This is a local and regional discussion group and "contact point" for the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) in Seattle and around the Pacific Northwest, including Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon and Washington.

Our main purpose is to explore the ins and outs of being a Highly Sensitive Person, and to support each other as HSPs. Our second purpose is to help HSPs in the Northwest interact, make friends contacts, and form support groups. The list is modeled after hspbook, a large international discussion group on YahooGroups.

Why a LOCAL group? The idea is a result of extremely positive feedback from HSPs who have gone to the Annual HSP Gatherings on the East and West coasts. HSPs gain much from meeting their peers. However, for every HSP who goes to a Gathering, there are 50 more who wish they knew some HSPs "in their area." In addition, many are reluctant to face the cost and potential overwhelm of travelling across the country to an HSP Gathering. The answer, thus, had to be "local" groups.

This is NOT a "personals" or "dating" list-- however, we hope you'll make new friends in your area! If sufficient numbers of members show interest, it may be possible to arrange local HSP get-togethers on a regular basis, similar to the SF-Bay Area HSP group, which was the first large-scale local HSP group.

Although we highly recommended that you have some familiarity with Elaine Aron's books "The Highly Sensitive Person," "The Highly Sensitive Person in Love," or "The Highly Sensitive Child," that is by no means a requirement for membership.

The list is moderated to help maintain an "HSP-safe" environment. Flaming, trolling, proselytizing or advertising will not be tolerated and will result in the posting member being banned. However, open discussions are invited and welcomed.