{"id":874792,"date":"2025-09-22T01:13:42","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:13:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/4-signs-youre-a-highly-sensitive-person-according-to-experts\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T01:13:42","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:13:42","slug":"4-signs-youre-a-highly-sensitive-person-according-to-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/4-signs-youre-a-highly-sensitive-person-according-to-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"4 Signs You\u2019re a \u2018Highly Sensitive Person,\u2019 According to Experts"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Understandably, you might think that being a \u201chighly sensitive<\/a>\u201d person is just some quirky personality trait\u2014perhaps a silly, relatable trend that\u2019s inspiring countless TikTok videos of people crying at movies or sobbing along to songs. But as it turns out, there\u2019s more to it than just feeling your feels deeply. It can actually have real implications for your mental health.<\/p>\n

The term highly sensitive person<\/em> (HSP) was coined in 1997 by psychologist Elaine Aron, PhD<\/a>. Essentially, it\u2019s not simply about being \u201coverly emotional\u201d or overreactive: It describes someone with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)\u2014meaning their nervous system is more affected by and reacts more strongly to changes in their environment. This can include things like bright lights and loud noises, but also subtle shifts in people\u2019s moods or body language.<\/p>\n

According to new research, however, this common personality trait can also make you more susceptible to mental health issues. In a recent meta-analysis<\/a> of 33 studies published this week, researchers found that individuals with higher environmental sensitivity were more likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to less sensitive ones\u2014partly because their heightened responsiveness and tendency to overthink may make them more susceptible to feeling overwhelmed and ruminating<\/a> on stressful experiences.<\/p>\n

To be clear, being an HSP isn\u2019t an official mental health diagnosis, and it\u2019s important to note that not all psychologists subscribe to this label. It is, however, a very real experience for around 20% of people, according to a 2014 study<\/a> coauthored by Dr. Aron. So how can you tell if you\u2019re a highly sensitive person? Here\u2019s what to look out for.<\/p>\n

How to know if you\u2019re a highly sensitive person<\/h2>\n

High sensitivity can be challenging to identify, Jadzia Jagiellowicz, PhD<\/a>, a psychologist who researches high sensitivity and a contributing author to The Highly Sensitive Brain: Research, Assessment, and Treatment of Sensory Processing Sensitivity<\/em><\/a>, tells SELF\u2014partly because it shares similarities with some mental health disorders.<\/p>\n

Anxiety, for example, can also cause people to have strong emotional reactions or need downtime<\/a> to recover from a particularly social weekend. Trauma, too, can cause high emotional arousal and make people hyperaware of their environment. And people with ADHD<\/a> or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may also notice signs of sensory sensitivity. (However, unlike clinical anxiety, ADHD, ASD, and post-traumatic stress disorder, you can\u2019t be diagnosed with high sensitivity.)<\/p>\n

But if you consider yourself an HSP, there are<\/em> some general criteria to look for. (Dr. Aron\u2019s self-test<\/a> is one place to start.) Here are a few signs to consider.<\/p>\n

1. You\u2019re very<\/em> aware of what\u2019s happening in and around you.<\/p>\n

You don\u2019t just notice<\/em> whatever\u2019s going on around you: It easily overwhelms you. For example, you might immediately clock harsh lighting when you walk into a room and have trouble focusing on anything else because of it. Or a noisy and crowded morning commute may put you on high alert from the second you leave your house until you arrive at work, making you want to crawl back under your covers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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If this sounds familiar, Dr. Jagiellowicz says it\u2019s a good idea to keep track of what makes you feel on edge\u2014either make a mental note or write it down\u2014so you can try to minimize its impact going forward. If you find it nearly unbearable to start your morning with cars honking or people crowding onto your subway car, for instance, plan your commute a little earlier than normal so there\u2019s less traffic. Or maybe you get a lamp for your office desk to shut off the fluorescent overhead lights, or invest in noise-canceling earbuds<\/a> to block out distracting sounds.<\/p>\n

2. You think deeply about\u2026everything.<\/p>\n

As a highly sensitive adult, you might prefer having deep philosophical conversations about the meaning of life to talking about your 401K, Dr. Jagiellowicz says. You also might be the kind of person who puts a ton of thought into vacation planning, researching the hell out of your destination, and creating a packing list weeks in advance to make sure you\u2019re prepared for every scenario on the trip, she adds.<\/p>\n

Clearly, deep thinking has its benefits, but the tendency to mull things over and search for meaning can be overwhelming for HSPs, too, Elizabeth Fedrick, PhD, LPC, owner of Evolve Counseling & Behavioral Health Services<\/a> in Phoenix and professor of psychology at Grand Canyon University, tells SELF. For example, they might grapple with decision paralysis<\/a> because they\u2019re bogged down by too many what-if scenarios, or struggle to find a satisfying career since a sense of deep meaning and purpose in their work is critical to them.<\/p>\n

3. You feel others\u2019 emotions intensely.<\/p>\n

\u201cHighly sensitive people tend to be extremely empathic\u2014and often at their own expense,\u201d Dr. Jagiellowicz says. For example, people might take advantage of your thoughtfulness, whether it\u2019s intentional or not; they might call you at 2 a.m. knowing that you\u2019ll pick up the phone, or automatically assume that you\u2019d be happy to help with a project at work.<\/p>\n

Along with being empathic, HSPs tend to be hyperaware of shifts in other people\u2019s moods or energies, Dr. Fedrick says. You might notice that a friend\u2019s demeanor changes in subtle ways after reading a text message\u2014maybe they\u2019re avoiding eye contact or seem less talkative than usual. Likewise, hearing someone talk about their personal grief is enough to make your eyes well up with tears. While most people can empathize with someone else\u2019s suffering, they wouldn\u2019t necessarily feel the same level of distress that you experience as an HSP, Dr. Fedrick explains.<\/p>\n

4. You\u2019re constantly trying to make other people feel comfortable.<\/p>\n

One possible reason HSPs are so attentive to their surroundings is that \u201cit\u2019s how they create safety for themselves,\u201d Dr. Fedrick says. They may be trying to control their environment to make it less stimulating and overwhelming, she explains. And according to a 2018 research review<\/a>, this desire for harmony can manifest in HSPs\u2019 tendency to try to make the people around them feel more comfortable. (In other words, they\u2019re trying to keep the peace to protect their own.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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It\u2019s perfectly normal to want to make others feel safe, of course, but constant pressure to \u201censure that people around you have their needs met and are happy\u201d can also lead to harmful people-pleasing behaviors<\/a>, Dr. Fedrick explains. For instance, you might put other people\u2019s needs ahead of your own or avoid expressing your feelings for fear of upsetting someone else.<\/p>\n

As with the other HSP signs on this list, awareness of this tendency is an important step in managing it. You don\u2019t necessarily need to do something about it unless it\u2019s preventing you from living a fulfilling life (you\u2019re isolating yourself, say, or avoiding activities you love). In that case, Dr. Fedrick recommends looking for a therapist<\/a> who can rule out any underlying mental health conditions and teach you tools for managing it.<\/p>\n

Even if it isn\u2019t debilitating, however, being easily overstimulated can still make daily life challenging, which is why it\u2019s worth pinpointing what triggers your overwhelming feelings. That way, you can work on minimizing your distress. At the same time, you can also focus on embracing the strengths of your sensitivity, like the ability to find deep joy in the little things we often take for granted\u2014and that make our lives feel richer, deeper, and more meaningful.<\/p>\n

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