Sensitivity is sensitive. Highly Sensitive People: Problems, Features, Benefits and Scientific Research

“You are too sensitive! You react too much to everything! ”- if you have heard such words addressed to you, your interlocutors may be right, and you really are not like other people. You belong to highly sensitive people - to 15-20% of the population who have a very finely tuned nervous system. I also feel keenly and lead the first Russian-language podcast about this phenomenon.

According to the theory of the founders of highly sensitive people by the American psychologist Elaine Aron, sensitive people analyze information more deeply. They have a more active islet of the brain, where all information about the environment and the internal state of a person is synthesized. They have increased empathy due to a greater number of mirror neurons - brain cells that help us understand the experiences of another person, for example, cry when watching a movie if the protagonist is ill. They are more sensitive to nuances, notice details better and are able to catch the slightest changes in the environment.

Highly sensitive people are more susceptible to noise, lighting, smells - for example, sitting next to a person who smoked a cigarette ten minutes ago, a sensitive person may feel as if they had put him in a smoking room. A large number of people tire them, although not all highly sensitive people are introverts.

It is important to understand that hypersensitivity is not a disease or a sign of a bad nature, but a set of inherited genes that are designed to help the survival of the whole species. For example, the most sensitive horses run along the edges of the herd and, as soon as they notice the danger, change their behavior, thereby warning the entire herd about it. That is, high sensitivity is a useful signaling tool. Problems arise if we ignore these signals.

Do not ignore sensitivity

From childhood, from well-intentioned ones, they often inspire us that we should not take everything so close to our hearts. As a result, highly sensitive people begin to believe that something is wrong with them, and try to suppress their sensitivity. This is especially common with men. Despite the fact that high sensitivity is equally found among men and women, society sensitivity in men does not encourage. Having listened to the suggestions “don’t howl, you are a man!” In childhood, the boy grows up, embarrassed by his sensitivity, and puts on a mask of hypermasculinity or drowns out sensitivity with alcohol and an unhealthy lifestyle.

Another unsuccessful adaptation strategy is avoidance. Sensitive people often try to avoid conflicts or potentially hyper-stimulating situations, usually at the expense of their own psychological boundaries. For this reason, they are often considered weak or stupid - although in fact these people simply analyze for a long time before taking any action and do everything to not upset others - because they so acutely feel their experiences.

Elaine Aron showed that highly sensitive people succeed more than others in situations where their sensitivity is respected and supported, and in teams with a positive emotional background, but show worse results if their sensitivity was ignored, or in companies where a negative emotional environment prevails. If in childhood parents allowed the sensitivity of the child to simply be, then, as a rule, such a person achieves a lot, as he understands the emotions of other people and understands what approach is needed to them.

From survival to prosperity

If you recognize yourself in this description, congratulate yourself: you survived and adapted, not knowing anything about your sensitivity! Now is the time to move from survival to prosperity and learn to truly use your gift. I suggest six simple strategies for how to do this.

1. First of all, understand and accept that everything is fine with you.

There are 1.4 billion people around the world like you. Nature does not hold anything superfluous, and if sensitivity continues to be transmitted from generation to generation in people and animals, then it is needed. Allow yourself to be hypersensitive, the world needs your gift.

2. Realize that most people perceive the world differently than you.

80% of humanity sincerely does not understand why you are haunted by the smell of food in the workplace, loud music or air conditioning, and may not even notice what affects your well-being and productivity. Colleagues may like light stimulation in the form of constant music, without which their nervous system hibernates. Explaining what sensitivity is to someone who does not have it is like trying to explain to a blind person what color is.

So learn to speak their language.

If you need time to come to your senses after the meeting, do not say that you are tired of the abundance of information - say that you are going to write down thoughts that came from the meeting. Or joke that you need to warm yourself with a cup of tea after a cool conversation with a client. People are afraid of the incomprehensible, so more often use humor and do not focus on sensitivity: no one is obliged to treat you differently, simply because you are a sensitive person.

3. Avoid negative people and companies.

Sensitive people are very influenced by the mood of others, and they tend to take on other people's problems. If you are constantly dealing with negatively charged people, such communication will deplete you much more than an ordinary person. If your work is constantly criticized, blamed, offended, such a team is contraindicated to you. Look for a more professional company - there are many.

