Sensitivity is not a particularly rare trait. In fact, recent research suggests that highly sensitive people (HSPs) make up nearly 30 percent of the general population. Yet many sensitive people go through life feeling different from the people around them, like they just can't fit in no matter how hard they try.
The word “sensitive” is often used negatively, but this doesn't have to be the case. Many good qualities come with being a highly sensitive person. And as it turns out, those who identify as highly sensitive are not rare at all – they make up about 15-20 percent of the population!
Overall, about 15 to 20 percent of the population are thought to be highly sensitive. HSPs are thought to be more disturbed than others by violence, tension, or feelings of being overwhelmed. They may, as a result, make concerted efforts to avoid situations in which such things are likely to occur.
“The higher an individual's IQ, the more likely the person is to fit the characteristics of a sensitive person.” This correlation has been observed across a wide range of fields, from the arts to science to business.
In the DSM sensory processing sensitivity (the formal name for HSP) it is not associated with autism at all. Another major difference is that HSP don't struggle with 'social' issues like eye contact, recognizing faces, social cues, and knowing the intentions of others.
And it's important to know that being a highly sensitive person isn't considered a mental health disorder — and that there's no official way to diagnose someone as HSP and there's no official highly sensitive person test (though there's this quiz from the doctor who coined the term “highly sensitive person.”)
Or, as I frequently say: HSPs are wired differently from the mainstream. And since sensitive people are in the minority at only about 30 percent of the population, they might casually be described as a neurodiverse group.
Being an HSP can be tough sometimes because the world can feel really loud, really intense, and just… really a lot. It's like the volume's turned up to max all the time. But don't worry, you're not alone.
According to Dr. Elaine Aaron, author of The Highly Sensitive Person, sensitive people tend to cry more easily than others. “Sensitive people can't help but express what they're feeling,” she told the Huffington Post.
HSP struggle to witness arguments, hear raised voices or see any form of physical violence because they are highly attuned to the emotions and energy of other people. They also tend to avoid conflict because they don't like the thought of upsetting others, or other people being upset with them.
Sights, sounds, smells, and other forms of sensory input may cause a heightened experience for HSPs. A sound that is barely perceptible to most people may be very noticeable, and possibly even painful, to an HSP. There's more to being a highly sensitive person than just being sensitive to stimuli.
They're more empathic: Sensitive in general, HSPs are particularly perceptive to emotions. They feel emotions more acutely, both for themselves and on the behalf of others, and notice more emotional subtleties. Not surprisingly, they are more attentive and show more concern for others.
#1 Most Sensitive Type: INFJ
INFJs usually exhibit high levels of sensitivity and have a deep affinity for other people's feelings. INFJs have strong emotional connections to both their own feelings and the feelings of others.
HSPs' high sensitivity means they take great joy in the simple pleasures in life, making them low maintenance and easy to please. HSPs need a lot more downtime than others, thrive in silence, and need a slower pace of life. This means taking the time to relax and process experiences is essential for their wellbeing.
HSPs care deeply about their friends and tend to form deep bonds with people. Again, the empathy that a highly sensitive person brings to the table is a powerful tool for being a supportive friend and loved one.
The truth is that our sensitivity allows us to be strong and capable and even thrive while faced with setbacks. The same traits that make us sensitive are the same traits that give us tremendous inner strength.
Because they can get easily overwhelmed, HSPs may need more sleep than others. Sleep restores our bodies and minds and readies us for the other two thirds of our lives.
Highly Sensitive People Need More Sleep Than Others
For HSPs, it takes much less to signal danger. Tenuous social interactions, being physically uncomfortable, extreme hunger, being overwhelmed, and, ironically, being tired can all activate the emotional part of the brain for a sensitive person.
Stress & Sensitivity Can Worsen With Age for HSPs. Here's How to Prevent That. If you are a highly sensitive person (HSP) you might be growing larger stress centers in your brain without even knowing it, and if you don't do anything about it, they will become even bigger.
HSPs like to handle their emotions in silence.
We often prefer to handle things alone because we must process them before verbalizing them.
Sensitive people have a higher likelihood of having low self-esteem. As a highly sensitive person, you may have learned to hide the depth of your emotions or your propensity to become overwhelmed. You may be trying to be “normal” or fit in with “risk-takers,” a temperament trait highly prized in our society.
No, we don't read minds, but do read emotions.
The word “empathic” is used often in highly sensitive people, but that doesn't mean we can read minds. We have a higher sense of the emotions we and others around us feel.
An HSP Brain Has More Active Mirror Neurons
This process allows you to essentially step into the other person's shoes to better understand certain situations. For Highly Sensitive People, their mirror neurons are more active. This increased activity level is what makes an HSP more empathetic and compassionate.
Yes, there seem to be overlaps in being a HSP with level 1 Autism, or Asperger's. Although Dr Elaine Aron has explicitly said that HSP is not the same as Autism or Asperger's, this could just be a matter of labels and categorisation in the research as outdated definitions of Autism were used.