Good article. Good positive thoughts for HSPs.

There are often, however, dark sides to many HSPs. (first, I distinguish HSPs from Empathetic people in this way, at least: the former are sensitive and reactive to perceived slights to them by others, the latter feel and ACCURATELY interpret the pain and feelings of others). Since there can be an overlap between the two, the attributes of one can often be found in the other.

The HSPs with whom I have been acquainted almost always consider themselves Empaths. I disagreed. It was often the case that they misperceived my mood or affect. The HSP side of those persons, then, would be angry that I was in a bad mood, etc. and would react to it, often becoming angry or defensive themselves.

The interpretation of my mood, their internal analysis of the signals, was in error. This created great problems. Thus, the point to people of that ilk is this: It is important to accurately perceive the affect of others not just to react to miscues.

The self work of an HSP or Empath is to make sure that they are perceiving things accurately and to react to the same appropriately. They must constantly evaluate their own perceptions and assure that they are reading them correctly. The snap of a twig in the forest does not always signal the imminent attack of a tiger.

With great feelings comes great responsibility. SPIDERMAN ;-)