The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP):
- I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input.
- I seem to be aware of subtleties in my environment.
- Other people’s moods affect me.
- I tend to be very sensitive to pain.
- I find myself needing to withdraw during busy days, into bed or into a darkened room or any place where I can have some privacy and relief from stimulation.
- I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
- I am easily overwhelmed by things like bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics or sirens close by.
- I have a rich and complex inner life.
- I am made uncomfortable by loud noises.
- I startle easily.
- I am conscientious.
- I get rattled when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
- I make a point to avoid violent movies or TV shows.
[subset of questions from Are You Highly Sensitive? – The Highly Sensitive Person (hsperson.com) ]
If all or most of the statements above resonate with you then there is a good chance that you are a highly sensitive person. This doesn’t meant there is anything wrong with you – it is a trait (or set of traits) and not a ‘condition’. However, you may have been made to feel different or strange by people around you. Elaine Aron identified in her research that approximately 1 in 5 people are likely to be HSPs so we are certainly not alone even if we often feel like we are!
Think about the impact on you of not being ideal for your culture. It has to affect you – not only how others have treated you but also how you have come to treat yourself.
Elaine N. Aron
This might be something you already knew you were or it may be completely new to you. Either way, counselling with someone who understands is a good way to explore how it has affected you and your relationships and how you can accept yourself fully going forward.