13 Problems only Highly Sensitive People Understand

Do you consider yourself a deep thinker and feel things much more intensely than others? If you answered yes, then chances are you’re part of the small percentage of people who are highly sensitive. Being a Highly Sensitive Person – or HSP - means that you are naturally predisposed to process and perceive information on a much deeper level than most. You’re also likely perceptive, empathetic, intuitive, and self-aware. HSPs are also emotionally intelligent and incredibly creative, passionate, people.

As you can imagine, though, feeling and processing more intensely has some downsides. So without further ado, here are 13 struggles only Highly Sensitive People will probably relate to

1). You can't function without sleep 0:51
2). You can't stand loud noises 1:18
3). You often feel emotionally exhausted 1:52
4). You scrutinize social interactions 2:17
5). You're easily triggered by violence 2:46
6). You have a hard time moving on 3:14
7). You're uncomfortable with change 3:47
8). You don't react well to criticism and conflict 4:10
9). You don't do well under pressure 4:38
10). Your boundaries are easily crossed 5:05
11). You're your own worst critic 5:40
12). You require alone time 6:06
13). You're often misunderstood 6:34

Credits:
Writer: Chloe Avenasa
Script Editor: Denise Ding & Kelly Soong
Voice Over: Amanda Silvera
YouTube Manager: Cindy Cheong

References:
· Aron, E. N. (1996). Counseling the highly sensitive person. Counseling and Human Development, 28, 1-7.
· Killgore, W. D. (2010). Effects of sleep deprivation on cognition. In Progress in brain research(Vol. 185, pp. 105-129). Elsevier.
· Aron, E. (2013). The highly sensitive person. Kensington Publishing Corp.
· Sand, I. (2016). Highly Sensitive People in an Insensitive World: How to Create a Happy Life. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
· Zeff, T. (2004). The Highly Sensitive Person’s Survival Guide: Essential Skills for Living Well in an Overstimulating World. New Harbinger Publications.

[angelinanelson]

HELLO MY DEAR HIGH SENSITIVE PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND GLOBE I UNDERSTAND ABOUT BEING HIGH SENSITIVE PERSON OF ALL LEVELS OF MY LIFE JOURNEYS AND CHALLENGES PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD AND GLOBE JUST DON'T GET HIGH SENSITIVE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE HEART AND SPIRIT THAT THEY HAVE WITHIN THEIR HEARTS AND SPIRIT THATS WHY HIGH SENSITIVE PEOPLE ARE A BLESSING OF THE LOVE AND COMPASSION TOWARDS ALL KIND OF PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND WALKS OF LIFE JOURNEYS AND CHALLENGES SO ITS NEVER NICE TO CRITICIZE HIGH SENSITIVE PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD BECAUSE THATS WHY THE HEAVENLY FATHER MADE HIS PEOPLE DIFFERENT IN THIS WORLD

[Aan]

Timestamps
1). You can't function without sleep 0:51
2). You can't stand loud noises 1:18
3). You often feel emotionally exhausted 1:52
4). You scrutinize social interactions 2:17
5). You're easily triggered by violence 2:46
6). You have a hard time moving on 3:14
7). You're uncomfortable with change 3:47
8). You don't react well to criticism and conflict 4:10
9). You don't do well under pressure 4:38
10). Your boundaries are easily crossed 5:05
11). You're your own worst critic 5:40
12). You require alone time 6:06
13). You're often misunderstood 6:34

Hope this helps you out. Hope you have a nice day. 💙💙💙💙💙💙

[jassychanVO]

When I was younger people were always telling me, that I'm "too sensitive" and "too emotional". My empathy is one of my biggest strengths but also one of my biggest flaws.
When I talked to my therapist that I might have ADHD, she told me that it could also be that I'm just highly sensitive and that opened my eyes to everything that has been going on.

[crazycatlady]

Growing up I was always called "too sensitive" and got told to "stop being dramatic". Now that I know it has always been HSP I no longer feel like there's something wrong with me. This is who I am so thank you psych 2 go for your videos, they've helped me a lot!

[animeperson]

Hearing that “your presence makes this world a better place” made me go to tears because i heard that sentence so many times in my life.

