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HSPs may mentally shut down or zone out in crowded bars, at big parties, or even in a busy office setting. It may look like they’ve “checked out” or aren’t listening, but really, they’re simply overwhelmed with sensory input. Remember, their minds are processing every little thing deeply, from the words you just said to the expression on that couple’s face, five tables away.
Certain topics may immediately trigger a stress response in HSPs, especially those involving suffering or cruelty. I can’t watch those TV commercials about animal abuse. When HSPs changes the channel, it may look like they’re being cold and indifferent, but really, it’s quite the opposite: They are deeply moved, so much that it’s painful. Of course, no one enjoys suffering, but for HSPs, the effect is magnified.
Bedtime or morning, HSPs are known for their love of routine, because doing things in a similar way brings comfort and involves less stimulation than anything new. Change can be quite stressful for HSPs, both positive and negative changes.
If someone sneaks up behind you or your alarm clock unexpectedly goes off, you may jump as sky-high as a frightened cat! Many HSPs have a high startle reflex, again due to their nervous system — it’s already “turned up,” so to speak, so even a small amount of added stimulation can activate their fight or flight response.
If someone yells at you, or expresses disappointment in a stern voice, you may feel your whole world crumble — or you may lash out with an oversized response. Conflict can overstimulate HSPs, who aim to please. In school, if you were the student who felt bad when other students got scolded by the teacher — even though you weren’t involved! — you might be an HSP. A fight with a friend or spouse may leave an HSP feeling so physically unwell that they can’t sleep or eat.
You’re always holding back an “I told you so.” No, HSPs aren’t psychics, but they usually see it coming, on account of their pattern-recognition abilities and penchant for future thinking. This can be a valuable asset to those around them, helping their families and work teams avoid trouble.
Deadlines are stressful for everyone, especially ones happening RIGHT NOW, but for HSPs, it’s worse. Time pressure, whether it’s getting out the door on time to catch a flight or handing in an assignment by its due date, is another form of stimulation that can really rattle HSPs.
It’s exhilarating, like your whole world feels like it’s changing. But any changes — even good ones! — are processed deeply by HSPs, and can border on overwhelming.
You may have a hard time distinguishing your emotions from those belonging to others. Due to their heightened empathy and ability to read others well, HSPs can be emotional sponges — and it’s exhausting.
Similar to #9, when those around you feel sadness, anger, or tension, you soak it right up. They probably don’t realize that when you’re trying to cheer them up, you’re trying to make the bad feelings go away for yourself too.
So much noise, so many demands. Sometimes, when you come home, you head straight to your bedroom, where you turn the lights low and relax in silence; it’s what’s needed to calm your overactive senses.
Good smells can invigorate HSPs, while bad smells may make them “smangry,” again due to their deep processing of all sensory information. When someone wearing strong perfume walks into the room, HSPs may have to move away because the smell overpowers their already ramped-up senses.
Maybe raspberries are too tart, seafood is nauseating, and dark chocolate is divine. Other people may judge your food preferences: “Stop being so picky!”
When HSPs get hungry, they get really hungry, and along comes everyone’s “favorite” hangry symptoms: irritability and a lack of focus.
Caffeine, alcohol, and even prescription drugs can have a strong effect on HSPs. This can be a good thing, because only one cup of Earl Grey will do the trick, but it may also mean you’ve woken up to some, err, head-pounding hangovers.
Because HSPs are so in tune with their environment, they know when the lights are too bright, the layout is claustrophobic, and the chair backs are too hard. No, they’re not being “picky” — they really can’t — they really can’t help but notice!
If you’ve ever felt a deep sense of awe — or pain — at art, music, or literature, you may be an HSP. Personally, music can make me soar, and leaves blowing in the wind on a crisp fall day catching the sunlight can make me feel like I’ve stepped into another world. On the downside, one of my most alienating memories as a child was wondering why my peers weren’t moved to tears and unshakeable questions about the universe after watching a movie about outer space.
That likely includes a rich imagination, natural creativity, and vivid dreams.
Similar to #15, a headache can really hurt; a muscle cramp can feel like a vice. HSPs are strong, and they hate to complain, but if only others knew what they were going through.
Dr. Aron estimates that about 70% of HSPs are introverts, so it makes sense that they’d love their alone time. But even extroverted HSPs often decline social invitations, not because they don’t love their friends, but because socializing can be loads of stimulation.
Similar to #1, busy public spaces can simply be too much. You might be an HSP if you know exactly when the grocery store is busy and avoid going at that time.
