When Fear Crosses The Line At first, the mysterious emails are flattering. But soon, Gracie Baron can't deny she has a stalker--and it's clear she needs.
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You tend to find yourself overwhelmed in a good way! You notice how the sun shines through the leaves making them a brighter hue, or how the air has become slightly colder as summer turns to fall. This also happens with anything regarding emotion. You cry at happy movies. You cry at sad movies. You fear pain, like getting your blood drawn, more than most. What other people may find just painful, you may find excruciating. Since you can vividly picture what it would be like, you can connect to the characters on an emotional level, making it far scarier for you. Friends would sometimes tease me and try to convince me to watch, thinking it was not a big deal.
You feel the extreme need to either quiet the noise or get away from it as soon as possible. The harsh lights are just too much for you to handle. In general, anything that is extreme on the senses is often too much for you. You can think outside the box. Your mind seems to work in a different way than most. You have a passion for a creative hobby, like painting, music, or writing.
Your capacity to pay attention to every sensory detail fosters a super creative side, according to Psychology Today. Aron told the Utne Reader. Your intuitive nature tends to make you appreciate and recognize things faster than most , making you the ultimate tastemaker. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. Sammy Nickalls November 07, 5: James Coplan, where my nerdyness greatly appreciates the level of technicality he gets into. I think these areas are all so new, it's not easy to keep them separate, but it is nice to know that such things are addressed at all.
There's been some research suggesting that Introversion can be placed at one end of the "autism" spectrum. I don't know of any such studies for HSP directly. But these articles are interesting:. I found it to be right on, and it explained to me why, though I'm a physician and come from a very practical, scientific background, I'm so passionate about the spiritual and love teaching from that perspective more than I like speaking about "plain old" health and wellness INFJ's often become "spiritual teachers" - love that!
So You've convinced yourself to believe your own BS? Get over yourself and learn to overcome your weird idiosyncratic tendencies instead of coming up with some lame excuse for your weirdness and accepting it as normal. You think your article is doing others so situated a favor by telling them it's ok to act weird and display these bizarre behaviors instead of seeking help for their problem. Dogs are super-duper-smellers and super-duper-hearers.
I am a supertaster, as I can taste PTC and abhor the taste of alcohol.
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My brother and father are also supertasters. I'm probably supersensing in other ways too, given that I fit the profile of an HSP. I have strong BS aversion, but I can't deny evidence. Plus, there's a possible underlying mechanism. Yes, I've heard of supertasters and I suspect the lady I used to sit next to at work is one she loved my pineapple upside-down cake though! The article I stumbled on mentioned that supertasters may be vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies because their highly developed sense of taste may cause them to avoid certain foods that are too strong for their liking.
So, I hope that you're aware of this and are taking care of you! Why are you even reading this article then, dude?
Aw, did you get your feewings hurt by an introvert? Get rejected by a 'weird' person so you had to come on here upon thine high horse and complain in order to feed your fragile ego? Perhaps you should focus on yourself and your own many insecurities and failings as a human being before logging on and posting whiny rants lol.
Thank you for your post. I've always thought it interesting that I was right on the I vs. I don't think the MB test really gets introversion right. Noise, strong smells, multiple simultaneous conversations, and parties all wear me out. There's already quite a bit goining on inside my head - problem solving, planning, analyzing - that I need to limit how much new stuff is coming in. All that thinking pays off in my career and running a family. But it's especially hard when some bit of new information changes a plan or schedule I've worked out in my head - suddenly, I have to work it all out a different way, reclaculating in the middle of some conversation.
My spouse recognizes this right away - some puzzled look I must get on my face! What amazes me is that extroverts don't have all this in their heads - how do they get through the day!? My question relates to your dancing. I am a horrible dancer. But it's not a motor skill issue, as I do martial arts, sports, etc.
It's always been a "letting go" or "improvising" challenge. And I thought this was maybe an introvert quality. If I could conquer this I think it would be somehow transformational. I get this sometimes in sports when something demands full attention - the inner thinking is quiet and I'm in the "flow". It is not an illness or a disorder; it does not need a diagnostic label.
