10 Signs That You Are a Highly Sensitive Person

Are you a highly sensitive person? Being a highly sensitive person means you’re sensitive to internal and external stimuli. A highly sensitive person (HSP) is not a psychiatric diagnosis.

Highly sensitive people have a sensitive nervous system. So, a highly sensitive person is more than a personality trait. HSP is associated with sensory processing sensitivity (SPS). Approximately 20% of people are highly sensitive.

Autistic people have a sensitive nervous system as well. I’m Autistic and I’m also a highly sensitive person. However, all HSPs are not Autistic, and all Autistic people are not HSPs.

Being a highly sensitive person is not the same thing as being an introvert either. You can be an introvert or an extrovert and still be a highly sensitive person. However, many HSPs are introverts.

These 10 signs might mean you are a highly sensitive person.

1. You Hate Loud Sounds and Bright Lights

If you’re a highly sensitive person, you probably won’t do well in an open-plan office. The sensitive nervous system of HSPs makes us react strongly to loud sounds and bright lights. You feel uncomfortable in a large crowd with lots of people talking simultaneously. Bright fluorescent lights give you headaches.

2. Negative News and Horror Movies Upset You

Scary and violent movies often upset a highly sensitive person. HPSs easily absorb other people’s feelings, even if we see them on TV. If you’re a highly sensitive person, watching negative news and horror movies can keep you up at night.

3. People Often Tell You to “Stop Being So Sensitive”

Have people ever told you to “stop being so sensitive”? This happens to highly sensitive people a lot. People often misunderstand HSPs and don’t appreciate their sensitivity. Many cultures value “easy-going” people who don’t get worried or stressed easily. This is the opposite of the highly sensitive person who often feels hurt and anxious.

4. Social Media Makes You Unhappy

HSPs often compare themselves to other people. Negative social comparison easily makes a highly sensitive person unhappy. It’s extremely easy to compare yourself to other people on social media. On social media, people often share posts about their success and happy moments. Their posts make it seem like they have a perfect life. This can make you unhappy and insecure if you’re a highly sensitive person.

5. You Beat Yourself Up Over Your Failures

Are you often hard on yourself? Do you beat yourself up when you don’t reach your goals? This is a common trait in highly sensitive people.

6. You Have a Hard Time Letting Go of Negative Emotions

A highly sensitive person experiences emotions more deeply than other people. It takes a long time for HSPs to overcome traumas and negative emotions.

7. You Take Things Personally

For a highly sensitive person, it’s difficult to not take things personally. For example, accepting constructive criticism can be hard for us. You know it’s nothing personal and it helps you develop your work. But you still can’t help feeling hurt on the inside.

8. You’re Insecure in Intimate Relationships

Fear of rejection is a common trait of a highly sensitive person. Do you often feel insecure in intimate relationships? HSPs often worry about their romantic partner’s approval. They fear being judged and rejected by their partner.

9. You Need Time to Recover from Social Situations

Social situations cause a sensory overload for a highly sensitive person. If there are many people present, there is often too much noise. A highly sensitive person also senses the emotions of other people easily. You tend to absorb other people’s emotions. There is also the fear of being judged and rejected.

All these factors make social situations straining for a highly sensitive person. As a result, you need lots of recovery time after spending time with other people. You need to charge your batteries by having quiet time by yourself.

10. You Struggle with Change

Moving to a new house, starting a new job, ending a relationship. Both positive and negative changes in life are often stressful for highly sensitive people.

Are You a Highly Sensitive Person?

A highly sensitive person (HSP) is not a psychiatric diagnosis or disorder. However, the sensitive nervous system of the highly sensitive person creates challenges in daily life.

In conclusion, these 10 signs could mean you are a highly sensitive person:

1. You are sensitive to loud sounds and bright lights
2. Negative news and violent movies upset you
3. People tell you to “stop being so sensitive”
4. Social media makes you unhappy
5. You beat yourself up over your failures
6. You struggle to let go of negative emotions
7. You take things personally
8. You’re insecure in intimate relationships
9. You need recovery time after social interaction
10. You have a hard time dealing with change

Are you still unsure whether you’re a highly sensitive person? There’s an online HSP test you can take. I scored 25 out of 27 on the test, so I have no doubt I’m a highly sensitive person.

Scientific References on HSP

The Highly Sensitive Person: Stress and Physical Symptom Reports

The Highly Sensitive Brain: An fMRI Study of Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Response to Others’ Emotions

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