4. Give yourself time to think and relax.

Accept the fact that you need more time to make decisions (after all, your brain processes more information) and rest than others so that the nervous system has time to recover. Do not plan multiple meetings in a row. It is ideal to alternate communication and work alone. Organize your schedule so that you can be several times a day without external stimulation - sit in a quiet room, and it is better to take a walk in the park. Ideally, you need to build your own schedule, let it become your work priority. Many highly sensitive people choose to start their own business, just to be able to control their daily routine.

5. Be sure to regularly visit nature

Think about when you felt full of energy, joyful, with the desire to do something right? I bet that it was connected with being in nature. As in Avatar, sensitive people derive strength from nature. Try to make weekly city trips a part of your routine. Plant many plants in the office and at home.

6. Feed your soul.

Highly sensitive people are not interested in just making money, it is important for them to be part of something more. If your work is routine and just allows you to pay bills, get yourself a hobby that helps change the world for the better. You can go somewhere volunteer. Many sensitive people are fond of art and literature or work in the creative field. It is important to stop repeating the beliefs of others that "all this is nonsense, since it does not bring money," and find time for actions that nourish your soul.

how have a business from highly sensitive man

Despite their poor reputation, sensitive people can be great workers and friends. They are very responsible, independent, attentive to details, they always think about how the other person feels.

When dealing with highly sensitive people, keep in mind that they can react to many things that do not cause you any reaction. Accept that it’s not their fantasies, but that they really feel the world. They are not necessarily "crybaby", but they can cry, it would seem, out of the blue.

Sensitive people get tired quickly if they bring down a ton of information at once, so give them time to “digest” it. If one of your subordinates constantly asks for permission to work from home or spends more time outside the desktop than behind him, it is possible that he does not take time off from work, but simply is a highly sensitive person and thus tries to find a balance.

If your child is hypersensitive, do not judge his sensitivity, but help to learn how to deal with emotions and express them in a constructive way - for example, through drawing or dancing. A strict regime and psychological boundaries will also greatly help in this. Make sure that your hypersensitive child does not constantly have a computer turned on - he needs rest, even if he still does not understand this. Keep in mind that the situation in the family and at school has a very strong emotional impact on the sensitive child. So, if your child suddenly began to get too tired or naughty, find out what is happening in his environment - perhaps he “picked up” the emotional state from his peers.

Highly sensitive people, whose childhood was normal, are no different from others, and even, according to research, a little happier than others. So take care of your hypersensitive child or your inner child if you yourself are a highly sensitive person - and you will be the happiest people!

You can take the sensitivity test developed by Elaine Aron for free on my website.

Editorial opinion may not reflect the views of the author.
In case of health problems do not self-medicate, consult your doctor.

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Do you feel that your reaction to things is stronger than the rest? Are you worried about how other people feel? Do you prefer a quiet rather than chaotic environment?

If the above is right for you, then you can be very sensitive. A personality trait - which was first investigated by Ph.D. Elaine A. Aron in the early 1990s - is relatively common in every fifth person. Aron has written many works and books on excessive sensitivity, including such as “Very Sensitive People,” and has also developed a test () to help you determine if you are a very sensitive person.

Although the recent interest in introversion - mainly due to publications of a wide profile about the subject, including Susan Kane's book “Silence” - has brought more interest in personality traits than the values \u200b\u200bof less stimulation and greater sensitivity, Aron noticed that very sensitive people are still, like generally considered a "minority".

But a "minority" does not mean that it is bad - in fact, a very sensitive person combines many positive characteristics. The following are some common features common to all sensitive people.

1. Their feelings are deeper

One of the distinguishing characteristics of very sensitive people is their ability to have deeper feelings than their less sensitive peers. “They like to take things at a deep level,” Ted Zeff, Ph.D., author of The Survival Guide for Very Sensitive People and other books about very sensitive people, says HuffPost. "They are very intuitive, and can go much further to sort things out."

2. They are more emotionally responsive

Very sensitive people react more to the situation. For example, they will be more sympathetic and caring about a friend’s problems, says Aron. They can also take more care of other people who are victims of negative actions.

