8 Habits of Highly Sensitive People

80% of the population goes through life experiencing feelings and emotions at what seems to be a balanced and somewhat ordinary level. For the other 20% though, feelings aren't that easily handled nor explained.

Have you ever wondered; why do I feel things much more intensely than others? Why am I such a deep thinker? Why am I easily overwhelmed? If so, chances are that you are very intuitive and self-aware, emotionally intelligent, extremely empathetic and passionate.

Fortunately, you don't need to worry. That just means that you might be an HSP - Highly Sensitive Person. To put it simply, you are naturally predisposed to process and perceive information on a much deeper level than others. But if you aren't quite sure if you fit into that category yet, here are 8 habits of Highly Sensitive People to look for in your day to day life.

1. You Usually Feel Emotionally Exhausted

Picture this: you come home after a long day at work with your colleagues or after a beach trip with your friends and you are exhausted; completely drained of energy. Not because your day was remarkably hectic or because you walked 15 miles; but because you were with people all day long.

Research shows that Highly Sensitive People feel things more deeply and intensely than others, and a prolonged day of conversations and different emotions can feel like you went three full days without a break. HSPs easily absorb feelings and sentiments from others, and that can get exhausting pretty easily.

Rather than just sensing what someone is feeling, they actually feel it themselves. And what is more emotionally tiring than carrying your own feelings, plus those of others?

2. You Overanalyze Everything

Having the ability to flawlessly read a room might seem like a dream for some. For Highly Sensitive People, that's not out of the ordinary, as they notice things and queues that others often miss.

However, that is a double-edged sword. Being very good at perceiving non-verbal queues and analyzing other people's tone and body language can make you overthink any situation. And that takes a toll on your psyche and mental health.

Studies have shown that HSPs process all forms of stimulation intensely due to a biological difference in their nervous systems - this includes what they touch, see, think, and experience. Their nervous systems are simply wired in such a way as to quickly pick up information and, without even trying especially hard, start to put together patterns. As a result of that deep processing, they get mentally overloaded quicker than non-HSPs.

3. You Have a Hard Time Moving On

Does a breakup from eight years ago still hurt? Do you still remember a stupid argument you had with your best friend ages ago? Do you usually hold grudges?

Highly Sensitive People have a hard time letting go and moving on. They can't help themselves from feeling these emotions even after so much time has passed, as things linger with them for what seems to be forever.

As I mentioned earlier, HSPs feel things on a much deeper level than others. Consequently, feelings like guilt, indignation, resentment, or love stay with them much longer as they are still energetically connected to the painful situation and the people involved.

4. You are Uncomfortable with Change

Trying new foods, starting a new relationship, or moving apartments might seem like the type of change people relish. However, for Highly Sensitive People, that comes with severe anxiety and distress.

They feel uncomfortable with new environments, locations and people, as they need to take everything in and always examine the situation. Their mind and body tend to not react well to the overstimulation that comes with life changes - as little and positive as they might seem.

HSPs feel as equally stressed as they do overjoyed in new situations. That's why they need extra time to adjust, so finding a routine that is less stimulating than unusual things is crucial for HSPs.

5. You Don't React Well to Criticism and Conflict

Picture this: someone says that the font you picked for the presentation wasn't the best move, but you hate confrontation so much that you spend days torturing yourself for making such a 'bad' choice. Just the thought of arguing with someone or having to tell somebody that they are wrong makes your stomach sick.

Highly Sensitive People feel shameful when others criticize - even if they do it constructively - their work or actions. For HSPs, words really matter. The tone of voice matters. And for them, there's little worse than knowing someone is mad or disappointed in them.

When we receive negative feedback, we root into our "emotional brain," which bypasses our "thinking brain." The limbic system (the emotional brain) is where our triggers, emotional memories and traumas are stored. For HSPs, the limbic system is activated more than non-HSPs; and that's why they experience criticism differently.

6. You Don't Do Well Under Pressure

Have you ever heard someone say: "I always start my projects the night before because I do best when I'm under pressure"? If so, I can almost assure you that they are not an HSP.

Highly Sensitive People need to take their time to execute tasks and think clearly. They focus on one thing at a time, and leaving a big presentation for the last day is unthinkable for them.

When having to perform under pressure, it feels like they're spinning out of control - fast. According to psychotherapist Julie Bjelland, that's because the HSP brain receives inputs much more strongly than the average person, and feelings of stress and tension causes great sensory overload.

7. You Have a Hard Time Saying "no"

HPSs are highly empathetic and aware of other people's feelings, and they don't want to let anybody down. That's why they are extreme people-pleasers, so they have a hard time saying "no" to things - even if they really don't want to do them.

Having too much compassion is a real thing for them, and although it's admirable in most scenarios, it causes deep anxiety, stress and tension.

8. You Need Alone Time

For many people, going to a bar or hanging out with a large group of people is what they fancy the most. However, for Highly Sensitive People, being around a lot of personalities for a prolonged period of time is just too much.

After a big event, they need time to recover from all the emotional energy they used and the millions of stimuli they received and had to process. HSPs love solitude and spending time by themselves, as they don't feel saturated nor overwhelmed with other people's emotions and energies. Their brain is always working even if they don't want it to, so rest is essential in their life.

Final Thoughts

Being a Highly Sensitive Person isn't bad. But take it from me, sometimes it can get pretty overwhelming quite easily, and if you lack answers or explanations, it can feel very lonely and confusing. The good news is once you're aware that you're an HSP, there are certain things that you can do to make your life a lot calmer and less anxious.

Looking at this with knowledge and perspective helped me answer a lot of questions I had while growing up. From why I felt certain ways, to why I had certain habits and why I had out-of-the-ordinary thoughts.

So now that you know why you constantly feel emotionally exhausted, why you have a hard time letting things go, why you can't stop overanalyzing every detail in every situation, and why you can't bring yourself to tell your friends "no"; you can start finding ways to manage - and thrive - while being an HSP.