I consider myself a highly sensitive INFP and emotional empath and an ACOA. Highly sensitive persons are often introverts but can also be extroverted. It is said the introverts often suffer more negatively from their sensitivity possibly due to the fact that they turn within and withdraw socially when overstimulated. As children they were often bullied, shunned or criticized for being "too sensitive" or "shy". And those highly sensitive introverts who experienced difficult or abusive childhoods often suffer the most, sadly. I may be biased, but I believe being an HSP is just as valuable in society as being less sensitive. It takes all kinds as the saying goes and even more-so in relation to modern social, economic and political realms. We need a check and balance of types of people who can make a snappy decision with little information at hand and those who ruminate a little more in coming up with solutions to problems, ala "measure twice and cut once". The war generals need the philosophers and statesmen to keep them in check. Unfortunately, in our age of the bottom line mentality, short attention spans and the need for instant gratification, HSP's and intuitive, empath types have been marginalized to a great extent. With all the problems we have in society today due to hasty decisions, who really can argue against the measured, calculated, well thought out, possibly more expensive in the short term (oh my!!) approach to problem solving?