We Need a New Empowering Name for Highly Sensitive People

For over a decade, a certain group of people have come into my office for therapy. They have sat opposite me and shown me how our culture has ravaged the way they see themselves.

I see people constantly second-guessing their decisions and questioning their feelings and reactions. They didn’t develop these habits in isolation; their upbringing contributed to these patterns of behavior, this way of being.

They doubt their right to ask for what they need in the workplace, home and relationships because they worry they’re “too needy,” “too emotional,” or “irrational.”

I see smart, creative people immobilized by overwhelm. People who would rather “play small” than be themselves and be shamed for it, again.

These people feel deeply and often carry the pain of others.

What saddens me most is their deeply felt sense that something is wrong with them; something shameful, something defective.

I’ve come to understand the commonality that binds this group of people together: They are, as Dr. Elaine Aron identified, highly sensitive people (HSP). Dr. Aron’s work describes a gene that causes 1 in 5 people to have a more sensitive nervous system than others. HSPs process everything deeply, experience emotional intensity and strong empathy, are sensitive to subtlety and can be easily overwhelmed.

As an HSP, My Life Was Peppered With Shame

My compassion for HSPs transcends professional interest. I understand well these finely tuned people, not only because of my training and experience but also because I, too, am an HSP.

As an HSP, my life was similarly peppered with self-doubt, shame, insecurity, anxiety, overwhelm and self-criticism. I also grew up misunderstood and came to believe something was wrong with me; something shameful, something defective.

I, too, learned to numb, hide, control and chastise myself to avoid the pain.

Learning about the highly sensitive nervous system, I’ve come to see myself and others like me so differently than I did before. Working hard on my own personal growth and development was key to this transformation.

We Need a New Name: Intuitive Warriors

I am equally aware of our strengths and our struggles. I believe the best way to throw off our shackles is to speak with each other about our experiences and to question the toxic messages we’ve been fed by those who didn’t understand; those who, while well-intentioned, were quick to adopt the pejorative pain of the “too sensitive” terminology.

We need a new name; a brighter paint, a softer brush. A name that evokes the passion and power we possess. We are warriors. From this deeper understanding, new, empowered terminology has emerged: Intuitive Warriors.

It takes grit and resilience — qualities we have in spades — to survive in this often harsh world.

Intuitive Warriors are emotionally robust with amazing processing abilities. Once we learn to trust our intuition, it can act as a guide in making positive choices. We can intuit information about our world through our finely tuned nervous systems to stand strong in the face of complexity.

I have a message for you: You can trust yourself, honor and accept your emotions, learn ways to calm your worry and live in the present surrounded by people who love all of who you are. You have unique gifts to share with the world and experiences that other Intuitive Warriors need to hear.

If you’re still unsure, here are six reasons your sensitivity makes you an Intuitive Warrior:

1. You feel for those in pain and do not become desensitized to violence or cruelty.

2. You bring passion and creativity to your home, relationships and workplace.

3. You are thoughtful and consider the potential impacts on your environment of what you say and do.

4. You value meaning and engage in topics, projects and missions that are important to you (and you believe benefit the whole).

5. You are intuitive and often access unconscious wisdom that directs your choices and brings insights to others.

6. You care. You care about your friendships, your relationships, your children, your work, your communities, your culture and the world.

If this is you, know you are a gift. You aren’t alone. We need you here.

A version of this article was originally published on Introvert, Dear.