3. They are used to hearing: “Don't take everything so close to your heart” or “Why are you so sensitive?”

Depending on the culture, sensitivity can be perceived as a valuable contribution or a negative trait, explains Zeff. In some of his studies, Zeff says that very sensitive men from different countries with whom he worked - such as Thailand and India - were rarely or never teased, while men from North America were often or always teased. “So many of them are very cultural - the same person who said“ in certain cultures, this is considered a valuable contribution. ”

4. They are used to working alone

Very sensitive people tend to avoid getting into a sports team, where there is a feeling that everyone is constantly monitoring the actions of the other, says Zeff. In his research, most of the respondents who are very sensitive people prefer individual sports - cycling, running, hiking, rather than group. However, this is not a generally accepted rule - some very sensitive people had parents who instilled in them the understanding that it would be easier for them to become a member of a group sport, Zeff reports.

5. They make decisions longer

Very sensitive people have a more informed and detailed approach to decision making, says Aron. Even if this decision is not “right” or “wrong” - for example, it is impossible to choose the “wrong” taste of ice cream - very sensitive people will tend to choose longer because they weigh every possible outcome. ” Aron advises: “Think for as long as the situation allows, and ask for more time if you need it,” she writes in a recent issue of the Comfort Zone newsletter. “At this time, try to qualify for a minute, hour, day, or even a week, which will help you get on the right track. What is it like? Often, on the other side of the decision, things look different, and this gives a chance to more vividly imagine that you are already there. ” One exception: Once a very sensitive person comes to the conclusion that in this situation this will be the right decision, and in another situation it will be, and in the future he or she will quickly make these decisions.

6. They are more disappointed if they make “bad” or “wrong” decisions.

Can you imagine how you feel when you make the wrong decision? For very sensitive people, “these emotions are amplified because their emotional activity is higher”, explains Aron.

7. They are extremely attentive to detail.

Very sensitive people are the first to notice details in the room, the new shoes that you shod, or changes in the weather.

8. Not all very sensitive people are introverts

About 30 percent of very sensitive people are extroverts, referring to Aron. He explains that many times very sensitive people who were also extroverts grew into a close-knit community - whether it was a dead end, a small town or with a parent who worked as a priest or rabbi - and so interacted with a lot of people.

9. They work well in a team

Since very sensitive people are deep thinkers, they are valuable workers and team members.says Aron. However, they are well suited to those team positions where you do not need to make the final decision. For example, if a very sensitive person is part of a medical team, he or she is valuable in analyzing the pros and cons of the patient being operated on, until someone else ultimately decides whether the patient needs surgery.

10. They are most prone to anxiety or depression (but only if there have been many negative experiences in the past)

“If you have enough bad experiences, especially in your early life, you don’t feel safe in this world or feel confident at home ... or at school, your nervous system is too“ anxious, ”says Aron. But it is not necessary to say that all very sensitive people will continue to worry - those who have a favorable environment can go a long way towards protecting themselves from this. Parents of very sensitive children, especially should “understand that these are really great children, but they need to be kept on the right track,” says Aron. “You can reboot them, but you should not protect them. You must titrate them in their youth so that they feel confident and feel good. ”

11. Annoying sound irritates a very sensitive person even more

It’s hard to say that someone is a fan of annoying sound, and very sensitive people are even more sensitive to chaos and noise. That's why they tend to be more depressed because of too much activity, says Aron.

12. Violent movies are the worst

Because very sensitive people are even more sympathetic and even more annoyed. Cruel or horror movies are not their thing, Aron says.

13. They are easier to make cry

That’s why it’s important for very sensitive people to put themselves in a situation where they will not feel upset or somehow “wrong” to cry easily, says Zeff. If their friends and family realize that it’s simple — that they can easily be made to cry — and support this form of expression, then “easy crying” will not be seen as something shameful.

14. They have good manners.

Very sensitive people are also very conscientious people, as Aron says. Therefore, they are most likely attentive and have good manners - and they always notice unscrupulous people. For example, a very sensitive person may be more aware of where his cart is in the store - not because he is afraid that someone might steal something from there, but because he does not want his cart to interfere with someone else .

15. For very sensitive people, the effects of criticism are greatly amplified.

Very sensitive people have a reaction to criticism, which is all the more intense the less sensitive the person. As a result, they can use certain tactics to avoid criticism, including flatterers (so that no one criticizes them), criticizing themselves, first, and avoiding sources of criticism, Aron says.

