The Wellness Lawyer: “Can You Be a Lawyer and a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?”

I recently watched a documentary called Sensitive. The topic of this article was inspired by its content.

Introduction

Have you ever been told that you are too sensitive? Or that you need to have tough skin in this world and especially in the legal profession?

Or, how about the time when you are feeling sad or may start to cry, someone looks at you in a judgmental way and says, “what’s your problem? No one wants a sensitive person to be their lawyer.”

It seems that many of us have shut down our emotions and decided to hide who we really are, in an effort to fit a mold that society invented for lawyers, at the expense of mental health and physical health.

For years, I have been trying to understand how to help our profession get over the stigma of mental health. Unfortunately, after 30 years, I am sad to say that we have not moved the needle very far, and are still muddling through this task. I hope that this article will continue to bring us closer to finally eradicating the stigma of mental health in the legal profession.

What is an HSP?

Being a sensitive individual has become a negative aspect of a person’s personality, especially if you are a lawyer or a judge.

Sensitivity wrongly implies to people that a person cannot make unbiased decisions, as they are guided more by emotions. People seem to think that being sensitive detracts from making good decisions. I completely disagree, and so does extensive research that has come out regarding sensitive individuals.

What people don’t understand is that being a sensitive individual, is actually a superpower and not a negative personality trait.

Albert Einstein, Vincent van Gogh, Charles Darwin, Alanis Morisetts and Nicole Kidman have all been identified as highly sensitive people.

HSP stands for highly sensitive person.

This is a terms that was created by psychologist Elaine Aron, who has written books on this topic.

According to Ms. Aron, there are certain people in society that have a personality trait known as sensory processing sensitivity or SPS.

This is not a disorder but simply a personality trait with which and some individuals in the population are born.

A highly sensitive individual has increased emotional sensitivity, stronger reactions to external and internal stimuli such as pain, hunger, light and noise.

According to Aron’s research, 15-20% of the population is highly sensitive and fall into the HSP category.

Many people believe that having such sensitivity is a negative trail. However, some of the most creative and intelligent people are actually highly sensitive individuals.

Benefits of Being an HSP

For those of you who are highly sensitive people, or those who think the sensitivity is a burden rather than a blessing, here are some benefits of being an HSP.

An HSP is going to be more attuned to their environment. So they will be the first to notice if someone is upset, or in distress. This is due to the fact that an HSP tunes into the non spoken behaviors of individuals, such as demeanor, body language, and the sound of ones voice.

HSP feel deeply and so even though they may be deeply affected by tragedy and negativity around them, they are also able to connect with people on a very profound level and are trusted friends and confidants.

When an HSP as a lawyer, interviews a client they are attuned to the non verbal messages being sent by the client. So the person may be saying one thing but the lawyer or judge will perceive other signals that tell them some more investigation may need to be made into the specific issues.

This allows for a more detailed interview process, better analysis of facts and evidence, and more effective representation.

The difficulty for an HSP is that as a result of feeling the world around them in such a deep way, they may get tired and overwhelmed easier than others. So in an effort to self care, an HSP may not attend as many functions, or leave gatherings earlier.

This makes life a bit hard, when work at times requires attendance at events, or having to perform duties within a specific period of time during the day.

HSP need time to recharge and to bring their nervous system into balance. Instead of taking a few hours after a long day to decompress, they may need a day. They may also need to work at different hours than the normal 9-5, in order to accommodate their innate talent of taking in the world at 150% most of the time.

It’s unfortunate that we live in a world where 9-whatever is the norm. Who created this “norm”?

In many European cities, people take time for long lunches, start work later, and finish when they are done with their tasks. They are able to have at least four weeks vacation as the norm and work/life balance is recognized by most companies.

The ability of an HSP to process a great deal of information, have extensive understanding of the topics they are dealing with, and provide creative solutions, comes with a price because workplaces do may not t accommodate for their need to recharge and decompress.

When an HSP comes into a workplace and is able to perform all their duties, but not manage the 9-5 or the necessity to participate in work events, they are immediately labeled as not a good employee. This label is based solely on the social aspect of work rather than the actual duties.

At the end of the day, the HSP will find alternative employment or open their own business. The benefit of these exceptional individuals will be lost to those superficial workspaces where employers don’t understand how to help and accommodate those who don’t fit the mold of North American society dictates as “norma.”

Thinking Outside the Box

In an effort to make this world a better place for everyone, let’s for just a moment, turn the societal norms upside down.

What if a person could work on a schedule that fits their personality. It would give a HSP the ability to manage the stimuli and world around them so they can perform their job at the highest quality.

What if by accommodating personality traits, we can actually achieve performance of duties to previously unattainable heights?

Of course we have to balance the accommodation with the necessary duties of certain careers. However, with some compassion and ingenuity, solutions can be created.

Balance is key. For example an HSP may be allowed to start work at 10 or 11 in the morning. They may be allowed take more breaks to manage the plethora of stimuli coming at them. They may work later rather than starting earlier. They may not be forced to attend all the social events but rather chose when to attend and when to leave.

What if the workplace focused on the performance of duties rather than giving credence and promotions to those who can manage a 9-whatever hamster wheel?

What if the workplace rewarded competence, excellence and individuality?

The answer is simple. By allowing people to be themselves and adjusting our work environment to the individuals who work there, will in essence provide a much more successful work space, increased productivity, reduction in sick days and in general a happier and kinder world.

So next time someone tells you that you are too sensitive… tell them, “yes I am” and just walk away.

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Disclaimer

The information in this article is not therapy, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care/treatment, substance abuse care/ treatment, nor is it medical, psychological, mental health advice or treatment, or any other professional advice.

The information in this article is for information purposes only, and is not to be used as a substitute for therapy, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, medical care, or any other professional advice by legal, medical or other qualified professionals.

The information in this article shall not be recorded, copied or distributed.

If you feel that you may need medical or other professional help, please contact your doctor or call 911 if it is an emergency.