A highly sensitive person (HSP) is someone who’s deeply in tune with themselves, other people’s feelings, and their environment. Although this can make them skilled at things like reading the room and being self-aware, it can also have some drawbacks, like increasing the likelihood of intense emotional reactions. Do you feel like you’re an HSP? Here are 15 signs.
1. You’re overwhelmed by loud noises and bright lights.
Highly sensitive people find sensory input overwhelming at times. If you’re out at a club or attending a concert, you might find yourself shielding your eyes from the bright lights or wearing earphones to block out the loud noise. It’s thought that HSPs experience stimuli stronger than others, so even a sound or noise that others can’t detect can be irritating to you and put you in a bad mood.
2. You need to recharge after social gatherings.
Since you tend to process stimuli on a deeper level, this can cause you to feel drained after being out in the world. You might want to retreat to your sanctuary and chill out to recharge your energy levels and experience some peace and quiet. HSPs usually prefer being on their own so they can better control their environment and prevent it from becoming too stressful.
3. You pick up on other people’s emotions.
HSPs are highly empathetic. This is why you find it easy to put yourself in other people’s shoes and better understand their emotions. If your friend’s going through a bad breakup or feels stressed out about her job, you’ll not only empathize with her but also feel like you’re taking on her feelings, which can stay with you for hours or days at a time. Although this makes you supportive, it can feel burdensome at times.
4. You’re easily frightened by unexpected events.
It’s common for you to feel jumpy during situations that don’t freak out other people. For example, if a friend leaps out from behind you, you might scream. Or, if you’re woken up by a noisy flock of birds outside your window, you’ll feel your heart rate go up. These types of reactions occur because your nervous system is regularly dialed up, even during situations that aren’t considered dangerous or scary.
5. Your response to emotional overload is a panic attack.
As an HSP, you’re more prone to anxiety and panic because your body processes stress and feelings of being overwhelmed differently than others. When you feel tired or sick, your sensory overload will go into overdrive even more, which boosts your stress levels. This can lead to panic attacks and, in turn, unpleasant symptoms like a racing heart, sweaty palms, and blurry vision.
6. You have a strong gut feeling.
You tend to find it easier to tap into your intuitive feelings than other people, largely because your brain picks out patterns in the world around you that others don’t notice. Similarly, you might find that you can pick up on other people’s energy or the vibe in a location, which can help you better make decisions and get a good “read” on situations without having any information about them.
7. You have a vivid imagination.
HSPs tend to have a rich inner world, in which they spend lots of their time. This is because they spend time reflecting on their feelings, thoughts, and experiences. There’s always lots happening in your mind, and you might sometimes struggle to snap out of your daydreams and go back to your reality. Although this can be annoying to others, it offers a benefit: deeply processing your thoughts can boost your creativity levels.
8. You’re moved by nature.
As an HSP, taking a walk through the woods or along the coastline can be more invigorating and special than what others experience. This is because of your heightened sensitivity to sensory input, which makes the world around you seem more vivid and impactful. That enhances your experiences in nature, creating feelings of peace and happiness.
9. You tend to overthink.
Since HSPs have deep cognitive processing abilities, you might find that you’re prone to experiencing ruminative thinking. This could involve repetitive thoughts, leading to more anxiety and stress. When you’re lost in your thoughts, it’s common for others to notice and describe you as thoughtful, but they might not realize that sometimes you’re in a negative headspace.
10. You can’t handle violent TV shows or movies.
Although you might feel embarrassed to tell people you stay away from reading the news, you do this because you’re an HSP. Since violence is highly distressing to you because you’re more sensitive to your environment, you’ll avoid exposing yourself to anything depressing and gory. This includes violent or horror movies and TV shows.
11. You’re more sensitive to physical touch.
You might feel physical sensations in a stronger, deeper way than other people. So, if someone hugs you, you’ll feel the rush of endorphins from it. But, on the flip side, some HSPs tend to have a lower pain tolerance and can’t handle anything scratchy or uncomfortable on their bodies. This means that physical touch isn’t always a positive feeling.
12. You’re stressed out by change, even positive change.
When your partner surprises you with a trip to Thailand or you get a new job, you might feel happy but also freak out because of stress. Even if the change is minor or a happy thing, it puts more stress on your nervous system. And, since you’re an overthinker, you might try to plan ahead for everything, so change takes some getting used to. You might prefer your stable routines and comfort zones, where things are more predictable.
13. You’re unfairly labeled by others.
It’s common for HSPs to feel misunderstood. You might be called “too sensitive” or “too emotional” by others who don’t really understand how you feel or why. This can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation in your relationships. In addition, HSPs have stronger reactions to criticism and negative feedback, which can make you feel more judged by others.
14. You’re sensitive to stimulants.
As an HSP, you might find that your body reacts negatively to stimulants, such as caffeine, drugs, and alcohol. This is because they create overstimulation. These can boost or lower your blood sugar, causing anxiety-like symptoms such as a rapid heart rate, making you feel uneasy, or causing you to struggle to get sleep at night. By avoiding stimulants, you can feel more in control of your emotions.
15. You avoid conflict.
Because you’re overstimulated by negative feelings, you avoid situations that make you feel uncomfortable, like arguing with loved ones. Your strong desire for harmony makes you gravitate toward peaceful resolution instead of chaos. Conflict is also stressful for you because, as an empathetic person, you’re so in tune with others’ emotions that you’re greatly affected by them, and that can be overwhelming.
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