[Imagistorm]

I am definitely an HSP but I am also quite a strong extrovert. This combination was hard to manage when I was growing up. I liked going to events to meet and talk to new people, but I was also terrified of the idea since it would take a huge emotional toll on me. I've had to learn that I need a very specific amount of time spent socializing, otherwise, if I go over this limit, I get very overwhelmed and sometimes have to take time to recover for a few days.
Also, I've felt misunderstood by most of my extrovert friends who think I'm trying to shelter myself against the problems of the world when I don't want to learn about social justice issues. For me it's an actual serious protection I need to make for my mental health. I can't input the same amount of emotional stimulus that others can handle.
Anyway, any other HSP/extroverts feel me?

[mysterytruck]

People and i myself use to give myself a hard time for being ' sensitive'. It bothered me for years but as I grow older I learn to understand and manage this cool super power. To my fellow kindred hearts (big cuddly hugs) you're awesome. Thank you psych2Go for helping us all to understand each other a little bit better.

[DADela-htux]

Took a 26 question test. Was in the top 4%. Nobody really knew what to call it when I was young. I remember being called mature and sensitive by people when I was 6yo.

I'm early 50s now. It's been a roller coaster. I have better coping skills and less social anxiety. I sleep better. Been more of a loner since my divorce. A happy one though. Still hate noise to a point where I get angry. Could just be age. Lol

Thanks! I needed your thoughtful encouragement today. 🙏💕

[idied]

I have every single one of these character traits, and as a kid I never understood why watching a fight on TV(like in the Christmas Story) or even watching Christina Ricci magically make a kids nose bleed affected me so bad. Makes a lot of sense now. Thank for such educational videos

[Idktodaybubbles]

I relate so much. Loud places can overstimulate me so much, I hate horror movies, I get so tired being my friends therapist, I take in emotions really well, I have social anxiety, I don’t like criticism, my friends misunderstand my needs, cross my boundaries, and I like being alone sometimes.

[lycona]

I never really knew much about HSP before, but I checked yes to almost all of these on a nearly daily basis… starting to think I may be HSP. Thanks for another insightful and informative video ❤

[danae]

I have to be H.S.P. but I'm a 45 year old woman that works in retail. I've learned to express my kindness and grow in my capacity to deal with people. Because I have also been taken advantage of due to my friendliness and trustworthiness, I've learned to spot characteristics that are not positive, and to stick up for myself. You may be your worst critic but you are also your own best advocate. I'm very misunderstood but I've grown accustomed to no one getting me. I long to meet someone that does, but it won't stop me from living if I don't.

[huda_husna]

I will always reminisce about the day or the week at the end of the day to analyze all my mistakes, cringe moments and how I feel about them. Talking to myself out loud definitely helps but I always do it when I'm in the shower and when I'm alone. I'm my best listener cause after analysing what I'm feeling upset about and the cause of it, I will feel ready and refreshed cause I will always find a good side to it. Always think positive to overcome overanalysing.

[aminiri]

by watching this video
i learnt that i'm not HSP
and i noticed maybe my mom is an HSP
and i can understand her better after watching this video
thank you for the time and energy spent on making this video

[wimsylogic]

I'm a highly sensitive person. I overwhelmingly check all of these boxes.

Always thought it was a combination of curse and blessing.

If I don't get a break from being around people, If I've taken in too much information, My body will stop taking an information.

It will shut down and there is nothing I can do about it. I'll become unable to hear or taken what people say, My body will start feeling fuzzy. And my vision will start being less clear. My pariphial Vision will get faded. And everything from the core of my being and my body won't want to just lie down and sleep.

When that happens no matter how hard I try I can not focus on anything.
Sometimes I'll even lose control Of my body movements. My body will feel heavier, But the pivot points, Where my body can bend and twist, Knees ankles hips midrift, neck, Et cetera, Become really loose.

And being able to move my body feels like I have to manually do so. Takes so much concentration.

And then I'll get missed fires, Like trying to control my body with screws loose Like there's rust on the frame but the joints are all loose and well-oiled.

Talking becomes harder. Have to literally spit out words and have trouble finding the right kind of word that I mean to say. And then my mouth will stumble or mess up saying it. sound drunk And stupid.

It's frustrating. I'll also start feeling very cold and uncontrollably shaking. Imagine I also get very pale, More so than I usually am.

And my eyesight won't be able to focus easily, It gets to the point of being like trying to focus using a microscope and constantly overshooting it.

My body is hyper Aware to the tiniest changes in my self, and surroundings. And instantly becomes obsessed and investigates. All this done passively. Like osmosis.

