12 signs youre a highly-sensitive person and what that means

Has anyone ever told you, "You’re so sensitive?" While this may often be wrongly considered as an insult, the truth is that a good amount of people have an interesting reason behind their sensitivity. As leading HSP researcher Dr. Elaine Aron told The Telegraph, 20% of us are born a highly-sensitive person, or HSP.

So what does being a highly-sensitive person mean? It turns out that a HSP actually have a hypersensitive nervous system. The Telegraph reports that being highly sensitive is far from a personality type and is actually a genetic trait.

Back to those 20% of people who are born as a HSP. Do you tend to notice yourself feeling especially deeply or reacting emotionally to a wide range of things? Does this sound like you or someone you know? While there is nothing wrong with being highly sensitive, it can be helpful to identify to better understand yourself and why you act in certain ways.

"There is nothing wrong with you if you feel highly sensitive," Christina Salerno, a life coach and HSP, told Bustle. "The way you are, innately sensitive, is important and much needed. However, this means you might not have been taught how to care for your sensitive nervous system."

According to Psychology Today, the degree to which a highly-sensitive person is impacted by it can vary immensely. It’s possible to only have one or two signs of being highly sensitive or to relate to almost every sign. Going over the signs can help you determine if you may be a highly-sensitive person.

1. You don’t react well to bright lighting or loud sounds.

Have you noticed that a large light being turned on or an intense noise sets you on edge? Psychology Today reports that this could be a sign you’re highly-sensitive of your environment.

2. You’re quick to be down on yourself when you don’t meet expectations you’ve set for yourself.

Being aware of your goals and working towards them is great but, when you don’t reach them, it’s important not to be too hard on yourself. According to Psychology Today, if you find that you’re quick to judge or think less of yourself for failing to reach certain benchmarks, it could point to you being highly sensitive about how you perform in the world.

3. You startle easily.

Highly Sensitive Refuge reports that a person who is highly sensitive will get easily startled due to their nervous systems being dialed up even in low-risk situations.

4. You often worry about what others think.

While you may assume a HSP would be an introvert, Dr. Aron told The Telegraph that 30% of highly sensitive people are actually extroverts. This means that an HSP may constantly be surrounding themselves with people while simultaneously worrying about what those people think of them.

5. You have a constant fear of rejection.

Similar to worrying about what others think, rejection can be overwhelming for an HSP due to them viewing it as people thinking less of them. While no one likes rejection, according to Psychology Today, having a serious fear of rejection is a strong sign someone is an HSP.

6. You struggle to let go of negative emotions

When you feel emotion so deeply, it can take longer to let go of it. Psychology Today reported that, for an HSP, it can take considerable time for emotions to be processed and for you to move on. 

7. You are quick to empathize.

From getting worked up about societal inequalities to easily putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, a HSP has an unique ability to really understand how someone else is feeling. Explaining it well, Dr. Aron told The Telegraph "HSPs tend to have incredible empathy and will worry about others a lot and be in tune with how they’re feeling."

8. You have a hard time accepting constructive criticism.

While a highly sensitive person can be aware that constructive criticism is usually given from a good place, Psychology Today reports that it can be hard for them to keep their feelings from getting hurt when someone gives it.

9. You struggle to cope with change.

For an HSP, having a routine and familiarity can be a huge help in managing their emotions. Whether it be good or bad change, Highly Sensitive Refuge reports that it can lead a highly-sensitive person to feel stressed and overwhelmed.

10. You are very aware of a change in temperature.

According to The Telegraph, if you notice minor changes in temperature, to the point that it impacts how you feel, it could be a sign you’re an HSP. It’s another example of a minor change that a highly sensitive person is more in-tune to.

11. You tend to overreact to things.

From perceived slights to feeling forgotten, according to Psychology Today, a highly-sensitive person may overreact to smaller matters. This goes back to how an HSP will feel things more deeply, bad and good.

12. You cry often.

Crying can be extremely cathartic and healthy and, for an HSP, it’s quite common. The Telegraph reports that a highly-sensitive person is likely to cry more often than others due to their heightened sense of emotion.

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