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Sensitive Living is a place for highly sensitive people or HSPs. It is a place to learn about the highly sensitive personality type and to meet other highly sensitive people. Throughout the site, you will find information relating to all of the characteristics that make up a highly sensitive person. The site is updated frequently with new information, so don't forget to come back and see what's new. Soon there will also be a newsletter highlighting any new information added to the site. Please contact us if you would like the newsletter mailed directly to your email address.

A highly sensitive person can be described as someone that is overwhelmed by the senses. Having a nervous system that absorbs and processes ten times more information than the average person's leaves an HSP exhausted after a "normal" day of activity. Not only are they overwhelmed by their physical senses such as sight, sound, touch, taste and smell, but can be exhausted by their emotions as well. They tend to absorb the feelings and energies of others, which can be taxing on the mind.

It has been estimated that 15-20% of the population or 50 million people are highly sensitive. Among this population, there is a scale of sensitivity levels since some people are slightly sensitive while others are extremely sensitive.

Unfortunately in our society (specifically the U.S.), outgoing, bold, extraverted personalities are rewarded while sensitive personalities are treated as a flaw that can be overcome. Highly sensitive people have been around forever, but they have been mislabeled as shy, timid, inhibited, or introverted. Although some highly sensitive people do have some of these traits, not all of them do. In fact many highly sensitive people are extraverted (30%) and outgoing. An HSP may be seen as shy or inhibited, when they are actually just taking time to absorb their surroundings and consider all of the possibilities in a situation. Once they have processed this information thoroughly, they are quite comfortable responding with confidence and precise actions and words. Another explanation is that they just might be trying to avoid the stress of over arousal in a particular situation.

Your friends and family who love you have probably always told you to "not be so sensitive," as if sensitivity were a flaw. Well, sensitivity is not a flaw. Highly sensitive people tend to be extraordinarily creative and productive workers. In relationships, they are usually attentive and thoughtful partners with acute listening skills and compassionate hearts. Most are also intellectually gifted individuals. According to Dr. Elaine N. Aron, pioneer in the sensitive personality type, “HSPs could contribute much more to society if they received the right kind of attention.”

 

Are You a Highly Sensitive Person?

Questions to Find Out:

• Do you get overwhelmed by stimuli such as lights, noises, and smells?
• Do other people’s moods and emotions deeply affect you?
• Are you easily startled?
• Do you become uneasy when someone is watching you complete a task?
• Do you become tired easily after a “normal” day of activity?
• Are you aware of other things in your environment that most other people are not aware of?
• Do you become agitated or anxious when you have a lot of tasks to do and not enough time to complete all of them?
• Do you avoid disturbing or violent movies, books, or T.V. shows?
• Do you feel the need to escape and retreat when there is too much going on around you?
• Are you deeply interested in the arts or music?
• Do you dislike changes in your life?
• Do you enjoy delicate tastes, scents, sounds, soft fabrics, or beautiful works of art?
• Have you always been labeled as shy or sensitive by other people?
• Are you overly conscientious?
• Do you seem to be more sensitive to pain than other people?
• Are you sensitive to certain foods such as foods containing caffeine, sugar or alcohol?
• Do you become unpleasant when you are hungry?
• Do you easily sense the energies of places or situations?
• Are you easily touched by others' experience, stories of kindness, and courage?
• Are you attracted to the deeper things such as spirituality, self-development and philosophy?
• Do you need time alone?
• Are your feelings easily bruised?
• Do you have a vivid imagination?

**

 

If you answered "yes" to the majority or all of the questions listed above, you are most likely a highly sensitive person. If you answered yes to only a few of the questions listed above, you may still be considered a highly sensitive person.

References:

*Source:Elaine N. Aron, "The Highly Sensitive Person: How to Thrive When the World Overwhelms You"

**Source: Elaine N. Aron and Arthur Aron, "Sensory-Processing Sensitivity and Its Relation to Introversion and Emotionality," Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1997, Vol. 73, No. 2, 345-368.

**Linda Markley, Clover Coaching

 

All information on this site is of a general nature and is furnished for your knowledge and understanding only. This information is not to be taken as medical or other health advice pertaining to your specific health and medical condition. It is neither complete nor does it cover all health information which may pertain to your health and medical condition. The information on this site is not to be taken as a substitute for the diagnosis and advice of your health care professional and this information must not be used in place of such diagnosis and advice. Do not delay seeking the diagnosis and advice of your health care professional because of anything you may have read or interpreted on this site. Consult your health care professional before practicing any recommendations or acting on any information found on this site. Nothing on this site is to be interpreted as advocating the self-management of your health and medical condition(s) or those of your family. Sensitive Living expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability for any adverse consequences or damages resulting from your reliance on the information on this site.

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