18 Signs of a highly sensitive person (HSP)

Sensitivity is subjective. We often speak about sensitivity without knowing about emotional intelligence and how a person can respond to a particular situation.  

What are sensitivity and emotional intelligence?

Emotional intelligence is a person’s ability to recognise or understand their emotions within themselves and others to manage their behaviour and have a healthy relationship.  

Usually, they are highly sensitive people or not as emotionally intelligent as others; however, their intelligence can differ.  

Who is a highly sensitive person?

A highly sensitive person or an HSP is an individual who has an increased central nervous system sensitivity to social, physical or emotional stimuli. If you have been told that you are being too sensitive, there is a high chance that you may be an HSP.

How do you know if you are an HSP?

1. You’re veritably emotional

Whether positive or negative, you witness feelings intensively, reply explosively to them, and (for some) cry.

2. You’re compassionate  

You’ve always been a natural caretaker, seeking to offer comfort and help to those who suffer. You probably frequently go out of your way to avoid offending anyone or hurting them.

3. You’re sensitive to criticism

You aren’t suitable to let it roll off your shoulders as others do, and thus allow the criticism to keep you safe in your comfort zone.

Frequently, primarily sensitive people will spend hours, days and occasionally weeks ruminating and obsessing over the lowest comment or perceived review.

4. You feel different from others

You’ve always known or had it in you that you were ever different from everyone. Perhaps you see your perceptivity as a weakness and frequently feel alone because others have told you that you need to “toughen up.” Primarily, sensitive men nearly always witness this throughout life.

5. You’re sensitive to external stimulants

While no one around you seem to notice, that buzz of the outflow lights is driving you nuts! So does the sound of someone chewing food or cologne on someone.

6. You overthink and worry

You notice every detail in almost everything and overthink what is supposed to be a simple decision. You’re prone to get stuck in the “what-if” pattern.

7. You’re intuitive

You walk into a room and get a sense of something. You know how people feel. When the energy is negative, the effects can be delicate. So, you frequently avoid large gatherings and crowded events.

8. You frequently feel tired and overwhelmed

Because you not only deal with your feelings, others’ feelings and so important stimulation every day, you fluently feel overwhelmed by all of it and feel you need to sleep further and need further alone time.

9. Detail acquainted

You’re detail-acquainted. You’re as sensitive to details as you’re to passions. You can keenly observe detail that others often miss.

10. Longer time to take opinions

You take longer to reach opinions. Since you will be able to look beneath the face, you can take longer to take other people’s opinion.  

11. You’re crushed by wrong opinions.

When you eventually make a decision, and it turns out to be a backlash, you take it much harder than most people. This can produce a vicious cycle that further slows down your decision-making process, as fear of making a wrong decision is part of what slows you down in the first place.

12. You work well in groups.

Your unique capability to consider other people’s feelings, weigh different aspects of multifaceted opinions, and pay attention to the lower details makes you highly precious in a group environment.  

13. You have great mindfulness.

Your heightened mindfulness of the feelings of other people makes you largely conscious. You pay close attention to how your gesture affects other people and have more to show. You also get irked when other people are rude to you.

14. You’re constantly emotionally exhausted from absorbing other people’s feelings.

Although largely sensitive people aren’t certainly empaths, HSPs tend to absorb other people’s feelings as other people would. It’s common for an HSP to walk into a room and sense the moods of the people in it. No wonder HSPs feel feelings that aren’t their own. As a result, largely sensitive people tend to suffer from frequent emotional burn outs.

15. You withdraw frequently.

If you find yourself in a social setting or a party, you need an abundance of time-out. You frequently find yourself withdrawing to a quiet place at the end of a long day — to lower your stimulation position, soothe your senses and recharge.

16. Your pain forbearance is less.

Numerous HSPs are more sensitive to pain of all kinds—headaches, body pains, injuries, etc than non-HSPs.

17. Change is extremely disturbing.

HSPs take comfort in their daily routine as the familiar is far less stimulating than a new routine. For this reason, positive and negative change can throw off HSPs. For example, when dating someone new or getting a job offer, HSPs may feel as equally stressed as they do overjoy. Generally, HSPs need further time than others to acclimate to change.

18. You’re deeply moved by beauty.

Fine art, rich scents, or beautiful artwork profoundly impact a sensitive person. You may find that particular music or certain sounds can create a trance-like state or leave you awestruck. You may even question how others don’t understand how they aren’t as moved by beauty as you are.

Risks associated when a person is highly sensitive

Occasionally, life can feel like a minefield for essentially sensitive people. Being apprehensive of implicit risks can help you mentally prepare and handle them better. Some implicit hazards for HSPs include

Interpersonal conflict

You’re frequently more prone to stress when a dispute arises between you and another person.

Prospects and Comparisons  

You fluently pick up on the opportunities and requirements of the people around you, which can make you beat yourself up for not meeting them often.

Failure  

No one likes to fail, but failing may feel crippling. You’re prone to tone- mistrustfulness and compulsive reflection, beating yourself up for slight miscalculations.

HSP Tricks for a Happier Life

Despite the emotional waves a highly sensitive person experiences, the good news is that you can produce space for yourself by being apprehensive of your requirements and being prepared for implicit risks. Then are some easy tricks to help isolate yourself from overwhelm and risks.

Avoid risks and restrict yourself from toxic behaviour.

Still, pad time into your schedule to rest between events, if you know an exciting day exhaust you. Space work and events throughout the day and week so you don’t overwhelm yourself.

Avoid stress. Stay down from effects that cause your overdue stress, like horror pictures or that colleague that always drains your emotional energy.

Educate yourself to say no to things and be okay with it.

Produce a soothing space, an area that helps you feel calm and safe. Fill it with pillows, robes, books, pictures or whatever helps you to relax.

To sum up  

Sensitivity is subjective. We often speak about sensitivity without knowing about emotional intelligence and how a person can respond to a particular situation. Occasionally, life can feel like a minefield for essentially sensitive people. Being apprehensive of implicit risks can help you mentally prepare and handle them better.  

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