"Are you bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises, strong smells or caffeine? Are you deeply moved by the arts or nature? Do you become overwhelmed when a lot is going on around you? Do you have difficulty with big changes? For as long as I can remember, I've seemed to feel life more intensely than many other people. I move through my days flayed open, exposed to the world."
"A beautiful sunrise will send me into ecstatic rapture. I am fascinated by and in awe of the smallest daily occurrences. Large social events such as weddings can leave me overwhelmed to the point of dissociation. Once, when driving on the freeway, I saw a driver swerve to intentionally hit a brown snake with his tyres. I sobbed so hard I had to pull over."
Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs) exhibit high sensory processing sensitivity, a biologically influenced trait that heightens responsiveness to stimuli and depth of processing. HSPs tend to be strongly attuned to aesthetic influences, experience vivid inner lives, and feel emotions intensely. The trait is not a disorder and cannot be diagnosed like a clinical condition, but studies find brain-region differences correlated with high sensitivity. HSPs often encounter overwhelming responses in busy social situations and during major changes. Identifying as highly sensitive can provide recognition and a sense of belonging for those who experience pronounced sensory and emotional intensity.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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