I have to cater to how my exterior body feels in order to bring harmony to inside my body. That means I have to have clothes that will make me comfortable for the slightest shifts in temperature.

Or my focus will be completely on whatever is making me uncomfortable. In order for me to not become obsessed and not think about it I need to solve the problem of what's uncomfortable.

Hair out of place remove it, Or in the case with my teeth actively try to ignore it. I often sometimes feel the urge to pull my teeth just because I feel pressure from them.

I couldn't have fingernails for the longest time because I could feel any kind of dirt or dust underneath them and i'd obsessively be cleaning them. So in order to not worry about it I just didn't have nails.

However recently I found Found nail polish to be very beneficial. Out of sight out of mind does help.

But over the years I've also taught myself to not entirely act on the impulse I get from the feelings. It's like I instinctively, Deactivate The connection between impulse and action. So I have the thoughts I have the feelings but I don't entirely act on it.

Oh I'm sorry this got way too long I didn't mean it to.

[Encaris]

I always just thought I was broken. Teachers, not-so-friends, some family, employeers, i couldnt just let things go like them and took criticizem hard. It was only until this year, at 33, that I found out about HSP trait. I then told my dad, who is 60 and he was also HSP and didnt know thats what it was, same with his wife.
Thanks psych2go for helping to make 3 people understand they are not broken❤

[Maztergyl]

I'm having a hard time sometimes with my gf, with her wanted me to "be clever", "be witty, think fast" and "grow some balls and act like a man when you're beside me". I am doing my absolute best to become a proper husband that can protect the family at all times, but it's not easy. I can really relate to all the points that have been said in this video. Even though I think she could change her tone sometimes towards me, I believe she is right and this is a big challenge that we as male HSP's must face. Wish me good luck guys.

[ArrowsmithBA]

I’m on the fence whether or not I would consider myself HSP.
Granted, I grew up with more of the common traits, but I lead myself to believe I was oversensitive. That’s why I was socially outcasted 9 times out of 10 during childhood.

However, I grew out of a lot of what would bother me then.
I used to be a crier; seeing anyone cry or seeing disaster on the news used to trigger that.
Now, I would say I show a strong emotional sense of empathy by showing my support and strength by not crying when someone else is. It takes a lot to get me to cry. But at the same time, if I feel overwhelmed with romantic feelings that I can’t process, I do tend to tear up… thankfully my partner thinks that makes the connection greater and that I’m not immature.😅

I was labeled with “Asperger’s Syndrome” before being reclassified as Higher Functioning ASD;
I was triggered very easily by others raising their voice, sudden noises and pitches and high intensities of color or action on TV/Movies

Granted, I still become uneasy when watching “Natural Disaster” movies; I tend to have panic attacks/anxiety with movies with others in peril, yet I still have respect for the effects and effort put into movies like that from an artistic POV.

I do tend to overanalyze things to a point of driving me crazy, and do need reminders to talk me down from a frenzy.

I’m often told I have a pleasant personality and a soft approach, and people have a tough time believing I can be the most unrecognizable mess to trifle with when I rage at my worst…
Granted, I’ve learned how to cope and manage my mood disorders and am at a peak point in my life, making a lot of progress.

Socially I’ve come out of my shell, enough so to be in my first relationship with somebody. And I couldn’t be any more thankful for that.

My partner thinks I’m very mature for my age and have a strong sense of respecting her needs and boundaries.
My overall purpose is to have her comfortable knowing her sensories and needs; Knowing she’s comfortable makes me feel accomplished as a partner.
Truth is I get lost when I lay on her lap and she runs her fingers through my hair. It keeps her stimulated and helps her relax.
I’m not used to having such interaction with anyone, but I feel such indulgence is warranted.
Nevertheless I do have some things I need to overcome, but having others that support and encourage me in life definitely helps.

Idk maybe I am HSP but don’t know if associated with the term is warranted… if anyone reads this, I’d like to know your input. ❤
Be well and have a great day!

[PancakeRights]

Hey there Psych2go. I have not been diagnosed but as a young person who struggles with mental health and emotional regulation I'd say I'm pretty on the HSP side. I'd like to suggest you make a video on HSP children for parents. I've always been emotionally ridiculed and wrongly called out by family and parents who refused to respect me boundaries so your videos really hit home.

[debbie]

Trust your gut feelings, don't question yourself, see the signs for what they are and share your love but don't be a doormat . Love you all xo