One thing that I thought I had to overcome since I was a child was being quiet or the degrading term "shy" that to me has such a heinous connotation to it. (Blame it on an extroverted older sister who was the star of the show.) Anyway, while being shy can be a result of having Hypersensitivity, they are not one in the same. Shyness can in fact be a debilitating condition, but when you're an HSP it has a much different meaning and effect. The problem with being called shy as a HSP is that you're mind is working and you have plenty to say, you simply either choose not to speak, or feel more overwhelmed or aroused by what is taking place around you, that you feel unable to participate.
Realizing that I wasn't just shy (which I constantly struggled against my whole life), meant that I didn't always have to participate. I could forgive myself for thinking rather than speaking and that helped me become even more comfortable in stimulating situations. When I finally learned about what being an HSP meant, I was suddenly more aware of everything that was going on around me---the people chatting behind me, the buzz of the air conditioner, the smell of someone's perfume...all sensory perceptions that make my body that much more confused and distracted. Not only things around me, but my own inner dialogue. My mind was interpreting what others were thinking, feeling, and even how they were perceiving me. Ultimately my body was having an overload and I was trying to force my words through it.
Now I can forgive my introversion and my need to have personal time, because you can imagine that HSP's get tired much faster than the average person. I definitely need more rest than most people (Another flaw that I felt was a weakness). So why am I not shy?
Because to me, being shy, would be a pretty simple label to place on someone who more than just has nothing to say or is not participating in life. Do I have moments of shyness? Well, if you mean feeling uncomfortable in a situation that causes me to remain silent, then yes. But understanding that talking more isn't going to cure my shyness, helped me realize why "shy" never felt right and never truly explained me or how I was feeling.
The truth is our society often rewards people who have a lot to say, rather than the people who choose to pick their words wisely. The "popular people" are the ones who are the loudest and the most outgoing. This is a very western mindset that is completely opposite in some Asian customs, which respect people who are more introverted and quiet. If we can break through this boundary that the person who is the loudest doesn't necessarily have the best things to say, then I think there is some hope for HSP's being accepted more. I enjoy not speaking, silence is very soothing and like the internet, a lot of useless banter can block out the importance of finding you inner voice. I think listening to who you are, what you are thinking, and learning to explore within, is more important to your individual growth than what you have to say to everyone else.
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