…whether it’s your music, the TV, or the podcast in your headphones. One click up or down makes a big difference to your sensitive ears. You often find yourself trying to sneak the remote control away from your spouse!
Research has found that HSPs have genes that make them see other people as the brightest “things” on their radar. That makes them natural counselors, healers, and human lie detectors. It’s not an exaggeration to say that HSPs often understand other people better than those people understand themselves.
For HSPs, sleep is not just self-care; it’s also a way to soothe their overwrought senses and process their strong emotions. If you’re the one in your family who is militant about bedtimes, you might be an HSP. Because when you don’t get enough sleep? Everything. Is. Awful.
“Flooding” is the extremely uncomfortable feeling of being overwhelmed mentally and emotionally, and it happens to HSPs a lot. Here’s how to recognize and calm flooding.
Strong empathy and an innate desire to help mean you don’t want to disappoint anyone. No wonder HSPs suffer from burnout, exhaustion, and overwhelm at higher levels than others.
For HSPs, life isn’t about their paycheck, their “toys,” or their social media likes. Sure, they want to live the good life, too, and we all need a certain measure of money, friends, and security to do just that. But for HSPs, they can have all those things and still feel desperately unhappy if meaning is lacking. They will leave a well-paying job (or a relationship) if it doesn’t fulfill their inner needs. Deep processing means deep thinking, so HSPs seek the eternal truths that underpin it all: love, connection, justice, making a difference, and peace.
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Because they process information deeply, HSPs may move a little slower than non-HSPs. They may need more time to do certain tasks, like getting out of the house in the morning. They may take a little longer to make decisions, such as which item to buy at the grocery store, because they are taking in not just the mountain of choices, but also nutrition information, price, and how they feel about chicken noodle. Suddenly, their mind flashes to chickens being cooped up in tiny cages then slaughtered… and they must take a few beats to ponder if they can live with this reality on their dinner plate or not. All of this takes time.
Like introverts, HSPs can’t go-go-go for too long. Their extra sensitive nervous systems absorb mounds of information and process it to the umpteenth degree. As a result, they may get easily overwhelmed and worn out after a busy day. Time to relax lowers their stimulation level and restores their sanity.
Preferably #2 is paired with #3. This space, ideally, would have low lighting, little noise, a warm feeling, a beautiful look, and the HSP’s favorite tools to relax (a book, music, a comfy pillow, etc.).
Not only are HSPs extra sensitive to environmental stimulation, they’re also sensitive emotionally. According to Dr. Elaine Aaron, sensitive people tend to cry more than non-HSPs. “Sensitive people can’t help but express what they’re feeling,” “They show their anger, they show their happiness. Appreciating that is really important.”
Transitions can be tough for anybody, but for HSPs, they can quickly snowball into a bundle of stress and overwhelm. Even positive changes, like starting a new relationship or moving into a dream home, can be overstimulating and require an extra long period of adjustment.
HSPs crave deep connections with others. They may get bored or restless in relationships that lack meaningful interaction. However, this doesn’t mean that they’re prone to relationship hopping. Rather, they may actually work harder to strike up a meaningful conversation with their partner and create intimacy.
This also means HSPs tend to be selective about the people they let into their lives. A simple surface-level, give-and-take relationship will simply not cut it for an HSP. They want to dive deep into your soul and connect with you in a profound way. Let them.
HSP or not, fighting with a loved one is the worst, but sensitive people tend to feel extra anxious when conflict arises. Often an internal battle takes place. The HSP may have strong feelings about something, but they keep them to themselves, because they don’t want to make the other person mad. Dealing with an angry person can be overstimulating.
Plus, we hate hurting other people because we know from personal experience just how much that sucks. HSPs tend to have high levels of empathy, and this is just one of the ways our caring for others shows up.
Unfortunately, this means sensitive people often hide their needs and just “go along to get along.” They need a healthy way of dealing with disagreements that doesn’t involve yelling or drama.
A lack of sleep is enough to make anyone cranky, sloppy, and oh-so-unproductive. But a lack of sleep for an HSP can make life almost unbearable. Getting enough sleep helps soothe the HSP’s ramped-up senses and allows them to process their emotions. How much sleep a sensitive person gets can literally make or break their day.
According to Aron, hunger can really mess with a sensitive person’s mood or concentration. HSPs are the ultimate monsters.
Surprise, surprise… some HSPs are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine and alcohol.
Many HSPs have a strong need to create. They channel their poignant observations, insights, and emotions into art, poetry, music, and more. Sensitivity can be overwhelming, but it is also like having extra RAM on my personal hard drive…Creativity is the pressure valve for all that accumulated emotional and sensory data.”