The DSM contains a lot of stuff that is, at best, questionable. A lot of these labels get given to people who are then medicated who do not need to be medicated. I'm writing as someone who ticks quite a lot of these boxes myself. I found Eileen Aron's book very helpful, partly because it acknowledges a sensitivity to things without trying to pathologize.
After a lifetime of these same sorts of challenges, I came up with my own term: I was in my 40s before I finally began to see it as a positive thing, uniquely me. I wish there was some information about health and high sensitivity. I suspect there are some definite advantages. For instance, I notice my own internal state and physical feelings in great detail, and I wonder if that translates into a finely honed early warning system for health problems. I also notice environmental stresses before friends -- I recently visited a buddy in his workshop, and wasn't there two minutes before I had to ask "Is there something wrong with the air in here?
It's stinging my eyes just a teeny bit.
But then again, I used to watch my older brother do things that amazed me with how oblivious he was about his environment. When we were kids, he could sit down accidentally on a fairly thick book on the sofa, and not notice it. With me, a single sheet of notebook paper would have me practically leaping up to remove it. But maybe non-highly-sensitives simply sleep through those first whiffs of smoke, long enough to be overcome. Thanks for your comment and I find your observations very interesting.
Some people may slam the HSP concept as being silly or self-indulgent, but I really really think there's something to it. I was working in a medical clinic once and noted that every time I was in the back office I'd feel like I was going to fall asleep. It became so bad that I mentioned it to the manager, and asked if she could get someone to check the air quality. No one else had noticed. The other day I also smelled gas at someone's home, in fact I found that I noticed it whenever the furnace kicked in.
I was concerned when the home owners weren't concerned - normally when you smell gas you're supposed to run and alert the authorities etc. My father, when I mentioned it to him, laughed and said "Susan, that's for when the average person smells gas, not when YOU smell gas, because the levels are likely almost undetectable in your case, that gas odour procedure wasn't written for someone like you! My father is like me in many areas sensitive to chemicals, food additives etc.
And though it's not necessarily fun or easy to be like that, I do think it's a good thing and in many cases ultimately benefits others. I too have wondered how some sleep through smoke, as smells affect me immeasureably, sleeping or not. Hi Admin, To be truthful, Someone said relating to this subject matter inside online world. What you wrote is about to similar like wiki, however, not completely very same!!
Anyway, I seriously relished through reading through the main writing i very happy to end up being frequented in such a good and nice looking blog www. I really love this post - I relate to a lot of it, and always wondered if there was an explanation. Liked this short but revealing article and I stumbled upon it just at the moment while was being lectured by my wife about my inability to socialize: Guess, I too fall in the same category called HSP so thanks for revealing some interesting bits.. A lot of Innies "pass" as extroverts in society and then go home and collapse: My biggest issue seems to be social gatherings where some of the people at it I'm not totally comfortable with.
During a party sometimes I'll step out and get some air, that tends to help. I've had nervous breakdowns at parties before, luckily my friends were able to understand enough not to make me feel any worse about it afterwards. I'm not looking forward to the holiday season. This article fits me so well. I have very sensitive hearing so cannot stand loud music or fireworks. I have also had some similar experiences to you too.
13 Problems Only Highly Sensitive People Will Understand
For example, I once shared a room at a youth hostel with a very close friend on a school trip to Germany. Our relationship was never the same afterwards though, as I get very crabby if I don't get my space and alone time. Also, I've been to a few summer camps and stayed in dorms with lots of other kids - again, not fun, but the rest of the camp experience made up for the uncomfortable nights. I also hate the phone, and do not answer calls unless I have to. This does annoy people sometimes, but I just tell them if they want to get a hold of me, text or email.
I'm at University at the moment, and I often get ridiculed for not socialising like my peers. I hate going out to nightclubs and bars, just makes me feel really uncomfortable, but I have caved once or twice. Once, I went to a friend's house for "pre-drinks" and they all got very drunk, very quickly.
