A Complete Beginner Guide to Highly Sensitive Person Test

An HSP is more sensitive to physical, mental, or social stimulation. Being highly sensitive can be considered a mental trait with both good and bad things about it. This piece will try to explain what a highly sensitive person is, how to tell if you are one, and how to live well as a highly sensitive person.

She and her husband created the Highly Sensitive Person Scale (HSPS), which led to more reflections on the trait, containing how it operates in the brain. Before that, Carl Jung was the initial to realize sensitivity's importance. He thought it was more important than sex in determining how likely a person is to develop anxiety.

In this piece, we'll explain what makes a highly sensitive person different, whether HSP should be seen as a problem, and discuss tests and treatments that can help. These fun, science-based tasks will help you better deal with tough situations and give you the tools to help your clients, students, or workers become more resilient.

What is a highly sensitive person?

If somebody has ever said to you that you are too sensitive or feel things more deeply than others, you might be able to connect to some of the other things common in HSPs. It is thought that about 30% of people have "high sensitivity" traits from both brain and genetic causes.

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) sometimes describes someone as very sensitive. Since the 1990s, when the terms SPS and high sensitivity were first used, much has been learned about them. High sensitivity can make someone feel uncomfortable or anxious in situations like loud places, social situations that are hard to understand, or when wearing clothes that are too tight or uncomfortable.

HSPs might also feel stressed by their busy work schedules or social lives when they watch intense or violent movies. Or by the strong feelings that nature, art, or books make them feel. Being very sensitive can cause worry and make you sick when things go wrong. But there are many perks to being highly sensitive in a safe and healthy environment.

10 Traits and Signs of Sensitive People

• HSPs feel joy, sadness, happiness, and pain more deeply and strongly than most.
• HSPs are very sensitive, so they enjoy the simple things in life a lot. This makes them low upkeep and easy to please.
• HSPs need much more quiet time and a slower pace of life than most people. They also do best in silence. This means they need time to relax and think about what happened to them.
• HSPs take longer than others to make choices because they have to handle information, like doing a full risk assessment and moving slowly.
• HSPs can have trouble with change. Even good changes can cause a lot of excitement and worry simultaneously because new experiences are so stimulating.
• HSPs can find it hard to deal with disagreement and criticism because they tend to have high standards for themselves and are hard on themselves when they don't meet those standards. The criticism of others can feel like too much.
• HSPs usually have a rich inner life because they are more self-aware, artistic, and wise than people who aren't as sensitive. This will likely make them interested in spiritual practices like meditation and contemplation. They are also very interested in drawing, dancing, and singing.
• HSPs avoid violent movies and news stories because they make them feel too tense, which can hurt them almost physically.
• HSPs are more likely to shut down in new or stressful situations because they are easily overwhelmed. This can make them seem shy or unfriendly, even though many are extroverts who just need more time alone to figure out what's happening.
• HSPs prefer a small group of close friends who give them lots of love and support, which they give back in spades because they are so empathic. Getting to know someone takes time, but once an HSP is your friend, they will be there for you through good times and bad.

The benefits and drawbacks of being a highly sensitive individual

It's helpful to learn more about your personality trait so you can deal with the problems and take advantage of the benefits.

Benefits of being very sensitive

As a highly sensitive person, you have numerous qualities that help you and the people around you.

Feeling feelings more deeply

You might notice and enjoy the little things others miss if you're more sensitive. For instance, you might notice the first spring flower buds or the smallest brushstrokes in a picture. Seeing the modest beauty all around you may make you feel things more deeply. Emotional ads, movies, or books can make you cry because you can relate to what you see.

Better relationships

Even though such strong feelings can be upsetting at the time, having a deep, natural understanding of empathy can be very helpful. You can make better, closer relationships when you can automatically comprehend how others judge, as HSPs often can.

In our last piece, we discussed building a connection with HSP and ensuring both sides are happy, encouraged, and understood. When you know exactly how your partner, family members, or friends feel, it's easy to form strong bonds with the people who are important to you.

Feeling more gratitude

As an HSP, you will be more aware of what makes you happy, satisfied, or calm. You may pay more attention to the things that make you happy. HSPs often don't have trouble seeing the good in their lives. They enjoy easy pleasures like a good meal or hearing a beautiful song on the radio and love their homes and families.

Excellent speaking skills

HSPs are often great at speaking and noticing problems or tensions that aren't being said. But as an HSP, you may find it hard to be forceful. If you are overstimulated or worried, being unable to say no to people can cause problems like worry or burnout. When someone is very sensitive, it can be easier to talk to them through writing, like by text, email, or letter.

More clever

Very sensitive people are often also very artistic. Whether it's writing, drawing, singing, or dancing, creative outlets are often a way to let out or show strong feelings.

Drawbacks of being a very sensitive person

Being very sensitive has a lot of good points, but it can also cause some problems. Here are several of the bad things about being very sensitive.

Feeling too much pressure from people or situations

People with SPS can feel overwhelmed by places that are busy or have a lot of people, like big parties. Talking to many people while loud music and bright lights are going on can make you feel stressed or tired. Since many HSPs are friendly, it can be hard to decide between wanting to see a family and not wanting to deal with too much stimulation.

Because of this, it's important to be kind to yourself by setting limits. You probably won't be the last person on the dance floor. But you could agree to go to the party for an hour or two to talk to people and then go home to relax.

Over-scheduling

It can be scary to have a full diary. You might feel like hiding in a dark room if you have meetings all day or social events five nights out of seven. Stay in charge of your schedule by ensuring you schedule time for yourself. You can try to avoid getting too tired this way. When your schedule is too full, you'll have to turn down new invitations or move around the ones you already have.

Sensitivity to criticism and trouble saying "no."

When there is tension in a relationship, being sensitive can make you even more worried. You may also find it hard to refuse other people's requests because you'll probably feel their sadness and worry that you've let them down.

How to do well if you are very sensitive

You probably already recognize the benefits of being a highly sensitive person, but knowing them could help you make the most of them. But it's important to protect yourself from the bad things that can happen when you're more sensitive. By setting limits, you can protect yourself from too much emotion or excitement, keeping your senses from feeling overloaded.

Some people find that writing in a book helps them work through the strong feelings that certain things bring up. Others use awareness as a way to take care of themselves. You might need to work on handling situations that cause conflict among your people. This could mean:

• Being strong enough to turn down requests that will cause worry or mental weariness
• People who drain your energy or scary movies that make you feel bad should be avoided.
• Putting in the time to "recover" before and after busy social events.
• Getting your thoughts out in an artistic way can help.

Talk therapy can assist you in figuring out how and why you feel the way you do. Online treatment can be especially helpful for people who feel like their friends or family misunderstand or criticize them for being sensitive. For example, a certified online counselor in Calmerry can help confirm your feelings and help you find positive ways to use your personality trait.

Conclusion

Very sensitive people are very common, but they are not always understood. Your life and the alive of those around you can be better if you are sensitive to how your senses work. But it's important to protect your mental health from being overstimulated by making time for self-care and setting personal limits.