According to the research of Dr. Elaine Aron, and author of the book The Gift of Sensitivity, high sensitivity is a genetic variation that allows the nervous system and brain to process subtleties and details that are overlooked by most. This once-life-saving evolutionary tool has become an overstimulating burden in the modern world, as there is a myriad of stimuli to process at all times.
Being highly sensitive means that you are more sensitive when it comes to external and internal stimulation. By now, you have most likely realized that you are very sensitive and aware that you need to take care of your emotions and energy before you feel completely drained by your surroundings. But did you know that there are different types of highly sensitive people?
Are all sentient personals the same?
Not all sensitive people are the same. Although it is true that there are different ways to categorize them, in this article we have focused on five types of sensitive people: sensory, intellectual, intuitive, fantasy and empathic.
It is important to note that although they have a receptive nervous system and share some common traits, no two highly sensitive people are alike as they express their sensitivities differently.
5 types of highly sensitive people
Below we will see the five most common types of HSPs among the population. Which one do you identify with the most?
1. Sensory HSPs
Do you find it unbearable when you hear people chewing loudly? Does it bother you more than usual when a noisy motorcycle passes by? Or maybe… if you don’t like the texture of a food, you’re disgusted by it? You may be a sensory type.
Some characteristics of highly sensitive people in this category include:
- Easily startled by sudden loud noises
- Being very sensitive to touch and very ticklish.
- Make you uncomfortable in crowded places
- You don’t like the specific textures of certain foods.
- Feel uncomfortable with too much visual stimulation
- Being very sensitive to strong odors. Not necessarily unpleasant smells, but also perfumes.
2. Intellectual HSPs
An intellectual-type HSP is characterized by an inclination to ask questions and reflect on the comments of others. If you are this type of PAS, it is possible that the comments of the people remain in your head all day in your mind.
They are not spontaneous people, each decision they make has been rationally analyzed. They like structure and predict events based on the past. They are therefore good at solving problems and using logic.
Among their hobbies will be reading, playing chess or hobbies where they can train their minds such as sudoku, or listening to podcasts by experts on different topics
3. Creative HSPs
Also known as imaginative, this highly sensitive type of person is easily fascinated by art and beauty. They have a great imagination and creativity, which they need to express, be it writing, composing or drawing. If they do not have these skills developed, they will want to satisfy this need by reading, listening to different types of music and reading novels.
They often find it difficult to concentrate on one thing or to listen attentively for long periods of time. Your mind will begin to look for ways to entertain itself such as imagining hypothetical situations, drawing doodles in a notebook, or making music out of anything.
4. Intuitive
Imagine hearing a voice that doesn’t use words; a voice that is always right and comes from within yourself. Listening to this voice is like putting your mind on autopilot and allowing it to perform actions and process information without awareness. You don’t know where the voice is coming from or why, but you can definitely trust it. This is something that highly sensitive intuitive types feel.
When you go with your intuition, you block out all negativity and trust your instincts as a light to guide you through uncertainty. An intuitive feeling makes these types of people stop and notice little things that others might simply ignore. Their minds remain alert and focused.
They are characterized by:
- Have a strong feeling completely based on intuition.
- Accurately perceive the emotions of other people.
- Make decisions with confidence
- Experiencing physical pain and discomfort when making poor or wrong decisions
- Detect “bad vibes” from people even if you don’t know them.
5. Empath HSPs
Are you one of those people who watches the news and gets angry or wants to cry? Or at the same time, do you get too excited watching contests like The Voice? While it is true that as sociable human beings it is normal to feel for the misfortunes and joys of others, highly sensitive empathic types will feel the pain/joy as their own. All highly sensitive people have powerful connections to their emotions, but for these HSPs, their emotions become so intense that they manifest in the physical.
This as you can guess will bring with it advantages and a variety of weaknesses if they are not careful. They are people who make the problems of others their own, so the emotional burden can be very high for them. These individuals are exceptionally sensitive to the emotions, moods, and different mental states of the people around them.
What kind of Highly Sensitive Person are you?
All highly sensitive people will have the characteristics described above (even some non-HSPs), but think about which one do you identify with the most:
- Noises, textures of clothing or food bother you a lot. SENSORY
- You are very logical. You like order and make decisions following reason. INTELLECTUAL
- You spend a lot of time thinking about hypothetical situations. You like fantasy and unreal worlds. CREATIVE
- You make decisions on pure instinct. You notice when someone approaches you with bad intentions. INTUITIVE
- You feel the problems of others as your own. EMPATHIC
I’m curious to know what kind of highly sensitive person are you?!! ✌😁Let me know in the comments… (I’m a sensory type)
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