HSP vs. PTSD

Curious. I remember my counselor asking me if I was highly sensitive. I didn't know what he meant until now, from reading this
webpage. Dr Aron identifies a "sensitivity" trait, once mislabeled as shyness or introversion. She calls it Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).

click link to do the Highly Sensitive Person * SELF-TEST *

I wonder if HSP traits can account for certain PTSD criteria. For instance, certain HSP traits are similar to these PTSD diagnostic criteria: exaggerated startle response, avoidance of stimuli, detachment from others, and distressing external exposures. I'm not saying that HSP traits meet the PTSD criterions but there are similarities.

I also wonder if HSP are more susceptible to PTSD.

jennie have you ever been around combat vets? they were the first to have the dx of ptsd. in all the research info that I have done on that I think most of those guys were more sensitive. most had very strong religous upbringings and I feel making it harder for them being in a combat situation. my ex was a nam vet and had severe ptsd.

I would think that you are highly sensitive because you suffer with PTSD. I'm not sure what you are asking... I'm not sure why your doctor is trying to duplicate-diagnose your symptoms. TC!

Umm...is a score of 24 good or bad?????

Ok, so I got a high score!!!!

bebop, I think you've made some good points. I've seen two types of combat veterans with PTSD, some with empathy and sensitivity and some lacking both traits. You also mention religious upbringings as a factor. I think that strong religious/philosophical/ethical views of the combat soldier may increase the likelihood of a PTSD diagnosis.

_Sky, HSP is not a diagnosis or disorder but a "normal" personality trait. I was just wondering if individuals who were more sensitive (aka HSP) would be more prone to developing PTSD.

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_Sky said:
I would think that you are highly sensitive because you suffer with PTSD. I'm not sure what you are asking... I'm not sure why your doctor is trying to duplicate-diagnose your symptoms. TC!

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Actually, the trait of high sensitivity seems to be present from birth and can include physical sensitivity such as to light, temperature, smells, touch/physical contact, and sounds. Emotional sensitivity is also a part of the pattern. Everyone has a unique threshold for sensitivity, but highly sensitive people tend to have lower thresholds for stimuli and can become sensory and/or emotionally overwhelmed in environments or situations that non-HSP's typically do not. According to research, the trait of HSP is found in 15-20% of the population.

I don't recall any research relating HSP to any specific diagnoses, but I do know there is a general correlation between HSP and an increase in experienced stress. HSP's require more self-care to manage the way this trait presents in order to reduce the effects of stress and to optimize function.

Hmm, can you tell I'm an HSP too? The Elaine Aron books about HSP's have been invaluable to me.

gg

Premies tend to be highly sensitive too.

I am highly sensitive also, and have read the book (The Highly Sensitive Person). It made a lot of sense to me. One of the things the book does is helps you to see that if you have these traits, it doesn't mean that anything is wrong with you, and they aren't things to try to change but to understand and recognize the benefits as well as the things that you may need to adjust for. I think that a lot of people who are highly sensitive tend to be labled and given diagnoses that may be unwarranted, and sometimes they may develop disorders in response to the way they are treated and/or assume that they are expected to act.

It wouldn't surprise me at all if highly sensitive persons are more susceptable to certain disorders such as PTSD.

I did say I was confused about the question. I was reading it from the standpoint that the original post, written by someone with PTSD was being dx'd as sensitive. So now what I think I'm reading is that THAT dx happened prior to any trauma and dx of PTSD. Ok. I'm clueless this morning TC!

I'm not sure if this is what you meant, but actually, being highly sensitive is not a diagnosis. It's a trait. It sounded to me like her T identified this trait in her.

I'm just quibbling a bit because to me calling it a diagnosis can contribute to the idea that being sensitive is bad, maladaptive, or in some other way weak. And I work hard to counter that with my clients an for myself.

I yam what I yam.

gg

OK... I agree let's go back to the idea that, the dx is PTSD, so why would the T need to ask if she's sensitive? And having PTSD, of course you would be sensitive and score high on that inventory. That's why I'm confused with the T's question.

In looking at personalities, I would think that people who are highly sensitive could be more suseptable to PTSD, however, I am sure that there are many people who aren't highly sensitive can also be open to PTSD.

