I think I’m a highly sensitive person.
For a while, I believed I possessed a set of traits that often feel rather inhibiting, especially in social situations – ones I have to actively try and undermine to maintain a cheery facade around other humans.
Mostly I just wrote this off as introversion.
However, in my daily Internet wanderings, I stumbled upon an HSP quiz devised by a psychotherapist, which I scored rather highly on.
Things like the following:
- Being overwhelmed by strong sensory input
- Wanting to withdraw from stimulation and place myself in a quote, dark room
- Leading a rich, complex, inner life
- Feeling frazzled and needing to be alone
- Feeling overwhelmed when I have much to do in a short time
- Trying hard to avoid mistakes and forgetting things
- Feeling sensitive to the needs and emotions of others
- Awareness of subtleties in my environment
- Being shaken up by life changes or alterations in routine
Apparently, around 15-20% of the population exhibit the HSP trait – too many to be a disorder, but enough to make it a recognizable presentation.
I’m not exactly sure what this means and if any actionable strategies can help.
But hey ho. Know thyself and all that.