Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP, is a term coined by psychologist Elaine Aron. According to Aron’s theory, HSPs are a subset of the population who are high in a personality trait known as sensory-processing sensitivity , or SPS. People with high levels of SPS have increased emotional sensitivity, stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli—pain, hunger, light, and noise—and a complex
With popular reality shows like Hoarders and Hoarding: Buried Alive , this problem has come into great focus. The viewer peeks into the lives of people who are overwhelmed with belongings; every room of a hoarder's house contains mountains of clutter, garbage, and junk that the average person would easily toss. The spectrum from clutter to hoarding is wide, but people can become emotionally attach
The Link Between Highly Sensitive Person and Hoarding
Highly Sensitive Person and Hoarding are deeply interconnected psychological phenomena. Research shows that these two conditions frequently co-occur, with each often triggering or amplifying the other.
When someone experiences highly sensitive person, it can create conditions that make hoarding more likely. Conversely, managing one can significantly improve outcomes for the other.
How Highly Sensitive Person Affects Hoarding
The presence of highly sensitive person can impact hoarding in several important ways:
- Heightened nervous system activation from highly sensitive person can intensify hoarding symptoms
- Both share common underlying mechanisms in the brain's stress response systems
- Addressing highly sensitive person often leads to measurable improvements in hoarding
- The combination can create self-reinforcing cycles that require integrated treatment
Practical Strategies When Dealing with Both
When highly sensitive person and hoarding occur together, a combined approach is most effective:
- Seek professional assessment — get an accurate picture of how each affects you
- Address underlying causes — identify shared root causes (sleep, stress, trauma)
- Use evidence-based interventions — CBT, mindfulness, and behavioral approaches work for both
- Build support networks — social connection buffers both conditions
- Track patterns — use journaling to see how they interact in your life