People can say something negative, [and] not VHF (a very sensitive person) can say “It doesn't matter” and not respond to them, says Zeff. But VHF will feel it very deeply.

16. Cabinets \u003d good. Open offices \u003d bad

Since very sensitive people prefer to work alone, they also prefer a single work environment. Zeff says that many very sensitive people like working at home or being private entrepreneurs because they can control the incentives of their work environment. Those who do not have the luxury of creating their own flexible work schedules (and environments), Zeff notes that very sensitive people can enjoy working in an office - where they have more privacy and less noise - than in open offices.

When the words " hypersensitivity», « sensitive person", And even the term that has already become commonplace sounds - VChL (highly sensitive people), then it becomes immediately clear - we are talking about something that goes beyond the average, a certain statistical majority.

Many, having heard “increased sensitivity” and “sensitive person”, imagine a kind of muslin lady, regardless of the real sex, which faints “from an excess of feelings” a little.

Someone believes that all this is a whim, and it’s enough to “get together”, “stop wrapping yourself up,” and immediately this sensitivity will pass. All this, they say, from spoiling.

Others, of whom a minority, believe that increased sensitivity is a gift, and a sensitive person is most likely talented and inclined to creativity.

Let’s try to figure out what VLF really is, and, most importantly, how to live with it among those whose sensitivity level is mostly lower.

What is hypersensitivity and who are VChL?

Obviously, if there is an increased sensitivity, there is also a certain average, we can say - a statistical majority, something that many are accustomed to starting from, as from the norm.

Sensitivity in general is the ability of the human nervous system to perceive and respond to various stimuli coming from outside. If you do not delve into the structure of the nervous system and physics, then in general we can say that human sensitivity exists within certain limits.

For example, a person’s hearing recognizes sounds in the range of 20 - 20,000 hertz, or a person’s light sensitivity is in the range of 380 - 760 nm, but everything that is inside these frames has very individual shades.

For example, to one person the conversation of the neighbors behind the wall will seem like a light, barely noticeable noise. The other will not hear anything at all. To the third - every word will be heard. So it can be with color and with other sensations - taste, smells, touch. So it can be with a sensation of pain - any doctor will tell you that the pain threshold in a person is individual.

At the same time, researchers note that the world's population is about 15% - VChL, highly sensitive people. The rest have the same average sensitivity, which is usually perceived as the norm. Rarely, there are cases of complete or partial loss of sensitivity, which are mainly associated with diseases of the central nervous system or with severe psychological shocks.

Why is that? Here, scientists so far agree that increased sensitivity is an innate characteristic. How much hereditary factors determine it is difficult to say, because in some cases one can observe the appearance of children with high sensitivity in the family of parents with average indicators.

True, no one will say for sure whether even one of the parents of the child really lacked hypersensitivity, or whether he simply actively suppressed it and skillfully hid it. There are not so many studies on this subject yet, but so far several obvious signs of VChF can be identified.

Signs of VChL

Physical

This is the case when the conversation of the neighbors behind the wall seems loud and distinct to you, unlike the others. You are annoyed by pungent odors, too bright light, you are susceptible to light touches, distinguish the slightest shades of taste, temperature, your body responds quite noticeably to many interventions - medications, caffeine, other psychoactive and stimulating substances, you have a reduced pain threshold (pain comes earlier , from less noticeable incentives than for most).

Emotional

You have an increased sense of empathy, you are quite easily imbued with the situation of another person and easily “pick up” his emotions, you can easily feel the condition of the people around you, sometimes - regardless of your desire, you easily feel the atmosphere of some place, you are more susceptible to art, you are able to experience strong emotions from the "little things."

Intelligent

You carefully think over and weigh your words, any incoming information, you tend to reflect on it, you have increased attention to details, nuances (for example, you notice grammatical errors and typos, are susceptible to all kinds of sloppiness, carelessness in the environment that others may not notice for a long time at all), you are able to see many meanings in any external object.

This division, of course, is conditional - it is impossible to disassemble a person as a mechanism into parts, therefore, of course, everything is connected. But a sensitive person is not necessarily the one who has all his senses at the limit.

Say, he may have very high auditory and visual sensitivity, while he may exhibit a normal pain threshold or, say, not show high sensitivity with respect to drugs. Or, for example, a person has high empathy, but he is not inclined to go deep into intellectual meanings.