I couldn't wait to get out of there, so much so that when we all caught cabs to go into town to go partyingt, I ran out of the cab straight onto a bus home, without paying my share of the fare! I paid back the person who had footed my part of the bill, but they were not too happy about it. But, I had to explain, that I was upset and panicky and just had to get home! My friends know now to just not include me in those types of situations; they invite me out of courtesy, but they know I'm going to politely decline.
So Sensitive
I do like going out and doing other stuff though, like going for a meal or to the cinema etc Makes it hard to socialise. Glad I'm not alone, but I wish more people understood about this stuff, as it's hard to explain to people my need to be alone. Yes this is very similar to me only I actually don't mind talking on the phone with friends. Unfortunately, I'm really struggling with finding a career I can stick with that doesn't eventually overwhelm me and get me fired or force me to quit! If I could figure out how to work from home and not be pressured to be an entrepreneur that'd be ideal but just finding it difficult to find my way in this world of extroverts!
I really enjoyed your comment on dodging the phone. I have always disliked phone conversations. I have difficultly understanding your take on facebook, however, because it seems to be low-bar small-talk the majority of the time and an onslaught of advertisements either of peoples' personal lives or businesses or relationships, etc.
I find little ability to manage long-term relationships on it and I have consistently read and experienced that it drives people apart more than brings them together. As an HSP who quit watching TV at 11 because of advertisements, I lack an understanding of why an insightful person would put themselves in such an environment where peoples' ploys are easy to see even without the body language. I likely simply narrowed in on what annoyed me and now have so many negative associations with it, I fail to understand why anyone would advocate it for sensitive observers.
There are so many other ways to observe people and gain insight on human nature. Friendships for me involve proximity, face-to-face interaction, and a close set of friends in an awesome community of concentric circles and positive interactions. I'm wondering if any other HSPs simply found behavior on face-book to be confusing and not worth the effort to understand? She is also a professional flamenco dancer and an author. Conscientiousness sets you up for success, but comes with a big risk of burnout. This powerful tool can help you decode your sleeplessness. Back Find a Therapist.
What Causes Stress Eating? Parenting Adolescents and the Choice-Consequence Connection. Has Gender Always Been Binary? Follow me on Twitter. Friend me on Faceook. Connect with me on LinkedIn. The smoke in the car in front of you Submitted by Vicki on August 17, - 3: I'm 23, and I'm Submitted by Kathryn on August 24, - 3: Submitted by Scott Barry Kaufman on August 24, - Submitted by Susan Biali M. This is a perfect description Submitted by Anonymous on August 24, - 3: Wow, I'm going to have to look into this further. Thanks for the response.
Noise cancelling Submitted by Boo Reed on June 17, - Dance Freedom Submitted by John A. Headphones Submitted by Vicki on August 17, - 2: Submitted by Vicki on August 17, - 2: Thank you embarrassing typo. Susan, your own web designer Submitted by Clarkson on August 24, - 5: You're the best Susan, good to see other people noticing too: Thank you for this fantastic article, Susan! Submitted by Erika Harris on August 25, - 5: I'd be honored if you and your readers joined us: Take it from someone inner-directed. Neurotypical, you're no role model, even for your kind.
Same Question Submitted by John A. There's been some research Submitted by Vicki on August 17, - 2: But these articles are interesting: Submitted by SteveM on September 7, - 9: BTW, you can take a free M-B like test here: Submitted by JR Moore on September 18, - 5: Do not feed the Troll. Evidence of differentiation in sensory capacities Submitted by Nina on August 18, - 1: Submitted by Trisha Walsh on May 30, - 7: Dear Susan, Thank you for your post.
Your blog and some of the others on introverts made me feel less abnormal. It's great to read about your experiences, and see others respond. I can relate to HSP traits. I Submitted by Anonymous on September 24, - 2: Susan Biali, MD on February 11, - 3: All the best, Susan. When someone else understands Submitted by Vicki on August 17, - 3: I too have wondered how some Submitted by Angie M on March 9, - She must have been an HSP! Cooking games for girls Submitted by Cooking games for girls on May 28, - 4: I don't have much to add on the topic.
But thank you for yet another great post. Thanks for the facts!! Submitted by Anonymous on March 19, - 5: