are you a Highly Sensitive Person?

[roxanne]

The latest Psychology Today has an article by Elaine Aron, PhD, who argues for a new temperament type - not a disorder - called Highly Sensitive Person.  I score 22-24 on test of 27.  (14 gives you the diagnosis).  I am one of 20% or so who are extroverts, but it is quite different than the usual extrovert.  After a couple of hours, I have to be by myself.  A true extrovert likes people around much more.  We are characterized by a sensitivity to our environment (sounds, smells, lighting, sudden noises, heat, cold,etc), to internal stimuli (pain, hunger, fantasies, etc.), have an over-active immune system(hence, allergies, add-type symptoms, things like fibromyalgia).  We enjoy things that we do enjoy more than most people (DD, food, music, movies, etc.), but become quickly more anxious when overwhelmed, which we are easily. We need alot of alone time . A rich internal life is common, possibly as a way of keeping us at a happy medium between not being too bored or too excited.  It was nice to find both these sites recently; I now know I am a Highly Sensitive extrovert with MD.  I'm curious if anyone else feels this fits.  You can take a self-test at Elaine Aron/ self test for Highly Sensitive Person.

[Julie]

6 features applied to me, so I didn't get any summary :(

I'm particularly sensitive to weather changes, getting headaches every time, when it starts raining heavily, to the sound of nails on a chalkboard (but this is common), to music, hunger and physical pain. But that would be it. I like people around, multi-tasking, deadlines, time pressure and don't mind interruptions or external sounds. This keeps me going and helps to avoid day-dreaming and rumination.

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

This article sounds really interesting.  Do you have a link to it you can post?  What you described definitely sounds like me.  I have HORRIBLE misophonia (extreme hatred of certain sounds).  Some sounds horrify me so much I don't even like to name them, and when I hear them I often press hard on my ears to drown them out.  It's really bad.  I won't even have dinner with people for fear they'll make those sounds.  That's just the beginning, too.  I'm sensitive all over, it seems.  I'm always anxious, and I always have an itch somewhere.  I'm always too hot or too cold and am pretty much never comfortable.  Sensitivity can be useful, I'm sure, but sometimes it just plain sucks.

[roxanne]

I've never been able to cut & paste (or whatever it is -however, I am signed up for a computer class), but it's in the latest issue of Psychology Today and a self-test is at elaine aron/self test for highly sensitive person.  She does mention skin sensitivities are common.  Your whole system is just very sensitive, emotionally, physically, mentally.  She argues for the value of such sensitives, despite being in a culture that does not value us.  (China & Sweden are 2 that do.)  We are the artists, visionaries, thinkers, teachers, advisers, peace makers.

[Nicola]

I scored 19, but I already know I'm quite sensitive :-) xx

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

I found the article online, but the quiz isn't in the online version.  Phooey.  :(  Oh well.  Lol.  I already know I'm sensitive.  It's pretty obvious.

[Angel]

Link to the test, on the author's site.  ;)

Pretty neat!  I've been thinking lately that I probably would have developed MD despite my bad childhood.  Reading the part about "a rich internal life is common" helps support my thought.  I'd be a daydreamer anyway.  That's a nice thought.

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

MD isn't caused by trauma.  That's an out-dated finding.  Lots of people who don't have trauma have MD.

[Nicola]

From what iv read online, there is query that MD can be caused by low self esteem. This is quite fitting in my case, but I'm not sure if it applies to everyone xx

Cordellia Amethyste Rose said:

MD isn't caused by trauma.  That's an out-dated finding.  Lots of people who don't have trauma have MD.

[Angel]

Yeah, I'm tearing down everything I believed before, like the trauma causing me to daydream.  Coming here I realize that's not necessarily true.  I know the trauma made my daydream worlds more appealing, but it didn't cause me to daydream.  Its all a learning and healing process for me.  Hopefully sharing what I've learned and gone through can help others with similar experiences.

[roxanne]

Something else Dr. Aron said I thought was interesting.  We walk a fine line between having too much stimulation and being totally stressed, and on the other hand  not having enough and being bored.  She also has a test in her book for you to determine whether you get out in the world enough, or too much.  It's important to strike a balance.  If we don't get out enough, then every stimuli becomes overwhelming.  If we force ourselves out too much, our brains become tired, our immune system over-acts, etc.

[Cordellia Amethyste Rose]

Thanks for the link, btw.  I scored 23.  Not surprising.  

Angel said:

Link to the test, on the author's site.  ;)

Pretty neat!  I've been thinking lately that I probably would have developed MD despite my bad childhood.  Reading the part about "a rich internal life is common" helps support my thought.  I'd be a daydreamer anyway.  That's a nice thought.

[Roberta]

Thank-you, very interesting. It makes me happy knowing I'm not alone. I score 25!