A highly sensitive person has strong emotions but typically expresses them in a healthy way, and shows deep concern for others. A hypersensitive person may exhibit unpredictable and inappropriate emotional reactions, sometimes to the point of causing harm.
Highly sensitive people tend to pick up on the needs and feelings of others. They hate letting people down. Learning to say no is a challenge and a necessity for HSPs because they can feel crushed by the demands of others, particularly because they can feel their friends' disappointment if HSPs need to say no.
The three subtypes of highly sensitive people include Aesthetic Sensitivity (AES), Low Sensory Threshold (LST), and Ease of Excitation (EOE). Before we explain what each of these means, it's important to note that HSPs can fit into more than one subtype, each subtype has its own characteristics.
Hypersensitivity, also known as being a “highly sensitive person” (HSP), is not a disorder. It is an attribute common in people with ADHD.
HSPs have stronger emotional responses, both positively and negatively. This means they feel higher levels of joy and happiness, but easily upset at times of sadness. They may also get angry when they are hungry or feel hurt when criticized.
What causes HSP? It's thought that being a highly sensitive person can be a hereditary trait. But there can be other factors at play like your environment and your experiences as a child. “If you had childhood trauma, you may likely be a highly sensitive person,” states Dr.
Autistic people can experience both hypersensitivity (over-responsiveness) and hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) to a wide range of stimuli. Most people have a combination of both. Many autistic people experience hypersensitivity to bright lights or certain light wavelengths (e.g., LED or fluorescent lights).
They're more empathic: Sensitive in general, HSPs are particularly perceptive to emotions. They feel emotions more acutely, both for themselves and on the behalf of others, and notice more emotional subtleties. Not surprisingly, they are more attentive and show more concern for others.
HSP struggle to witness arguments, hear raised voices or see any form of physical violence because they are highly attuned to the emotions and energy of other people. They also tend to avoid conflict because they don't like the thought of upsetting others, or other people being upset with them.
Seeing the world through another person's eyes is central to the experience of being a highly sensitive person (HSP). There is now a documented, replicable fMRI study showing that HSPs demonstrate stronger empathy than do others in tests involving reactions to images.
The brains of sensitive people can grow and change in ways that may allow for more creative associations. Sensory intelligence. Sensory intelligence means taking in more information from your environment and making good decisions based on that information—a defining characteristic of highly sensitive people.
having empathy toward others. engaging in people-pleasing. being sensitive to loud noises, chaotic scenes, and busy crowds. often feeling overwhelmed by sensory stimuli or emotional experiences.
Type I hypersensitivity reactions can be seen in bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, allergic dermatitis, food allergy, allergic conjunctivitis, and anaphylactic shock. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency as it can lead to acute, life-threatening respiratory failure.
an extreme responsiveness to sensory stimuli (e.g., sound, light, touch). 3. a tendency toward emotional overreaction to criticism, rejection, or other social judgment. See also sensitivity.
During type V (stimulatory hypersensitivity) antibodies are made against a particular hormone receptor of a hormone-producing cell leading to the overstimulation of those hormone-producing cells. An example is Graves' disease where antibodies are made against thyroid-stimulating hormone receptors of thyroid cells.
The higher your IQ, the more likely you may be a highly sensitive person.
Those of us highest on the sensitivity scale have the same challenges around sensory sensitivities and sensory overload as someone on the spectrum of autism. However, if you look at the current diagnostic criteria found in the DSM, there seem to be broad differences in other areas.
While highly sensitive individuals tend to experience hyper-reactivity to sensory information, autistic individuals may have either a hyper- or hypo-reactivity to sensory information, a combination of both, or neither.
Some people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experience heightened anxiety. This may make them more sensitive and overly responsive to stimuli and events in the world around them. This state of increased sensitivity is called hyperarousal.
Created with Sketch. High sensitivity is thought to have genetic roots, and some specific gene variants have been associated with the trait. But early childhood environments may play a role as well; evidence suggests that early experiences may have an epigenetic effect on the genes associated with sensitivity.