Therefore, now we’ll talk about the nuances of high sensitivity, touch upon common myths about sensitivity, talk about how this is related to other aspects of a person’s psychological characteristics - for example, introversion / extraversion, psychotype, temperament, degree of neuroticism, and can whether it be a symptom of some other condition, illness.

Sensitive person: a special psychological characteristic

In general, hypersensitivity is not an inborn characteristic of a person, but a consequence of certain conditions of the body. For example, sensitivity can increase in the presence of chronic lack of sleep, constant fatigue, severe stress (as, however, a partial decrease in sensitivity, like “freezing” in the presence of very strong and indigestible feelings, can also be a reaction to stress).

Hypersensitivity may accompany some mental disorders and somatic diseases, especially those associated with the central nervous system. But this mention is only so that you can decide for yourself whether your characteristic is permanent or temporary. Here we will talk mainly about those whose hypersensitivity is constant, you yourself remember this all your life, and you have not observed any other serious deviations in the field of health.

So far, I have not come across studies in which it would be clearly possible to trace which psychotypes more often correlate with increased sensitivity. However, our own practice gives enough reason to assert: hypersensitivity is neither the fifth type of temperament, nor any special psychotype; VChL are found among representatives of different temperaments and psychotypes.

It can be said that some psychotypes appear among HFM more often than others, but a clear correlation has not yet been traced. That is, a sensitive person can be born that way with any other character traits.

Many suggest that VChL are more likely to be introversion. This is understandable logically: a sensitive person needs more time to recover from contact with the outside world, because external stimuli act on him more than others, and he needs to disconnect from strong stimulation more often.

But I also met extroverts among VChL. Yes, such a person also needed to retire from time to time, to have time to recover, but the focus of attention of such a person was still directed to the outside world, and not to the inner one, like introverts.

With temperament, it is also not possible to establish a clear connection. It would be logical to assume that people with fast excitement and slow inhibition are more consistent with RFL, in other words, they are easy to start, but difficult to calm down (which are melancholy), but it is more like speculation about what a sensitive person should be, or It could be in the opinion of the average majority, and not on reality.

And the logic can be completely different. Sometimes hypersensitivity fits quite well, say, in phlegmatic, which in appearance does not look like a sensitive person at all. However, the phlegmatic temperament creates good protection for the carrier of delicate sensitivities, and it even blooms inside it with a magnificent color, since outwardly it threatens little.

In general, here we can say that increased sensitivity is not directly related to specific features of the psychotype, temperament, or focus of attention, it exists as a separate psychophysiological characteristic embedded in other personality parameters.

VChL: thinking and interpretation

But a person does not just feel feelings, he also interprets them. For example, the fact that he reacts more strongly to people around and their condition, needs more rest from this stimulation, he can interpret in different ways.

He can calmly say to himself: “Yes, for me today it’s too much, I want to stay in silence” - and calmly retire. Or he can start to wind up himself in the spirit of "all people are like people, but I'm not like that, probably something is wrong with me, since everything starts to annoy me so quickly ...."

Often, VChL are confused with people who are prone to anxiety, suspiciousness and thinking out on this basis for others. But heightened sensitivity and anxiety, reinforced by fantasies, are two different things.

A sensitive person will be able to catch the real state of another person - for example, he will be able to feel that his boss has already entered the office irritated and tense, and the further separation of employees only stemmed from his initial state. Therefore, a sensitive person is unlikely to attribute this to his own account. However, he may be hurt for another reason - too loud, too bright, too much.

But an anxious person just might not feel the real state of his superiors, he is mainly occupied with his experiences, and therefore he will easily attribute the separation to himself, and then he will worry for days about his allegedly worthlessness and unluckiness.

It is also easy to confuse people who know how to demonstrate their feelings loudly and vividly (it is not at all necessary that the feelings are sincere, and that they even exist) with VChL. But demonstration and real feeling are very different things. VChL just do not rush so quickly and especially so loudly share their feelings: the demonstration attracts attention even more, forces to digest a lot more external stimuli and even more aggravates the fatigue from their own reactions.

And here it’s very logical to mention a few common myths about sensitivity.

VChL: myths and reality

Myth: sensitive person is weak

In fact, rather the opposite. Among them, there are many generally strong people who possess their feelings much better sometimes than the representatives of the average majority.

