It is a formal condition,whereas SPS is not.
I have sensory processing sensitivity, and I thought it was something I had to fix.
Then the pandemic happened.
Verywell / Madelyn Goodnight
I spent a year at home, and I became an advocate forneurodiversity.
I have a different relationship with my sensory processing sensitivity now, and I no longer want to change.
A friend told me she was a highly sensitive person and she thought I was one too.
Within months, she told me, you’ll be indistinguishable from everyone else.
It’s exhausting to be so affected by everything in your surroundings!
The notion of being able to put a stop to that was an incredibly appealing one.
By entering the world before I was ready to, my nervous system was thrust into high alert.
Immediately I set out on a path of desensitizing myself.
I went to clubs that had thumping, blaring music, and I danced through my discomfort.
I attended protests and pride celebrations, and I didn’t leave early even though I wanted to.
Bright lights at big box grocery stores?
Annoying crowds of kids at Disneyland?
I continued exposure therapy regularly for 15 years.
I continued exposure therapy regularly for 15 years.
I looked into studies on SPS, and I found out some surprising info.
These are a few of the characteristics associated with being highly sensitive.
In addition to these traits, the same studies have shown that SPS is helpful for human survival.
SPS is yet another wayneurodivergencepresents, just like autism and ADHD.
I’m sensitive as all get out.
