Why Some People Are More Sensitive Than Others?

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Do you have someone around you who gets overwhelmed or stressed easily? Someone who breaks down crying over this or that? Someone who thinks a bit too much? Someone who needs a lot of time alone? If yes, then they are just more sensitive than other people.

Chances are, they might even describe themselves as a Highly Sensitive Person. But why? Why some people are more sensitive than others? What even is a Highly Sensitive Person? Well, keep reading to get all your answers.

Table of Contents

Who Is A Highly Sensitive Person?

‘Highly Sensitive Person’ is a term introduced by psychologists Elaine Aron and Arthur Aron. The term became popular after Elaine published a book, The Highly Sensitive Person: How To Thrive When The World Overwhelms You, in 1996. The book is based on Elaine’s own journey as a highly sensitive individual.

But, who is a Highly Sensitive Person, or HSP? Well, it could be anyone– man or woman, young or old! To be called an HSP, all they need to have is a more sensitive central nervous system and process stimuli, physical, social, or emotional, deeper than others!

I’ll make it simpler to understand– an HSP experiences things differently. What may be a mere subtle sensation to someone else will be a sharp/ deep/ intense feeling to an HSP. Oh, and this heightened sensitivity has got a name. It’s called Sensory Processing Sensitivity, SPS for short.

According to researchers, People who score high on SPS tend to recognize or respond to stimuli in their environment more than others. Since they take more time to observe, their response time is slower. They also tend to have a dislike for risk-taking activities.

If you’re thinking that HSPs are rare or exotic species, then you’ll be surprised to know that they make up 20% of the population! According to Aron, HSP is an innate trait found in over 100 species!

What Are The Signs Of A Highly Sensitive Person?

Now that you know who a highly sensitive person is, you’d also want to know how to recognize one.

Well, the following are the telltale signs of an HSP:

Get overwhelmed easily.
Get affected by other people’s moods more often.
Can read other people really well (maybe because they observe more?)
Avoid watching violent movies and TV shows as they can leave them feeling uncomfortable.
Need alone time/ need to withdraw to a quiet place– especially after a hectic day.
Need lots of time to reflect or introspect.
Work efficiency gets affected when under pressure or while being watched.
Deep thoughts and strong feelings about everything (of course).
Take criticism personally, and have a hard time handling feedback.
Need more time to make decisions.

Also, please note that these are only some of the signs of an HSP. On top of that, not all HSPs are going to have all of the above-mentioned signs.

What Are The Causes Of Hypersensitivity?

It’s time to address the elephant in the room. What are the causes of hypersensitivity? It brings us back to the question we started this article with– why some people are more sensitive than others? Well, hypersensitivity can be attributed to several factors like environment, genes, early childhood experiences, etc. It can also be an interplay of all or a few of these.

One particular research suggests that hypersensitivity can be considered an evolutionary trait as HSPs are always on the lookout for predators and are devising ways to deal with dangerous situations. They do this in order to increase their chances of survival.

Another research suggests that if someone didn’t receive parental warmth or love growing up, they may develop hypersensitivity. On a similar note, experiencing trauma or negative experiences in childhood can increase the chances of becoming an HSP in adulthood.

If hypersensitivity runs in someone’s family, there’s a high chance they may have it too. Yes, genetics do contribute. The way they are raised contributes as well. If you combine both of these factors– i.e. if you couple someone’s genes, & the way they evolved due to negative experiences or trauma in early childhood, you will find an increased probability of them becoming an HSP.

Someone’s dopamine system can play a significant role by affecting their personality and making them more prone to hypersensitivity.

Is There A Treatment For Hypersensitivity?

Being a hypersensitive individual comes with its pros and cons. The pros could be being quite empathetic and compassionate, highly self-aware, observant, having deep connections with people, etc. The cons include being more prone to anxiety and depression, burnout, stress, etc.

However, it’s important to understand that hypersensitivity is a personality trait, just like being thoughtful. It’s not a disorder or diagnosable condition that needs to be ‘cured’. Plus, if you identify yourself as a Highly Sensitive individual, you too wouldn’t want to ‘cure’ yourself! Your trait is a remarkable aspect of your personality!

However, ranking high on sensitivity does come with its own set of challenges. And, there’s no denying that it can leave a person exhausted. If so is the case with you, then therapy can greatly benefit you. With the help of a therapist, you can develop strategies to overcome the challenges associated with your unique personality trait!

Conclusion

So, this is why some people are more sensitive than others. There’s a chance that you might have noticed at least a few of the signs mentioned above present in someone you know. And in case you did, please take this as a sign to not ask them to “toughen up” or tell them off for being “too sensitive”.

Remarks like these never did anyone any good. Instead, try raising awareness about their hypersensitivity, what it is, and the causes (basically, share this article; I’m too polite to ask directly), and try to create a validating environment. Remember, everyone is unique and we should be more accepting.