The Difference Between Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

As a psychiatrist and an empath, I often get asked, What is the difference between empaths and highly sensitive people?

In โ€œThe Empathโ€™s Survival Guideโ€ I devote a section on this important distinction.

Here are the similarities and areas of overlap.

Empaths share all the traits of what Dr. Elaine Aron has called โ€œHighly Sensitive People,โ€ or HSPs. These include

  • a low threshold for stimulation,
  • the need for alone time,
  • sensitivity to light, sound, and smell,
  • plus an aversion to large groups.

It also takes highly sensitive people longer to wind down after a busy day since their systemโ€™s ability to transition from high stimulation to being quiet is slower.

Related: 15 Things That Lead To Frequent Emotional Burnout in Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

Highly sensitive people are typically introverts whereas empaths can be introverts or extroverts, (though most are introverts).

Empaths share a highly sensitive personโ€™s love of nature, quiet environments, desire to help others, and rich inner life.

However, empaths take the experience of the highly sensitive person much further.

We can sense subtle energy, which is called shakti or prana in Eastern healing traditions, and actually absorb it from other people and different environments into our own bodies.

Highly sensitive people donโ€™t typically do that. This capacity allows us to experience the energies around us in extremely deep ways.

Since everything is made of subtle energy, including emotions and physical sensations, we energetically internalize the feelings and pain of others.

Related: 6 Important Grounding Tips For Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

We often have trouble distinguishing someone elseโ€™s discomfort from our own.

Also, some empaths have profound spiritual and intuitive experiences which arenโ€™t usually associated with highly sensitive people. Some are able to communicate with animals, nature, and their inner guides. In my book, there is a section on intuitive empaths which include animal empaths, earth empaths, dream empaths, telepathic empaths and more.

Being a highly sensitive person and an empath are not mutually exclusive:

You can be both at the same time. Many highly sensitive people are also empaths. If you think about this distinction in terms of an empathic spectrum, empaths are on the highest end; highly sensitive people are a little lower on the spectrum, people with strong empathy but who are not HSPs or empaths are in the middle of the spectrum. Narcissists, sociopaths and psychopaths who have โ€œempath deficient disordersโ€ are at the lowest end of the spectrum.

The empathic  spectrum

The gifts of sensitivity and empathy are precious, especially at this time of human evolution.

Related: 15 Ways To Stay Grounded And Protected For An Empath

We want to keep opening our hearts and breakthrough to new highs in the empathic spectrum. I offer the techniques in my book on empaths so that becoming empowered empaths and highly sensitive people can happen at accelerated rates in our world. We need your gifts more than ever!

(Adapted from The Empathโ€™s Survival Guide by Judith Orloff MD)


empaths and sensitive people
Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

— Share —

, ,

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Up Next

Dear Empaths, This is Why You are Beautiful.

โ€œTo feel much for others and little for ourselves, that to restrain our selfish, and to indulge our benevolent affections, constitutes the perfection of human nature; and can alone produce among mankind that harmony of sentiments and passions in which consists their whole grace and propriety.โ€

โ€” Adam Smith, 1759. โ€œThe Theory of Moral Sentiments.โ€

Up Next

8 Ways To Build Self Empathy And Stop Beating Yourself Up

Stop the cycle of negativity and embrace compassion towards yourself. Learn these 8 essential ways to build self empathy, and shift from self-criticism to self-care!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

(Adapted from The Genius of Empathy by Judith Orloff MD, 2024 Sounds True Publishing)

Up Next

Empathic Leadership: 5 Top Traits Of Leaders Who Lead With Heart

Empathic leadership is all about leading with heart. Letโ€™s explore the top 5 traits of an empathetic leader and how to truly be compassionate and effective in connecting with your team.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Empathy is a vital leadership skill in our world.

Thereโ€™s a hunger for em

Up Next

What Is A Sigma Empath? 5 Signs Of A Sigma Empath You Canโ€™t Afford To Ignore

Have you ever come across someone who possesses an aura of mystery, strength, and deep sensitivity? Then you might just have encountered a rare and fascinating personality type โ€“ the Sigma Empath. But wait, what is a sigma empath?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

A Sigma Empath seems to exude a quiet confidence, often choosing solitude over social gathe

Up Next

6 Most Empathic Zodiac Signs: Are You One of Them?

We all know what empathy is; itโ€™s seeing things through the eyes of someone else, not just understanding their emotions, but feeling them too! And the 6 most empathic zodiac signs are natural at this!

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

These are the most compassionate zodiac signs owing to their innate

Up Next

Are Empaths On The Autism Spectrum? Exploring Similarities And Uniqueness

Ever thought, โ€œare empaths on the autism spectrumโ€? Letโ€™s explore the shared traits and unique aspects of both. Discover the gifts and hurdles that come with being an empath or being on the autism spectrum.

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

Are Empaths on the Autism Spectrum?

Up Next

Empath or Enabler? Truths About Toxic Empathy And 5 Ways To Break Free

Have you ever wondered why some people seem to be overly sensitive and emotionally drained by the problems of others? Can too much empathy be harmful? Is there such a thing as toxic empathy?

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

While empathy is considered a valuable trait that promotes understanding and compassion, there is a lesser-known phenomenon called toxic empat