Highly Sensitive People

[Lexlike]

Does being a highly sensitive person have something in common with mbti type? what do you know about hsp and do you know any (famous) hsp and do you consider yourself being a highly sensitive person?

[mippus]

I'm not highly sensitive, but associate it with ISFJ.

[entropie]

I was one, when I was a kid. I still am but I try to keep it up for situations, when it is worth spending.

Could have something to do with mbti. For me it was: I was thinking that I see so much more than others about the world, through Ne than they do and I wanted them to understand that. Of course that didnt worked out, cause I was just beginning to grasp things and could not really explain them. I dressed gothic and bought a nice dark leather coat I still have :).

Today I see things different. There are still alot of people, who are idiots. But I began to concentrate my efforts on understanding the world not inward into myself, but outward with some people, who see things like I do. Like on the forums here for example. That helps to elevate some of the stress.

And furthermore I have began to reason about things and to not let my feelings cloud my judgement.

There are still moments I go high wire and start to%

[Sunshine]

I'm an HSP.

[Hmm]

I don't know much about HSP but I'm pretty sensitive.

[Lexlike]

I'm an HSP.

ok, i see. so tell me more about it. Could you give some examples, situations which describe you as hsp???

[Jennifer]

I'm not highly sensitive, but associate it with ISFJ.

I think it overlaps with a number of types and is definitely not confined to ISFJ.

[Haphazard]

What kind of sensitivity are we talking about?

[Snail]

Does being a highly sensitive person have something in common with mbti type? what do you know about hsp and do you know any (famous) hsp and do you consider yourself being a highly sensitive person?

Yes. I am most certainly a Highly Sensitive Person, and I am an INFP. It probably does relate to type. Just from my personal observations, I've noticed that INFPs are more succeptible to anxiety disorders and sleep paralysis than other types, and that INTPs, who are similar to INFPs, are likely to suffer from these same problems as well as depression, paranoia, and personality disorders. Perhaps these types are more likely to experience a hightened sensitivity, and maybe that sensitivity is the source of the other psychological problems.

This is not to say that we are the only types who can fall into the HSP category, but it does seem that many of us are Highly Sensitive People, moreso than is probably common for the other types. For instance, the explosive ESTJ is probably not going to be as emotionally receptive as an implosive INFP because the ESTJ self primarily pushes internal things outward instead of pulling external things inward. They flow differently and would not be likely to have the same vulnerabilities. The very form of the ESTJ personality would prevent or protect against invasion. The INFP might not have the same boundaries because many of us can't help but draw in all that we experience. The INTPs might do this with objective information, while the INFPs are likely to do this with emotions. Either can overwhelm a person. I can't relate to the S experience, but I imagine sensory overload would have a similar effect. I just don't have enough information about the S types yet. This is an interesting topic. I can hardly wait to see which types respond to this thread.

[Haphazard]

Looking at the wikipedia entry, it seems vaguely IJ-ish.

Unless I'm missing something that dear wiki hasn't supplied me with?

[MetalWounds]

Unless I'm missing something that dear wiki hasn't supplied me with?

You mean like a soul?

[Lithium]

As I understand it, it isn't restricted to type.

[LadyJaye]

I'm a HSP - I seem to have a lower threshhold for bright lights or sustained loud noises, and if I can't get away from them, I feel rattled.

[Sunshine]

Most of the people I know that are HSPs are F types. But that's just the people I know though.

[Randomnity]

Reading the wiki, it seems this term could apply to many people. I guess it's a nicer term than shyness/skittishness. It'd be hard to test since I doubt the average "sensitivity" is known, and probably many people would like to see themselves as more sensitive than the norm, so I suspect the accuracy is low.

My INFP mom says she's HSP, but she self-diagnoses as a lot of things, I've stopped paying attention. Reading the description though, it does sound like her (and me for that matter). Probably correlates with I and F especially, though not exclusively. Sounds like a very NF term, though, and I've heard more INFPs talking about it than any other type whenever the topic is brought up.

[LadyJaye]

Most of the people I know that are HSPs are F types. But that's just the people I know though.

I would agree with that in general, although I have a ESFP close friend who's daughter is an ESTP, and she's very sensitive. Not emotionally, but physically. Seemed like the poor girl was constantly having allergic reactions to things, or being overwhelmed by situations where there was a great deal of sensory imput.

[entropie]

Ah, well it seems I have got the term wrong.

I am HSP to dog barks. When they bark, I shrug together and bark back. They bark again, I bark back. They bark again I bark back. This can go on for hours xD

[Haphazard]

Is HSP correlated to sensory defensiveness? Or are they completely different?

