It is estimated that close to 20% of the population could be called highly sensitive, and you might be one of those people. Take our highly sensitive person test, find out what being highly sensitive means, and find out if it is possible to be an over sensitive person, or if being called “overly sensitive” is unfair.
Have you ever felt overwhelmed in a big group of loud people, and you seemed to be the only one who was? Are you attuned to other people’s feelings? Do you need alone time after high stress to collect yourself? You might be what they call a highly sensitive individual, and you’re not the only one. Join SpiritualBlossom to find out what it means to be a highly sensitive individual and some of the signs you are one. Take our quiz to see if you are and find out some of the careers highly sensitive people excel at. Finally, find out if there is any such thing as being “overly sensitive” and what things you can do to practice good self-care when you are a highly sensitive person.
What’s a Highly Sensitive Person?
Highly sensitive people are called an HSP by some experts. Cleveland Clinic says they are people who are very sensitive to certain emotional, physical, or social situations. They also estimate that 15 to 20% of the population could be called highly sensitive people. Highly sensitive people are more intensely affected by things than people who are not highly sensitive. Bright or flashing lights, large crowds, loud sounds, erratic behavior from other people, or bad moods from other people can affect you much more strongly than it does a lot of other people.
Highly sensitive people may become shy or be called introverts because they need to pick and choose the people and things that they surround themselves with to keep from being suffocated by their sensitivities. They may be anxious or irritable, and they may self-isolate, especially when they're over stimulated. That doesn't mean that they're anti-social. Highly sensitive people just need to control their surroundings a little more than people who aren't highly sensitive. They tend to be more in tune with other people's feelings and needs and be more compassionate also. Read more from the Cleveland Clinic about Highly Sensitive People here: What Is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)? (clevelandclinic.org)
Signs You are Highly Sensitive
There are countless signs that you may be a highly sensitive person. Some are good things, and some can be difficult to deal with. Highly sensitive people care very deeply, and they experience profound ecstasies. They're also highly aware of what their own needs are. On the more difficult side, their feelings can get hurt more easily. They may become uncomfortable much more easily, and a lot of people just don't understand why they are the way that they are.
You Care Deeply
Highly sensitive people aren't just sensitive to their own feelings. They're sensitive to other people's feelings too. Some of them are called empaths. That means they can actually feel other people's feelings. They can also feel animal’s feelings sometimes, and some empaths can feel what plants and the earth itself feels. They don't like to see suffering, and they go out of their way to help to alleviate it. Pisces people are known for being very caring people and you can read about that Zodiac Sign here: Pisces Zodiac Traits and Love Compatibility
You Experience Ecstasies
Spiritual ecstasies are more likely when you are highly sensitive. During a spiritual ecstasy you are more in tune to your inner feelings, and you have higher spiritual awareness. You may have visions, and feelings of intense emotion or euphoria. You may go into a trance-like state when you experience spiritual ecstasy, or you may be consciously aware of things and not in trance. Ecstasies can be life changing, and some people say they completely unite with their higher power while they are in ecstacy. Some people say ecstasy is a miracle and you can read about miracles here: Do Miracles Really Happen?
You Know Your Needs
Highly sensitive people are more aware of their own needs. They know when they need to get away from a person or situation that overwhelms or drains them. They may feel guilty for stepping away from someone, but they shouldn't. Being aware of your physical, emotional, and spiritual needs as a gift. It should be listened to. The first person who needs to listen to your needs is you, and then you can tell other people what your needs are. If you can’t decide how to express your needs, ask a psychic. Find out how they can help here: Speaking with an Intuitive Counselor
Your Feelings Get Hurt Easily
Your feelings can be hurt more easily if you are a highly sensitive individual. Sometimes people don't mean to hurt our feelings, and they feel like they're just being blunt. However, they have to learn to choose their words wisely if they want to have a trusting relationship with a highly sensitive person. Emotions are only a part of who we are, however for highly sensitive people, emotions are a big part of who they are. It is more difficult to set aside your emotions when they are stronger. People who are not highly sensitive can have strong emotions too. Their feelings are probably not as delicate as a highly sensitive individual's feelings though. Highly sensitive people can get their heart broken more easily too and you can read what the major Arcana has to say about that here: Major Arcana Readings about Heartbreak
You Become Uncomfortable Easily
People might make you uncomfortable more easily when you are highly sensitive. It can make you sensitive to things like other people's energy. Other people's energy can overwhelm you very easily, but physical things can too. Certain temperatures, textures, smells, and even the lighting in the room can make you very uncomfortable when you are a highly sensitive individual. You may find yourself controlling your environment to keep from getting uncomfortable. Read some things you can do if you get uncomfortable here: What Should I Do if I Am Uncomfortable?
Some People Don’t Understand You
When you were growing up, people may have asked, “Why are you so sensitive? ” People may have told you that you are too sensitive, or to just stop being sensitive. All along, you were not too sensitive, but just highly sensitive. You can be physically, emotionally, and spiritually more sensitive than other people, and your sensitivities will affect relationships, choices you make, and what kind of things you will choose to do in life. Other highly sensitive people will understand, and it might take some time to find your people. You will and the right people will understand.
Sensitivity Test
Being a highly sensitive individual is not a condition that needs to be diagnosed. It is a way of life, and some people say that it is a personality type. It can happen because of your Zodiac sign, and it can happen because of conditions like autism or anxiety. It can also happen because you had a highly sensitive parent whose habits you learned, and having powerful psychic gifts can also make it happen. Below are 10 questions to ask yourself. How many of them do you say yes to?
