Many people actually have a condition called being highly sensitive, making them more sensitive or emotional. Highly sensitive people are more sensitive to every little change in life, and are extremely sensitive to over-stimulation.
Here are some signs that you might be a highly sensitive person, also called sensory processing sensitivity.
You Are Overly Empathetic
The first common sign of being a highly sensitive person is being very empathetic. Beyond the point of just putting yourself into other people’s position and imagining what it would be like, but feeling like you actually experience it. When someone else’s mood is down, yours is down. You notice immediately when someone is upset and instantly feel their distress. This can be really hard on you, as it is hard to be around other people’s feelings and emotions, even if you try to shut it out.
You Have Intense Observational Skills
Has anyone ever told you that you seem to notice something before they even knew it themselves? This is a major sign that not only do you have a heightened sense of awareness of every little thing and action, but that probably get it from being highly sensitive. It is related to being empathetic, but goes much deeper than that. As soon as you enter a room, you likely perceive the vibe or energy immediately. You know when your mom or sister is upset and can pick up on even the slightest change in someone’s tone or behavior.
You Can’t Handle Cruelty, Violence, or Graphic Material
Most people cringe or feel a little ill when they see graphic violence or cruelty, but with you, it might be different. It is more severe, and to the point where you know it is going to eat away at you for years. Someone can see a video of an animal in a shelter in need of a home, and feel sad, but forget about it soon after. But highly sensitive people will be thinking about that dog every for months, even years. If something violent, or even just embarrassing happens, it’s like you feel it at your core and you don’t know how to let it go.
You are Affected By Over-Stimulation
Over-stimulation, including sights, sounds, and smells, greatly affects highly sensitive people. You may be more sensitive to bright lights, have a harder time dealing with loud, sudden noises, and might get more afraid than the average person when something unexpected happens.