Some people seem to drift through life without direction or purpose. For HSPs, this is unthinkable. Rather, they think deeply about the big things in life. Who are they, why are they here, and what were they put on this planet to do? Whether it’s writing a novel, traveling the world, or leading the way for a cause they believe in, HSPs crave meaning.
Because most people are not highly sensitive, they simply don’t understand what it’s like to get very stressed out by, say, a startling noise, a busy weekend, or a violent scene in a movie. Not everyone will understand, and that’s okay. But what an HSP needs is at least a few people — preferably the people closest to them — to “get” their sensitivity. Someone who not only gets it, but helps protect them from overstimulation (“Yes, it’s perfectly okay that we leave the party now. I can see all over your face that you’re overstimulated.”). And, someone who sees all the wonderful gifts that come with this rare trait.
HSP or not, our environment affects us, people tend to feel happier in rooms with curved edges and rounded contours than in sharp-edged rectangular rooms. Green spaces boost our mood and soothe yourselves. For HSPs, this effect is even more profound. For them, the way things look really matters. Cluttered, chaotic, or just plain ugly environments may really unsettle them. Beauty is a soul-balm that rejuvenates and soothes.
Forbes
“Psychospirituality” refers to integrating psychological self-awareness with spiritual growth, resulting in a holistic sense of well-being and personal development. It involves using both psychological insight and spiritual practices to understand oneself and better navigate life’s challenges.
A 2020 study published in Frontiers In Psychology theorizes that certain psychological character strengths, such as kindness, gratitude and wisdom are associated with being psychospiritual. Researchers suggest that individuals with these qualities are more likely to experience “spiritual wholeness.”
“Wholeness involves embracing all aspects of oneself—emotional, mental and spiritual, resulting in a unified, coherent sense of identity. This state of wholeness is marked by a deep connection to one’s inner self, values and purpose, leading to a fulfilling and meaningful life,” the researchers explain.
Here are three signs of psychospirituality, according to the study.
Psychospiritual individuals prioritize understanding their inner world and emotions. You may be more likely to engage in practices such as meditation, breath-work or journaling, to gain clarity of thought, process emotions and pursue deep inner growth and healing.
You might also actively observe and acknowledge your own strengths, such as patience or compassion, and look for these qualities in others. This “strengths-spotting” enhances your self-awareness and deepens your connection to those around you, allowing for a more enriched and interconnected sense of self. For instance, many teachers are able to spot their students’ strengths and encourage them accordingly.
For you, virtues like kindness, gratitude and humility aren’t just admirable traits, but core principles that guide your life. You consciously strive to cultivate these qualities, believing they enhance your well-being and bring you closer to a state of inner harmony.
As a psychospiritual person, you are likely drawn to various spiritual teachings and practices, seeking wisdom from diverse traditions. This curiosity isn’t superficial but stems from a genuine desire to understand the nature of existence and your place within it. Practices like mindfulness, yoga or studying different religious texts may resonate with you.
You also strive to cultivate a mindset that allows you to perceive the sacred in everyday moments. “Ultimately, this practice is about becoming a good spiritual explorer,” the researchers write.
You are likely to ask exploratory questions, seek deeper meanings to life events and reflect on past sacred experiences, all while remaining open to new ways of connecting with the divine.
Instead of feeling defeated by setbacks, you view them as opportunities to evolve both psychologically and spiritually, integrating these experiences into a meaningful life story of your own.
A key aspect of this perspective is “positive reappraisal,” where you consciously reframe challenging situations to see their hidden value or lesson. This involves using character strengths, such as emotional regulation and resilience, to transform stress into an avenue for self-discovery, spiritual enrichment and exploration.
“The exploration can be stimulated by a number of questions: might you discover the sacred not only within the good but also within your troubles and challenges? Could this situation be reframed as an opportunity for spiritual growth? What did you learn today that has taught you something about what it means to be you?” the researchers suggest.
This reflective process not only helps you cope but also nurtures a deeper sense of meaning, allowing you to find sacredness even in adversity.
Being psychospiritual is about looking inward to understand yourself while seeking out experiences that connect you to something greater. Recognizing and cultivating your strengths is essential to this process.
Researchers suggest that you can also cultivate psychospirituality by surrounding yourself with people who uplift and inspire you. Seek feedback from trusted friends or mentors, as their perspectives can offer insights you might overlook. Set specific, achievable goals that align with your passions and values and remember that obstacles can be a valuable teacher. Finally, embrace this journey as an ongoing process, and trust that each step taken is a meaningful contribution to your personal evolution.
New Years Eve - 2025