[spirilis]

I am not an HSP, but I do understand the distinction and personally know a couple people who I'd consider HSPs. My mind tends to make judicious use of the squelch knob for most intense things (sensory or emotional); in fact I often feel I'm too desensitized to a lot of things, and that makes me feel bored/dumb at times.

[Sunshine]

I don't think you're an HSP if you just have emotional sensitivity or just physical sensitivity...don't you need both to be an HSP?

[entropie]

Is HSP correlated to sensory defensiveness? Or are they completely different?

makes perfect sense for sensory defensiveness. On the outside I am tough as hell. But when it comes to physical things, I barely can hold a hot cup of coffee for longer than a second.

[LadyJaye]

I don't think you're an HSP if you just have emotional sensitivity or just physical sensitivity...don't you need both to be an HSP?

I think it's more easily identified if a person has elements of both. But, I would guess that if an individual has a fair amount of physical sensitivity, then it can tend to make them emotionally sensitive as well, because their bodies are responding constantly to sensory stimuli and can overload easily.

[Athenian200]

Does being a highly sensitive person have something in common with mbti type? what do you know about hsp and do you know any (famous) hsp and do you consider yourself being a highly sensitive person?

I have no idea what a highly sensitive person is, other than just being oversensitive.

I think I'm oversensitive in some ways... particularly to sudden changes that I don't choose, and to being disliked. I'm also rather aware of other people's emotional states to some degree, but I'd call this average awareness.

But probably not quite as sensitive as other people to many other things.

I think IFPs are the most highly sensitive if you want to associate it with MBTI type. They can dwell on an emotion and exaggerate it to a ridiculous degree, IMO.

[Haphazard]

makes perfect sense for sensory defensiveness. On the outside I am tough as hell. But when it comes to physical things, I barely can hold a hot cup of coffee for longer than a second.

That's not sensory defensiveness. That's low pain threshold.

Sensory defensiveness is more vomiting at the touch of nylon.

[Edahn]

I'm sensitive. I don't think there's a strong type correlation. If anything, I'd think I, then F, but I don't think it's significant.

[entropie]

Concerning Sensivitiness, I made a great mistake just now.

There is a whole bunch of lamenting people in a chat I am in right now. they hear pretty awful ultra romantic songs and I wanted to bring some fire into the round.

Oh gosh one of the people there just lost her husband + kid in a car crash.

I am such a damn idiot -.-

[evan]

i didn't know what HSP meant until i just looked it up. kind of deserves some sort of explanation on the thread...

and i'm totally NOT an HSP, although i'm emotionally sensitive :)

[entropie]

Guess I will never be able to make myself around any sort of sensitiveness :D

[cafe]

My whole family (me, my INTP husband, and our four kids {INTJ, INFP, EXTX, and IXTP}) all appear to have HSP traits, but we also have autism in the family and autism frequently has sensory symptoms. Most people notice that our house is a pretty quiet place.

[colmena]

I get very distressed when put on the spot; one of the reasons I left Sixth Form was due to the small classroom sizes. I've always had a strong physiological response. I keep my eyes shut if a band has a light show, I shut several doors when someone is using a glass chopping board.

I think the amount of sleep I've had has a huge effect on all this.

[Tallulah]

I would say I'm an HSP. I get easily overwhelmed by noise and crowds. I mute the tv when commercials come on, because the excess noise just grates on my nerves, and I can't tune them out. I'm pretty sensitive to the moods of others, as well.

[animenagai]

are we talking 'oh my gosh, that's so loud!' sensitive or 'my life is ruined' sensitive?

[Kyrielle]

are we talking 'oh my gosh, that's so loud!' sensitive or 'my life is ruined' sensitive?

We're talking "Ow, that hurts my ears, please stop" sensitive as well as "omgtoomuchhappeningatonceIneedtocurlupinaballsomew heremakeitstopplz" sensitive.

I'm sure there are other phrases that work as well.

[Tallulah]

We're talking "Ow, that hurts my ears, please stop" sensitive as well as "omgtoomuchhappeningatonceIneedtocurlupinaballsomew heremakeitstopplz" sensitive.

I'm sure there are other phrases that work as well.

Kind of like, HOLYCRAPWOULDSOMEONEPLEASETURNTHATOFFBEFOREISHOVEF ORKSINMYEARS???!?!?! sensitive.

[animenagai]

We're talking "Ow, that hurts my ears, please stop" sensitive as well as "omgtoomuchhappeningatonceIneedtocurlupinaballsomew heremakeitstopplz" sensitive.

I'm sure there are other phrases that work as well.

those are some very different things there. is it really a good idea to group them into one thing?

[Kaizer]

Not sure about HSP, but if sensitivity doesn't decrease and also if someone's skin doesn't get thicker, then the perception of others can get a person categorized as an HSP... no?.

