Do you find yourself overwhelmed by loud noises or bright lights? Are strong smells extremely off-putting? Do you need more downtime to recharge your battery compared to others?
If the answer is yes, you might be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP).
Being highly sensitive is a unique trait that roughly 15 to 20 percent of people live with. Understanding that this is a natural temperament and not a problem opens the door for you to begin working with it rather than against it.
Let’s explore six common traits of highly sensitive people so you can better understand yourself or someone you love.
Deep Processing of Information
Your brain and nervous system are wired differently, allowing you to process information more thoroughly. While others take in information and make quick decisions, you are more detail-oriented. You consider all possible angles and outcomes before reacting.
This trait can be particularly helpful in tasks that require careful attention. It also means you may need more time to make decisions or may become more exhausted due to the higher level of processing information.
Heightened Emotional Response
Everybody feels emotions. As an HSP, you go one step further and experience your emotions in your whole body. Happiness gives you an internal warmth. Sadness leaves you with a pit deep in your gut.
This depth of feeling means:
- You feel pain and pleasure with more intensity
- You’re deeply moved by art and nature
- You pick up on and feed off of others’ emotions easily
- You may cry more easily than others
This depth is a strength that allows you to connect on a different level with yourself and with others.
Easily Overstimulated
Your nervous system absorbs more information than the average person’s. Being in crowded spaces, multitasking, being in sensory overload, or attending back-to-back social events can leave you feeling drained.
Your overstimulation may manifest as shoulder tension or a racing heart rate. Physical symptoms occur as a byproduct of your system working in overdrive. Sometimes, it reaches the point where you need a break to integrate this information.
Strong Need for Downtime
After having to be “on” all day and managing your symptoms, reaching a point of downtime is a necessity. Beyond simply wanting alone time, your system needs it to decompress.
Often mistaken for being antisocial, it’s important to tend to your self-care needs. Once you have reached your limit on absorbing information, you need to allow your mind and body time to regroup.
Deep Empathy and Intuition
When entering a new space, you can immediately sense the vibe of the atmosphere. You just know when someone is forcing a smile despite their pain. You feel other people’s emotions like they are your own.
This is another unique trait that helps foster deeper relationships with others. You have an understanding that goes beyond words. It can have its challenging moments as well if you find yourself reading emotions without realizing it. It’s easy to get confused about which emotions are yours and which are the room’s.
Affected by Others’ Moods
On some level, you’re like an emotional sponge. When someone near you is anxious, you may feel anxious with them. If your partner is stressed, there’s a good chance your body feels it too.
Your mood is easily affected by others’ moods because your mirror neurons are highly active. On the plus side, this can strengthen your bond. On the negative side, you tend to take on burdens that are not yours.
Understanding Your Sensitivity
The main takeaway here is that your nervous system experiences the world around you differently. This sensitivity is stored in your body.
Learning to work with your sensitivity means creating space where you can breathe and reconnect with your own experience. It’s setting boundaries for your unique needs.
If you’re struggling with being highly sensitive, anxiety therapy can help you understand and work through these challenges. Contact us today to get started.
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