Why? Yes, because from childhood, such a child understands that he is different from others, that his feelings are sometimes not taken seriously by others. Parents and other adults are not always ready to take feelings (and even more so - so subtle!) Into account and sometimes even declare them abnormal.

Naturally, in response to this, the child develops protection. And one of them is the formation of the ability to track and control your emotions. Yes, sometimes this leads to sad options - a habit is formed to suppress your feelings, low self-esteem, a feeling of constant incomprehensibility and rejection.

But increased sensitivity gives its bonus, especially with high intelligence: after all, a mass of feelings inaccessible to others is a mass of information, it is a more complete and rich knowledge of the world, it is a more subtle insight into the essence of human motives and relationships, and as a result - a more effective strategy of action, and in the long term - a more comfortable place in life.

In general, HFM are less characteristic of reckless acts “on emotions”, they are more likely to think about the nuances of their reactions and behavior, they can more effectively cope with difficult life situations, if only because life taught them how to cope with their feelings very early less sensitive world.

Myth: a sensitive person is open, kind and therefore very vulnerable.

This is also from the realm of fantasy. VChL are most often inclined to protect their feelings from others, at least experience teaches them. Not every closed person belongs to the category of VChL, but we can say that among the VChL those who are considered to be closed are many. And, especially having experience of different perceptions of themselves, VChL are very selective in communication.

The ability to empathy, which, of course, is in large part among VChL - not a reason for kindness and, especially, naivety. The experience of subtle feeling can be applied in different ways, but think about it: subtle sensitivity involves the sensation of all spectra.

And this means that a sensitive person feels not only wonderful feelings of positive people. In principle, they are not enough in the world, to say the least. And it turns out that the main content of empathy is very different, and not always a positive state of people.

What conclusions can the RFL draw from this? - yes any. You can find yourself in a helping profession, to build on this empathy, to give it a place. And you can hate the whole human race for the constant violation of borders and for the very joyless inner content. And for example, to become a charming villain such as Hannibal Lecter, who, in addition to killing, enjoys delicate dishes from their liver or brain, decorates the house with exquisite paintings and listens to rare performances of the opera.

Therefore, in terms of moral guidelines, VChL can be at any pole of society, and sensitivity will only tell their actions certain shades, but it does not limit their choice in terms of their own ethics.

Myth: sensitive people - talented and smart.

This is partly true, of course, because hypersensitivity in itself is an indication for certain types of activity in which it is needed - many areas of art and science (especially where intuition matters), generally the creative environment, helping professions - psychologists, doctors, social workers.

But at the same time, increased sensitivity also imposes certain limitations - for example, a sensitive person cannot always work in those conditions in which the majority can work. And sometimes this becomes an obstacle to career development in a standard way accepted in society and a particular profession.

I knew people who had increased sensitivity combined with low intelligence. This, perhaps, is the most difficult of all VChL, because there is not enough resource to realize its uniqueness, while they also do not always succeed in fully integrating into the world of ordinary people.

To summarize, we can say that VChL are just people with a separate characteristic, which is combined with different personality characteristics. Of course, increased sensitivity, to one degree or another, leaves its mark on the formation of a psychotype, on interaction with temperament, and on behavioral habits.

Understanding that you belong to highly sensitive people can explain a lot.

According to studies, 15 to 20 percent of the population is highly sensitive. However, many have no idea what it means to be an overly sensitive person.

Despite the connection with introversion, high sensitivity is not equal to it. Highly sensitive people are hypersensitive to a number of factors and stimuli, from reactions to caffeine to reactions to pain. It is not surprising that highly sensitive people have noticeable behavioral features.

What do highly sensitive people do? Here is a nine-point list dedicated to answering this question. (Adapted from Eron’s book, The Scale of a Highly Sensitive Person.)