I say this cause with an increase in awareness if sensitivity doesn't decrease & is accompanied by a lack of thickening of the skin, then the ability to sense and experience emotions resulting from events/observations/experiences should naturally only get heightened.

[Lateralus]

I wouldn't call myself a HSP. I can handle quite a bit, but my eyes have always been sensitive to light. Sometimes I have to wear sunglasses to drive even when it's overcast.

[Jae Rae]

It isn't shyness and it isn't vomiting at the touch of nylon. For me it's too much noise (or too loud), bright lights and a lot of activity. Superstores are very overwhelming. It's not a phobia, it's sensory overload leading to fatigue, edginess and not feeling "right." And that can lead to emotional upset.

Like Cafe's, our house is pretty quiet. My husband and kids listen to loud music and movies behind closed doors or with headphones. A strong bass makes me unsettled.

[Tallulah]

It isn't shyness and it isn't vomiting at the touch of nylon. For me it's too much noise (or too loud), bright lights and a lot of activity. Superstores are very overwhelming. It's not a phobia, it's sensory overload leading to fatigue, edginess and not feeling "right." And that can lead to emotional upset.

Like Cafe's, our house is pretty quiet. My husband and kids listen to loud music and movies behind closed doors or with headphones. A strong bass makes me unsettled.

Yeah, it's funny, I actually quite like loud music if it's something I've chosen. If it's not my taste or I'm trying to do something else, it affects me very negatively. And I can't tune music out at ALL. It was my downfall when I worked in retail--I couldn't tune out the Muzak. :D

[phoenix13]

How could you guys interpret "highly sensitive people" as physically hypersensitive? Why the hell would anyone care about your tolerance for loud noises? I thought Lady Jaye was just being clever with her comment, but you guys have taken it seriously. Stay in the box, people!!! (That last sentence makes me an ENFP failure.)

EDIT: Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. I wiki'd it. Please disregard that last statement.

It seems to fit nicely with the physiological definition of introversion (having an overstimulated nervous system... which is a vague concept, but I don't feel like tackling that one just yet).

Musical taste is a nice indicator of sensitivity that combines both physical and emotional aspects. I can say for sure that my INFJ mother is extremely sensitive to emotional intensity and volume to a some extent (she describes Shostakovich's music as punishment). My ENTP dad, on the other hand, just head bangs with it (as do I). On the other hand, my INFP bff loves Shostie and the rest of my crazy intense music. Judging from this grossly inadequate sample size, I think it might be a matter of how one internalizes the input. An IJ may just be better at it (perhaps it's a default process since their perceiving function is introverted), whereas a P may be more inclined to just let the external stimuli pass into one ear and out the other. The introversion itself may just make I's more inclined to internalize it in the first place (as opposed to EJs). But I'm just brainstorming, so none of this is solid.

[Apollanaut]

I consider myself to be an HSP, as I have always been physically sensitive (bright lights, loud noises, sensitive skin) and emotionally sensitive (sense others feelings, experience strong personal emotions, extreme dislike of conflict).

In my opinion, it is part and parcel of being an INFJ. All of my senses are highly acute, which means I get overwhelmed easily, but can detect extremely weak or subtle phenomena which other people miss.

[Haphazard]

It isn't shyness and it isn't vomiting at the touch of nylon. For me it's too much noise (or too loud), bright lights and a lot of activity. Superstores are very overwhelming. It's not a phobia, it's sensory overload leading to fatigue, edginess and not feeling "right." And that can lead to emotional upset.

I can't stand superstores. I hate high ceilings. They bother me, for some reason. And there's always this half plastic, half rubber smell hanging around them...

For some reason, Walmart and Costco are much, much worse than Target.

Activity doesn't bother me, noise doesn't bother me (unless it's loud and too sudden), but I don't like the flourescent lights of superstores, either.

I'm overly sensitive to body chemistry changes, but I doubt that this is the same thing.

[ceecee]

Bright lights and intense loud noises over a long period of time. Of course INTJ's can be almost hypersensetive to rejection (true and I do not like to be made to look foolish) but I have learned to work with this issue now that I know it exists.

[mlittrell]

online i tend to be quite sensitive, real life, not so much, my Te is much more apparent in real life. and MBTI noob once typed me as ENTJ. then again he was a noob (as we all are at one point)

[CaptainChick]

I'm an extrovert and very much so an HSP. (Apparently, we make up only 30% of the HSP population).

I also firmly believe that NFs, and by extension, INFs, are the most likely prone MBTI type to also be HSPs.

[Lexlike]

I'm an extrovert and very much so an HSP. (Apparently, we make up only 30% of the HSP population).

I also firmly believe that NFs, and by extension, INFs, are the most likely prone MBTI type to also be HSPs.

I think there are many sensitive ISFx and INTx people too.