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Have you ever felt like you were different from everyone else? Like you could see or sense things other people couldn’t? Do you feel that you are more empathetic, self-aware, or intuitive than most? Chances are, if you’re a Highly Sensitive Person, the answer is probably yes.

A concept first coined by psychologist Dr. Elaine N. Aron, Highly Sensitive People (or HSP for short) are those born with a distinct biological trait that predisposes them to process and understand information on a deeper level (Aron, 1996). This means that they are often more perceptive, self-aware, and highly in tune with their feelings and the feelings of others (Greven, et al., 2019).

Most HSPs are great listeners and deep thinkers by nature. They may feel easily overwhelmed by too many things happening all at once, so it’s not uncommon for them to need time to themselves to recharge after a particularly hectic day. While most HSPs are introverts, over 30% of them are extraverted as well.

According to research, one in every five people or 15-20% of the general population are Highly Sensitive People (Aron, et al., 2010). Despite being a relatively common personality trait, however, a lot of people still don’t fully understand what it means to be an HSP, so here are four facts about what it’s really like being a Highly Sensitive Person:

1. You wear your heart on your sleeve

Being an HSP has a lot to do with feeling things more deeply than others. That being said, you might find yourself crying easily over little things or being quick to feel angry over a slight disagreement — and that’s okay. Most Highly Sensitive People find it hard to mask their true emotions because of how overpowering they can be at times.

Being an HSP myself, I’ve been called a “crybaby” by a lot of my family and friends over the years because I used to get weepy over sad stories or movies. It’s perfectly normal to feel this way, as HSPs are known for………..