I know that growing up, I was never considered to be highly sensitive, & I remember dealing with my mother who always seemed to take everything I said personally instead of logically. I was always considered to be a "tough" person. I had to be tough growing up with only guys around me & then having a career as an aerospace engineer, being the only woman in the group. I wouldn't allow tears, & would never let emotions get in my way of anything. That worked for over 40 years. Even when my career situation got messed up, I decided that going out on medical leave of absense would be the best way of getting out of the situation I was in. Maybe underneith, I had marshmellows, but never would let anyone see that part of me.

Unfortunately when the trauma hit, catching the RN stealing my mothers ID & then even when the police were called to accuse me of abusing my mother, I felt the need to be tough. I always found that when I was overly sensitive, I couldn't think logically & even though I had no idea of what was really going on with the trauma, I felt that I had to continually react logically to everything I was going through. Looking at my reactions, that may be why my pdoc wasn't able to realize that I was really hurt by the trauma & that I am dealing with PTSD & still can't seem to deal with it. He is constantly telling me that with a little more time, I will be able to deal with it & when I finally sell my mothers home, I will no longer have the problem. He seems to think that I am "tough enough" that I will be able to deal with it in the near future. My problem is that I don't see that happening & I am afraid that when I move, I will not be able to find anyone who can help me.

I always thought of myself as being tough & never felt that I would allow my emotions to get in the way of my life. I never have thought of myself as being highly sensitive person except a few times when it would sneek out, but as for dealing with the Trauma, I just can't seem to put in into perspective let alone the anger & hate I have for my Mother (who died 1 1/2 years ago) who I hold responsible for my having to go through the Trauma (a long story in itself).

I am sure that all types of people are open to traumas in their life no matter how sensitive they are.

This is of course, just my opinion, based on my own experiences, & am sure that everyone has their own views.
Debbie

I scored a 19. I know I'm extra sensitive. For instance on the front porch of the clinic I go to is this rug that has these little things standing up on them so you can wipe your feet on it and get all the junk on it off of it so you don't walk on the rug with the junk on your feet. Well to me it feels wierd and I avoid it like the plague walking into the building, which means I have to walk all the way around it just to get to the front door.

Jbug

that's an adorable idiosyncrasy

IMO it is an area where we should tred softly. Any suppositioning that there are predispositions to developing PTSD, long before any supportive research and meanderings by professionals, would only cause more inferiority complexes and feelings of blame. The only contemporary item that might help determine who developes PTSD and who doesn't is resilience, perhaps? Even the professionals are diverse with their comments on that one.

I am currently reading Elaine Aron's book, and I am amazed. Everything in this book feels like it was written for me, I am so grateful for this book. The only part I don't identify with is the shyness factor. I do sometimes isolate, but anyone who knows me can tell you that I am not at all shy, nor am I introverted.

I do wonder about something though, what exactly qualifies someone to have PTSD? I know traumatic experiences, abuse, and having been in war all cause PTSD, but are there other reasons a person can have it? Just wondering.

Zen

]http://psychcentral.com/disorders/sx32.htm[/url] PC link to PTSD details.

Any event where someone meets overwhelming fearful circumstances might be a cause of developing PTSD.

With regards to the trait: "This trait is normal--it is inherited by 15 to 20% of the population, and indeed the same percentage seems to be present in all higher animals. " I wonder how this is gathered, and how it is differentiated... for ANY animal I know would react to most of the stimuli that the inventory presents...and ANY animal would also know how to correct the situation: fly or run away!

I'm not bashing the information, really. I am an empath, so I know quite well about being aware of my surroundings...in the universe sometimes!

TC!

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zen13 said:
I do wonder about something though, what exactly qualifies someone to have PTSD? I know traumatic experiences, abuse, and having been in war all cause PTSD, but are there other reasons a person can have it? Just wondering.

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Anything event(s) (experienced or witnessed by an individual) that is potentially life-threatening and causes extreme stress reactions in a person could cause PTSD. Serious accidents and natural disasters could cause PTSD, however, more incidents result from violence from another person.
check out the DSM criteria ( click link )