They are afflicted and crushed if they have to redo a lot of things. Highly sensitive people need a lot of effort to continue working when they are faced with the need to complete several tasks. Their increasing anxiety is noticeable, and the higher the level of stress, the more difficult it is for them to be productive.
The noisy environment seems to them chaos. Highly sensitive people cannot work successfully in open offices. Their feelings are overloaded due to looks, sounds, smells and activities boiling around.
They are "malignant." When a highly sensitive person is hungry, he gets angry. It is very difficult for him to continue his studies, and he often transfers irritation to those who have turned up by the arm.
It is unbearable for them to be monitored. Highly sensitive people are at the peak of their capabilities when they are alone with themselves. Put them in a stressful situation, for example, when the boss watches their sales presentation, and they most likely will not withstand such a load.
Art takes them for a soul. When attending a concert or art gallery, highly sensitive people lively perceive art. They are overwhelmed by emotions, and these emotions are deeply lived.
They are aware of someone else's discomfort. Highly sensitive people readily admit that some of those present need to dim the lights or reduce the volume of the music. Without saying a word, they understand that other people's feelings are overloaded.
They feel uncomfortable with a loud noise. Loud rock concerts and noisy fireworks shows are not too much fun for the highly sensitive. They have a lower threshold for noise susceptibility compared to other people.
They avoid the media in which cruelty is demonstrated. Watching movies with violent scenes or playing naturalistic video games is too heavy for highly sensitive people. Therefore, do not be surprised when they refuse to watch a horror movie with you for a company.

High sensitivity: pros and cons

Most people are aware of the dangers associated with high sensitivity - for example, the increased risk of depression and anxiety, but sensitivity does not only consist of flaws.

Highly sensitive people are more conscious. They notice details that others may not pay attention to, and they can also be creative people.

High sensitivity is not a disorder that should be addressed. On the contrary, such a sensitivity is deeper

processing signals from the senses. Understanding and recognizing your own high sensitivity will help you gain a better understanding of yourself and your needs.

Highly sensitive people are a gift for humanity. Although they are sometimes mistaken for the weak, they are actually very empathetic and able to demonstrate a high degree of understanding and concern. Such individuals have a unique ability. They can withstand a cold and indifferent society and remain as open and understanding as ever.

High sensitivity caused by genetics

According to scientific studies, high sensitivity is caused by genetics, in particular the highly sensitive nervous system. This makes the person very subtly perceive everything that is around her, and more vividly and emotionally respond to it.

How do genes affect this? To do this, you need to understand such concepts as temperament and personality. Temperament is a set of innate features that determine how a person will see this world. This is a complex phenomenon that is literally woven into human DNA. A personality is that into which a person transforms under the influence of his temperament, life experience, value system, education, and many other factors. Personality is the result of exposure to both external factors and society, and behavior.

If you depict this visually, the temperament resembles a blank canvas, while the person chooses what she will draw on this canvas. In this case, the personality can change for various reasons, while temperament remains unchanged. Thus, high sensitivity is the result of how a person’s temperament is manifested in his personality.

The brain of highly sensitive people is different from others.

According to scientific studies, the brain of highly sensitive people is able to process much more information coming from the environment, compared to those who do not possess such a feature. Such people see more and more figuratively, constantly create specific associations, and such people have a high level of intuition.

The brain of sensitive people perceives, evaluates, processes and synthesizes information constantly. That is why they seem so absorbed, tired and even distracted. Unlike other people, such individuals need more frequent rest.

How to learn to cope with high sensitivity?

Now that you understand the nature of this phenomenon, you can take certain steps towards learning how to live with high sensitivity. Here are some ideas and tips to help you understand yourself or to understand people around you with this feature:

Being a sensitive person is not a curse. Accept and love yourself for who you are.
Allow yourself to show emotions. Do not hide everything that you feel, just so as not to stand out from others.
Learn to understand that the world really needs people like you. Sensitivity shows us that we are human beings and keeps society from sinking into indifference, inertness and coldness.
Give yourself time to relax. Highly sensitive people are easily amenable to causeless anxiety, depression. Learn to see moments when your emotional state begins to reach high levels and you need to take a break.
For a highly sensitive soul, loneliness can become one of the most valuable and positive things. Do not forget sometimes just to be alone with yourself.

In addition, people with high sensitivity are not only very kind and gentle, they are also able to very deeply understand and perceive the mood and emotions of those people they love. They know how to listen, hear, understand and truly empathize, which undoubtedly refers to the best human qualities.

Output

High sensitivity is not an indicator of weakness, but rather, it shows that you are still not indifferent and not cold, like most of modern society. There is nothing shameful in showing your emotions, because it is they who make such people so unique and inimitable. Thanks to the existence of such personalities, our world is still humane, warm and not indifferent.