Highly sensitive people are wired differently – and the “little things” can cause us BIG stress. Here are the 21 worst offenders.
Sensitive or not, everyone gets stressed from time to time. It’s a normal part of life (unfortunately). But that’s why extremely sensitive peoplewho deeply process stimulation and strongly feel emotions and stress intense. Small things that don’t bother others, like bright lights or loud noises, can completely overwhelm us.
What stresses the most sensitive people and why? I asked A community of fellow HSPsand here are some of their answers. HSPs, do you relate?
(Sensory Note: This article contains animated gifs.)
Stressful experiences for highly sensitive people
1. Sudden, loud or repetitive noises
“A loud noise out of nowhere, like a police car whizzing past my home, or annoying repetitive noises like a ticking clock, really rattles me. Sometimes I wish I lived in a bubble!”
2. Busy social settings, such as a party or networking event
“As a very sensitive introvertI need a lot of quiet alone time to recharge. Loud talking and music saps my energy and makes me feel claustrophobic.”
3. Bright lights
“They give me an instant headache and I’m unable to focus on anything other than the discomfort.”
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4. Crowd (in malls, concerts or anywhere)
“For me, crowds are a serious overload of noise and unnecessary energy. I once cried at an open-air concert, simply because of the overload of the crowd, I really enjoyed it.”
5. “Normal” things that other people go through
“I can function pretty well in public situations, but afterwards I’m completely exhausted. For example, yesterday I had lunch with some friends and then led a book group discussion, after which I came home and fell into bed. I struggled to talk banal with groups, I much prefer a deeper conversation with one or two others. I can stand up, speak, and lead a class discussion, no problem, but then I rest for a whole day.
6. If in-laws, friends or other guests are staying at your home
“I love my family and I can tolerate people at my place for a while, but if they stay more than a day, I get stressed. Picking up on their feelings, having to be “on” all the time, not having my own space to retreat to – it’s too much.”
7. Your own intense feelings
“I get overwhelmed by my own emotions because they can be so intense. It can be love – which is beautiful but also sad – or sadness, anger, etc. It’s hard to explain to anyone how strong the feelings are and I just have to let them go through me. It can be exhausting.”
8. Any confrontation
“It makes me so upset. I hate hurting other people. My feelings get so intense that I’m paralyzed, I don’t know what to say or do.”
9. Hanging out with overly negative people
“Other people’s moods seep into me. Then I can have a great day BAMgetting hit by someone else’s negativity.”
10. Endless trivia talk…
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“…especially with my co-workers around me when I’m trying to work. It’s impossible to concentrate – and it’s like who cares about this or that little thing?”
11. Chaos and disorder…
“…especially in my personal space. Everything NEEDS order and cleanliness. I can’t make a mess. I’m homeschooled and I HAVE to tidy up before we start the day. Otherwise I’m so distracted by the extra sensory input.”
12. Loud music or TV
“Other people seem to need a radio or TV in the background for ‘company’, but it drives me crazy. I like stores with no music. I can’t deal with the sound of power tools, lawnmowers or leaf blowers – it’s excruciating.”
13. Artificial lights
“Most of the time I wear a hat to protect me from them.”
14. Organization of a social event
“Party planning is my specialty, but on the day of said party, I’m overwhelmed. I can’t concentrate, people can ask me things and I can’t remember saying yes, I’m in a fog and as soon as it stops I need to sleep. Too much stimulation.”
15. Strong smells
“Especially from perfumes or essential oils. I feel like they’re overpowering and make me physically sick.”
16. Violence or gore in movies
“Because I’m sensitive to horror, violence and gore, I miss movies and TV shows. Everyone comes to see us game of thrones but I can’t watch it, even though I want to. i can’t watch Criminal Minds even though I love the dynamic of the FBI team; it’s often too gory or scary for me. A lot of people tell me to “get over it” as if I control how scared or nervous I am. After many years of pressure, I realized that when people leave the cinema, they are not haunted by what they have seen, as I am.”
17. When someone is angry (even if it has nothing to do with you)
“When my partner yells in frustration about something he’s doing (like the computer not working), even though it has nothing to do with me, it still makes me really upset. Right now I feel like I’m going to run away. It’s unfair to stop because I yell when I’m frustrated too – but it’s still rattling!”
18. The hardness of the world
“As a sensitive person, sometimes I feel that the world is too cruel, too harsh for me.”
19. A “container” of other people’s emotions. No thanks!
“I end up absorbing and ‘grabbing’ other people’s emotions, which makes me feel sad, upset, or exhausted.”
20. Too many things are scheduled at once
“I can usually handle it well if I plan and see the end. But what pushes me over the edge is all the little things that come up in between. Right now I’m in… ‘Call me tonight,’ ‘Mom, can I spend the night with someone you don’t know?’
21. Processing every little thing so deeply
“Sometimes I feel misunderstood and left out of groups because I need more quiet time to process it all.”
Highly sensitive people, what would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments.