1. Can You Detect Other People’s feelings?
2. Can You Tell When Something is About to Happen?
3. Do You Get Tired Easily?
4. Do You Change with the Seasons?
5. Do People Call You Defensive?
6. Do You Notice What Most People Don’t?
7. Do You Get Overstimulated Easily?
8. Do You Have to Decompress After Certain Encounters?
9. Does Temperature, Food, and Light Hit You Hard?
10. Do Other People Strongly Affect You?
Careers For Highly Sensitive People
Being a highly sensitive person doesn't come without struggles, however there are some definite perks to being a highly sensitive person. Being more sensitive than most people will give you some insight to human nature, other people's feelings, and you will care deeply about helping meet other people's needs. The world needs more people like you, and a few career areas where you can thrive are in medical fields, as a teacher, and doing service positions.
Medical
Highly sensitive people make excellent medical care providers. You will be gentler with people's emotions, and touch people more softly when they're suffering. You will be able to anticipate what people's needs are, and that's very helpful when you have impaired individuals who cannot express themselves. Some highly sensitive people are natural born healers, because they can feel other people's feelings, and they know just what to do to make things better. Some highly sensitive people make good medical providers because they care enough to keep working hard until they find the answers and cures.
Teaching
Highly sensitive people can be very patient and understanding, and this makes them excellent teachers. Sometimes, there is no greater feeling than seeing someone learn something that benefits them, and highly sensitive people who become teachers love that. Teaching doesn't necessarily pay well, and you may have to work a lot of extra hours to make sure that you gather enough material to teach. Highly sensitive people will put in those hours. They will also put an extra effort for students who are struggling, and they will think of different approaches to help different people to learn.
Service
Serving people can be very difficult. People can be highly critical and downright mean when you're doing things for them, and they're not necessarily appreciative. However, some highly sensitive people are able to set their own emotions aside because all they care about is helping other people. You can help people no matter what you're doing for a living, as long as your focus is on serving the people who you're taking care of. Even if all you're doing is painting houses for people, your attitude that you're there to help people will give you a gentle touch with a kind attitude that people really appreciate.
Am I Too Sensitive?
Typically, people who tell other people they are “too sensitive” or “overly sensitive” are insensitive people who constantly hurt other people’s feelings. Instead of accepting responsibility for their own hurtful actions and words, they deflect responsibility onto the people they hurt and accuse them of overreacting. So no, you are not “too sensitive”. You are also not “too sensitive” if you pick up on all the things less aware people miss. There is no such thing as being overly sensitive or too sensitive. Being a highly sensitive individual is a good thing, and people who say that you're too sensitive should learn to be more sensitive. Narcissists talk down to people and tell them things like this. Are you in love with a narcissist? Find out here: Loving a Narcissist
Self-Care for Highly Sensitive People
Sensitive people have to watch out for themselves in ways that people who are not highly sensitive don't. Embracing and accepting your unique abilities even if they come with difficulties, is very important. You have to practice psychic shielding and protection techniques, and you have to be highly aware of the way that you are.
Embrace Your Unique Abilities
As a highly sensitive person, you may be very aware of struggles that come along with it, however being highly sensitive also brings blessings. You have the ability to be more considerate than most people, because you are aware of how other people are feeling. You have the ability to come up with solutions that other people cannot see, because your sensitivity gives you deep insight. Your sensitivity also gives you the ability to notice things that other people miss. Embrace these unique abilities and treasure them. Not everyone is as lucky as you are.
Shield
Emotionally and spiritually, you have to have your shields up if you are highly sensitive. You are more sensitive to energy when you're a highly sensitive individual and other people's energy can eat you alive if you let it. A simple psychic shielding technique is to visualize a brick wall around you that nothing can penetrate. You can also imagine yourself bathed in the pure light of the creator and that light won't let anything harmful come to you. When you feel energy coming your way that you don't like, consciously push it away from you. You can learn more shielding techniques here: Protecting Your Spiritual Energy
Practice Self Awareness
As a highly sensitive individual, you will be more aware of your surroundings, and the energy and feelings of other people. Just make sure that you are also fully aware of how you feel and what you are saying and doing. Being sensitive can make you react on impulse, but you don't have to. We can't always control what goes on around us, but we can control our reaction. When your environment or people make your sensitivity and emotions feel out of control, pay close attention to what you say and do. Also be aware of the good things you do because of your sensitivities, because those are the things that people appreciate you for.
If you are a highly sensitive person, you are not alone. It is possible that close to 1/5 of the population is- and that is a lot! People might say you are “too sensitive” but that is them being insensitive. Highly sensitive people can be more kind, considerate, and helpful than people who are less sensitive, but being highly sensitive can be emotionally exhausting sometimes. If you are a highly sensitive person, it is important to practice proper self-care. Highly sensitive people thrive in medical fields, as teachers, and as people doing all forms of service. As a highly sensitive person, you make the world better one day at a time. Thank you for that. Keep being awesome because the world needs you!
If you are a highly sensitive person and you need any kind of support, be it emotional or spiritual reach out any time any day and our psychics will give you all the support you need: Online Psychic Readings
About the Author: Lady Saoirse has studied magic and lore for most of her life but started walking her own Magical Path after being spiritually reborn in the desert. Today she is a High Priestess for The Temple of the Goddess, she is a psychic advisor and spiritual counselor, she shares her gifts as a Psychic and Content Writer for Mysticsense and SpiritualBlossom, and she writes for The Green Egg Magazine and PaganPages.Org emag.
