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It’s normal to be highly sensitive, but not everyone understands the depths and difficulties of it because most people aren’t highly sensitive.
Recent studies show that only about 30% of people have high sensitivity. Some experts even think it’s as low as 15-20%.
As a highly sensitive person, you can often feel alone in this world. Our society at large doesn’t appreciate sensitivity traits and might even tell you to hide them.
In this blog series, we’ll explore what it means to be an HSP, the causes, challenges, and benefits of this trait, and provide practical tips for navigating life and relationships as an HSP.
Whether you’re an HSP or know someone who is, this blog series will provide insights and guidance for living a fulfilling and authentic life as an HSP.
So, let’s dive in!
Who is a Highly Sensitive Person?
If you are a highly sensitive type, you are believed to have an elevated or more profound sensitivity in your central nervous system (CNS) towards various stimuli.
Elaine Aron, a psychologist, coined the phrase “highly sensitive person” to describe people with the personality trait known as sensory-processing sensitivity (SPS). Aron’s theory states that you are an HSP if you have high amounts of SPS.
Your emotional sensitivity may be more acute than usual. You may also have a rich inner life and a powerful reaction to internal and exterior stimuli like pain, hunger, light, and noise if you are an HSP.
Common Traits of Highly Sensitive People
If a majority of these characteristics resonate with you, you are likely an HSP:
- Highly sensitive to sensory stimuli compared to non-HSPs
- High level of sensitivity and empathy towards others, as well as art, music, and literature
- Easily overwhelmed by overstimulating stimuli such as loud noises, bright lights, and crowded spaces
- Aversion to violence and cruelty, difficulty reading or hearing about terrible crimes against humans or animals
- Tendency to think deeply and analyze things for longer periods than ordinary people
- Ability to pick up on even subtle environmental signals and emotions of those around
- Sensitivity to intense sensory input such as loud noises, bright lights, and strong smells
- Sensitive to criticism
- Low self-esteem
- Sympathetic tendencies
- Highly noticeable responses to different forms of art, movies, and music
- High levels of anxiety or hyperstimulation
- Intense reactions to noise and brightness
High Sensitivity and Other Related Conditions
Being introverted is a common characteristic among highly sensitive people (HSPs), although not all identity as introverts. Surprisingly, up to 30% of HSPs can be extroverts. It’s important to note that high sensitivity is a distinct personality trait.
One distinguishing factor is that in social settings, an introverted person may find socializing and being in large groups uncomfortable.
In contrast, an HSP may also experience sensory overload from bright lights and loud music, affecting their emotional and behavioral responses.
People also often mistake the HSP trait for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although both HSP and ADHD individuals may react intensely to sensory information, those with ADHD often struggle more with maintaining focus and paying attention.
It is also easy to mistakenly associate Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) with HSP, but it’s important to understand that high sensitivity is not a symptom of ASD. People with ASD may have an overreaction or underreaction to sensory input.
On the other hand, people with HSP may react strongly to stimuli but not necessarily experience extreme sensitivity.
