Because Highly Sensitive People (HSP) and Empaths share so many traits between them, many people often end up using the terms interchangeably. However, there is a significant difference between the two. In this article, we explain what HSP is and what the difference is between them and empaths.

What are Highly Sensitive People (HSP)?
HSP are people who are particularly tuned to what is going around them. They process things very deeply and can notice small and subtle things that others won’t be aware of. Because of this, they are easily susceptible to overstimulation, especially in crowded, noisy environments. This trait is genetic and affects around 20 percent of the population.

The Difference Between HSP and Empaths
HSP and empaths are not mutually exclusive traits. A person can both be an HSP and an empath at the same time, and, indeed, many HSP are also empaths. Regardless, the terms are used for rather different psychological phenomena.

Both HSP and empaths share the trait of being highly sensitive to the emotions of others. However, unlike HSP, not all empaths are sensitive to all sensory inputs. This means that some empaths won’t be as drained by an over-stimulated environment as HSP. While most (if not all) HSP are introverts, empaths can either be introverts or extroverts.
Empaths are also differentiated by how they sense emotions. They are not just sensitive to feelings around them, but can ‘absorb’ other people’s emotions. Like HSP, they can pick up subtle social cues but go a bit further by internalizing them into their own thought processes. Hence, it is not uncommon to see an empath’s mood suddenly going from happy to stressed out just by another person walking into the room.

Concluding Note
Regardless of whether you’re an HSP or an empath (or both), it is important to see your traits as a gift and not a burden. Every personality trait has its own pros and cons. The highly tuned sensitive nature of HSP and empaths make them outstanding friends, caretakers, and partners. These traits can prove to be valuable in many career fields such as psychology, investigation, marketing, and administration. If you need further information about empaths and HSP, their traits, and how they can best harness their innate gift, feel free to contact us.