12 Signs You're a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)

Here we discover what are the signs of a highly sensitive person? How do you know if you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP) or an empath (someone who FEELS more than other people). How can we assess these concepts in an objective and critical way, rather than falling for woo-woo? This covers all!

Sources:

Signs of a Highly Sensitive Person

Sensitivity and It’s Relation to Introversion and Empathy

The Impact of Sensory Processing Sensitivity

Extraversion, Neuroticism, and Susceptibility

You’re a Sensitive Person at Work and Why That’s Good

Are You a Highly Sensitive Person?

Tips for Sensitive People

Thanks to Tristan Reed (writing), Troy W. Hudson (VO) for helping to create this video!

[austinmcnair]

I feel like if this video were written by an actual sensitive person (or surveyed them), it would have gone much more differently by highlighting their strengths and using realistic examples of their worries. Sensitive people aren't always immature or irrational as this video portrays. Their brain is wired differently mostly from their upbringing and life experiences (especially a chaotic home environment or broken relationships). There are some special abilities that come along naturally as being sensitive:

1. Emotional intelligence
This is the proper term for a "highly sensitive" person. The ability to understand emotions beneath the words, actions, and environments of others. There is a great value for this trait in society and we often desire to help those who are hurting.

2. Attention to detail.
Surprisingly, this looks a little different from one person to another. Some people remember bits of information they read, while others remember conversations, faces, smells, nail colors, room arrangements, or other fine details. It may not be the entire memory, but little things just randomly stand out to us.

3. Prediction.
The "worry" part of our brains are actually logically planning ahead like a game of chess, considering multiple realistic possibilities and how we might respond to them. No, the projector won't catch fire, but the internet might stop working for a video, or the Powerpoint file can be corrupt. Unless we're sure of a friendship, we might worry if the person dislikes us, but even otherwise we still try to be careful in not losing someone so valuable. If a boss calls us in, we automatically assume it's some sort of complaint or correction, because it's more likely than having a bottle of champagne for clocking in late.

4. Consistency.
The strange part of being a highly sensitive people pleaser is that we don't feel pressured to completely change our personality, and people take value in that. Got a problem? We'll listen and may help you find a practical solution. Stressed out? We're the same kind of person with the same values that we were 10 years ago. We're the most loyal of friends you can find.

5. Real, genuine empathy.
We hate, "Hi how are you?" as a casual greeting. We want someone who will REALLY listen, and want them to know that we're here for them too. We care about a lot of people, and it fills our cup of joy every week when someone stops to listen because they want to and care. Then we go and share that same phenomena with others by filling their cup.


I don't know who else can relate to this, but being yourself is the absolute best thing you can do for someone else! Even if you randomly cry as often as I do, it's healthy for the soul! 😊

[AuthenticSelfGrowth]

Feeling too intensely is usually considered a weakness but if you learn how to manage it, it becomes an amazing gift. It makes you feel more alive.

[Keshia.means.GreatJoy]

I already know I am even before I started watching lol 😂

[monticae]

I’m a HSP and many of your examples were not true for me.

[lucy-tntb]

3:54 this is ridiculous. A highly sensitive person would never do that, because they do mind what other people feel or think, and so this would just be so selfish. Also not every hsp is so negative. It‘s much harder to live a happy life - true, but this is exaggerated. So i can say many things are true in this video, but many also aren‘t.

[kanard]

1. Lifelong jump-scares
2. Recharging in silence
3. The perfect e-mail
4. Beating yourself up
5. Searching for drama
6. Physical emotions
7. Unnecessary tension
8. All the options
9. A lonely lunch
10. Everything thinks personal
11. Social Awkwardness
12. Comfort anxiety

[innosanto]

sensitivity amd negativity aint the same. and perfectionism is close many times to negativity but further from sensitivity,

[johnjhermiecruz]

as an INFJ, I'm a highly sensitive person

[messaroundok]

Watching this video made me anxious and gave me a panic attack.

[ebbyc]

To all super young sensitive people, don't worry, it gets better. You won't live at home forever. You won't be in that school or at that job, forever. One day that email won't take so long to write. One day you'll know how to protect your alone time, and who to avoid.

[TriciaN-emsr]

Sounds like introverts are highly sensitive then

[leeannmasuret]

I am a HSP who is easily startled but it’s not because I worry about almost everything. You mention this in almost all of your points and imply that worrying is the root cause. And characterizing a “15 minute rant” “unnecessary tension”. “Stressed out all the time” “your stress is unwarranted and unnesaary” is starting to sound like the writer is a frustrated partner of an HSP who wishes we’d all just “calm down” the narrator sounds more judgemental than understanding. The first complement or positive characterization is in point 8 where you complement the empathy. I just can’t listen to it anymore.

[MayasDream]

This is very accurate! Thank you for confirming so much about this trait. ✨

[serafinaobi]

People always tell me “Wow. I wish I could be like you. You’re so cool!” And I’m like man it’s not easy 😂😂😂

[xyzzzabcc]

This is by far the most relatable video about HSPs!!!

[halliealmas]

I find this video to be incredibly misleading. For one, most of your resources are of the psychology version of Buzzfeed, not reputable research journals. More importantly, the explanation of many of the "signs" is not based on the research or Dr. Aron's book, but the creator's assumption. Lastly, some of the signs are blatantly incorrect. HSPs don't seek drama, they avoid it because its overly stimulating and negative. Research has shown that some HSPs actually work very well with others because their need to keep everyone happy makes for a good mediator.

[Rahul-ubcn]

You tell all those things which a can't realise till and every words suits on you

[gabybun]

does anyone else feel 2 emotions at once. Like sometimes I'm so angry at someone and I want to punch them but at the same time I'm crying because of what happened?

[caribaez]

People don’t know they are dealing with a highly sensitive person. I can recall information in a vivid detail. I ask questions and reflect on them so much. Sounds like I have a little of everything but I am strongly in the intellectual highly sensitive person. I am a such an Empath.

[GiftedSinceGiftedSince]

Great video! This is helpful information.