Some people get born with a special ability – being highly sensitive. With this ability, they are capable to feel things more than others and deal with material more intensely.
People, who are highly sensitive, have a heightened central nervous system. Because of that, they get the ability to feel physical and emotional things more than others. Also they respond to both kind of stimuli – internal and external.
In science, a typical Highly Sensitive Person gets described as someone with Sensory Processing Sensitivity. Their brains have the ability to deal with material more intensely which is why it mostly concerns the brain, rather than just their senses.
Being highly sensitive isn’t a problem or a defect. It is an innate and genetic attribute – a Highly Sensitive Person is born that way.
In many areas, high sensitivity may overlap with autism and gets mistaken for an autist. Also they could be mistaken for an empath but being highly sensitive doesn’t revolve around empathy alone.
What makes an individual sensitive?
Being a Highly Sensitive Person doesn’t mean just to feel things more intensely and to deal with information more than others. What it really means to make an individual sensitive, I will explain now more deeply.
Here are signs to know if an individual is sensitive:
The most notable feature of a Highly Sensitive Person is being aware of subtle happenings. With being highly sensitive, they notice a change in different aspects of environment and they react to them because their senses are hightened.
Their brain is reacting differently and also has more insula which is part of the brain that enhances self-awareness.
Highly Sensitive People observe things carefully. This means, they stop what they are doing and start thinking about their next move. They do this more than those who are less engaged. Because of needing more time to digest whatever problem faces them, they don’t act in the moment but instead they are taking in more information from their environment and their contact with other people.
People with high sensitivity get triggered more often by any form of violence or cruelty because their tolerance levels for assault are very low – besides it’s generally low.
Their low tolerance level exists because they don’t only sense it. They seem to be experiencing it as well like they’re going through the pain of the victims as it it is theirs.
By having to do things within a set timeframe, there is an intensity which makes High Sensitive People more sensitive. They get overanxious when undertaking a task with a deadline. Even basic decision-making is often very draining. The pressure of a deadline could certainly hamper the progress of the task completely and can result in the beginning of doubting themselves and their abilities. And because of that, they imagine the worst-case scenario.
If someone is perceptive, they have a deep understanding of details and are therefore able to understand them better. Also they tackle those situations better than other people.
For other people, it seems like they are being insightful and seeking for help and advice from those around them with this skill.
This ability is more pronounced in extroverted people. They are more vocal with their opinions and will share their in-depth thoughts with anyone else who will listen.
Keeping to oneself means to not get triggered by other people of what people with high sensitivity need to take a break from. Also they want to recharge their inner strenght, which seems constantly dwindling.
By absorbing other people’s emotions, it means to be capable of easily sensing the mood of those in their surroundings. And they can do this without the other people having to tell them.
Also it means to often get into that mood too, which can be good but also bad. When others around them are happy, they are happy too. But if the mood of the others switches, their mood switches too.
Highly Sensitive People are already overwhelmed with different emotions, so physical pain is the last thing they want to experience. And once they do, it’s almost impossible to handle the situation for them.
They feel things more deeply than others do which is why pain is magnified.
The nerves of Highly Sensitive People are already on a roll what contributes to get scared easily. Getting scared is totally normal because they are naturally very jumpy and it takes little to startle them – they have a high “startle reflex”.
A person with high sensitivity is naturally sensitive to the consumption of stimulants like caffeine, alcohol, drugs or others.
This sensitivity to the consumption is because of their nervous system which is already geared upwards. Little intake could stir up more of a buzz than intended.
If Highly Sensitive People are addicted to caffeine for example and they give up the addiction, it doesn’t leave them only tired. They can get emotionally drained and almost depressed because of it.
Caffeine is known as a stimulant to keep you awake and mentally alert. Also it will induce unacceptable stress levels. A Highly Sensitive Person has already naturally high stress levels and with the consumption of caffeine, it would just increasing their anxiety and agitation.
Now the question is – how much more stimulation can someone take?
The ability to being a deep thinker, it means to go beyond the surface to assess situations and people. It is the habit of reflecting on life experiences in a way that others may overlook.
A stimulation is automatically triggered by elements and they’ll notice themselves analyzing an processing information deeply. They also think about things repeatedly.
Being a deep thinker could lead to overthinking – but in a negative way.
Being a creative/visionary thinker is also a sign of being a Highly Sensitive Person.
Some children have imaginary friends and an imaginary world because it’s their way to escape the realities of life or to generally feel more alive. They are very imaginative – and the sign of being a creative/visionary thinker.
Also as an adult it’s visible but in a different way. Here the sign shows itself in daydreaming or ideating beyond the physical circumstances.
This ability could help with information processing and planning, especially if overthinking does not come in and steal the show.
Being meticulous is also a sign of high sensitivity. It means to being more likely showing extreme care for even minute details.
When trying to make a decision, they care about how it may have an impact and how they get affected of other people’s decisions. Also because of needing to think things through and through, they sometimes care about how others may perceive their actions. You can say, it’s a never-ending cycle of “what if’s”, “why’s”, “when’s” and “how’s”.
They often struggle with change because at least, they know what to expect from the familiar. So they naturally preferbein around the same people and environments.
Also they used to their schedules and routines. By an adjustment, it can distort their whole thought processes and other aspects, like their attitude and concerns.
Change most likely triggers reactive feelings that are negative.
For other people, it seems like the reactions of a Highly Sensitive Person are “more dramatic” than from “normal” people because the other people can’t seem to fathom their reactions. Other people also describe them as shy, anxious or antisocial.
The reason for reacting “more dramatic” is because their nerves are often on edge and they also struggle to understand themselves better. So it’s confusing to try to explain to others when they are only just trying to figure out why their mind works in that way.
But like all people, they vary in their levels of expression and exhibition that revolve around those mentioned here.
