult for the HSP, and they may change direction several times before finding their niche. They need their work to be meaningful but not overstimulating; they have the talent to do many things well and often feel pressured by others. It also seems that many vocations historically well -suited to HSPs (education, clergy, the arts, science) have become more pressured and competitive.

Re: Divorce
Just as in medicine, certain innate conditions become dangerous if not recognized, but otherwise are easily treated. These innate temperament traits become dangerous only when partners do not understand the unchangeable nature of their own & the other’s aspects, so that they can make appropriate accommodations. The risk of divorce can be reduced when couples know how to compensate for their differences.

Fears (5-8):

5. Gravity of responsibility to the other (being breadwinner/parent/etc); potential loss of independence
6. Obliteration of self (controlled, smothered, etc. May have been an actual problem w/dysfunctional parents in FOO)
7. Own primal human instinctual nature (lust, hate, indifference, etc.)
8. Own irritability & criticalness of idiosyncrasies (need to build some flexibility & tolerance)

Eight common fears HSPs encounter re: committed relationships:
(1-4):
1. Dread of exposure & rejection (core sensitive self seems ‘shameful’)
2. Separation & loss (ie of partner’s potential death)
3. Abandonment & betrayal by the other (often HAS happened; this fear often is resistant to extinction)
4. Fear of conflict (& inevitable capitulation that they see may have to occur)

Adapting your practice to meet the needs of HSPs will include working to maintain an optimal level of arousal, a tune in to their thoughts and feelings (typically deeper than most other patients), correctly managing silence (stay or speak), managing especially intense emotions and accommodating sensory sensitivities where possible/reasonable.