I didn't know it had a name and I certainly didn't know I carried this personality trait, but I've been sensitive to everything around me my entire life. It only took me 50 years to figure it out but once I did, it was incredibly liberating.
I had always wondered why simple things would exhaust me, why I couldn't concentrate in social settings, why I had such a high startle reflex, why I cried about everything, why I loved so deeply and appreciated sweet, beautiful, things on another level. It helped me to finally understand myself. It was a beautiful curse.
I didn't like the word, "sensitive". I was too strong to be considered sensitive. I'd already survived an abusive marriage and a difficult divorce, while raising my children without help and I came out of it strong and independent in the end. How dare anyone call me sensitive? Once I realized that the term, "highly sensitive person" actually means *"those who are thought to have an increased or deeper central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional or social stimulation (or sensory processing sensitivity for short), it all made sense to me!
I didn't know it had a name and I certainly didn't know I carried this personality trait, but I've been sensitive to the environment my entire life. It only took me 50 years to figure it out but once I did, it was incredibly liberating.
Affected by the energy and moods of the people around me.
High startle reflex
Feeling overwhelmed in noisy or crowded places
Feeling extremely drained after spending time with people
Difficulty falling asleep/stopping your "monkey mind" after social situations
Performance anxiety when being observed
Sensitivity to lights, sounds, caffeine, alcohol
Cries easily, deeply emotional
Called shy as a child
Easily overwhelmed by too many tasks at once or a long to-do list
People pleaser to the max
Stressed by conflict and will avoid it at all cost
Holy cow, that's me!