Most highly sensitive people display rare strengths in key areas of emotional intelligence, also known as emotional quotient (EQ) — the ability to recognize and understand emotions in themselves and others. These strengths including self-awareness and social-awareness.
They connect and interact with their environments in a way that is stronger than most. HSPs are uniquely attuned to their environments and stimuli. So while they may not have superpowers in the normal sense of the word, they do have some phenomenal gifts that set them apart from the rest.
The higher your IQ, the more likely you may be a highly sensitive person.
Yes, You Can Be Sensitive and Strong at the Same Time. In many cultures, sensitivity is associated with weakness… but it shouldn't be. In fact, with the right mindset, you can actually learn how to find strength in sensitivity.
Psychologist Elaine Aron developed the concept of highly sensitive persons (HSPs) to describe those who display notable sensitivity to various forms of stimuli. Aron estimates roughly 15–20% of the population is highly sensitive.
Expectations of Others
They hate letting people down. Learning to say no is a challenge and a necessity for HSPs because they can feel crushed by the demands of others, particularly because they can feel their friends' disappointment if HSPs need to say no. Highly sensitive people tend to be their own worst critics.
Created with Sketch. High sensitivity is thought to have genetic roots, and some specific gene variants have been associated with the trait. But early childhood environments may play a role as well; evidence suggests that early experiences may have an epigenetic effect on the genes associated with sensitivity.
In fact, Albert Einstein, one of the greatest thinkers of our time, was believed to have been highly sensitive and is quoted as saying, “The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant.”
Alone Time Helps HSPs Process Life
Highly sensitive people process everything more deeply than other humans — they experience everything from sights and sounds to social interactions and emotional reactions more intensely.
Feeling things very deeply
An HSP may be very sensitive to other situations and other people's feelings. A child that is an HSP may cry a lot, and that may be their emotional response to a bunch of different unpleasant feelings (anger, frustration, sadness, stress).
2. 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.
HSPs' emotions are extra vivid due to a part of the brain called the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC). The vmPFC is involved in emotion regulation, especially the vividness of emotions. The emotional vividness is not of a social nature (unlike mirror neurons).
It is a trait linked to giftedness and something we ought to embrace. In fact, according to three decades of research, it's not only a healthy trait, it also serves as a a powerful asset. As a personality trait, being sensitive means you take in more information from your environment, and you do more with it.
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.
Gifted people are usually also highly sensitive and intense. They are more aware of subtleties; their brain processes information and reflects on it more deeply. At their best, they can be exceptionally perceptive, intuitive, and keenly observant of the subtleties of the environment.
Learn the 6 Sensitivity Types: Mental, Emotional, Physical, Chemical, Social & Energetic.
While a highly sensitive person (HSP) is no more likely to experience distressing events than a non-HSP, they may be more likely to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as a result. The term “highly sensitive person” was coined in 1991 by psychologist Elaine Aron.
It is said that highly sensitive women experience a lot more orgasms in their lives than other people. That's true. But perhaps they do not so much have more orgasms, as researched, but rather a greater ability to have multiple orgasms and to experience any sexual act very intensely.
It is often seen in Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) who suffer from Complex PTSD or childhood trauma. Having Trauma Splitting, or Structural Dissociation, means we are split into different parts, each with a different personality, feelings, and behaviour. As a result, we feel completely different from moment to moment.
Most HSPs are either INFJs or INFPs — the ones that don't tend to be ENFJs or ENFPs. Whether you're one or both, it's important to know what stresses you, what overstimulates you and what makes you feel calm, relaxed and happy.
The downside is you take on their feelings as your own.
Due to their deep awareness of others and their empathy, HSPs tend to absorb others' emotions as their own. So when your partner is down, so are you. This can be especially hard on a relationship if your partner is often moody, anxious, stressed, or depressed.
Someone who knows how to have an authentic connection — they like deep conversations about feelings, emotions, and aspirations. Superficial relationships made up of small talk hold no value to highly sensitive people.