Understandably, you might think that being a “highly sensitive” person is just some quirky personality trait—perhaps a silly, relatable trend that’s inspiring countless TikTok videos of people crying at movies or sobbing along to songs. But as it turns out, there’s more to it than just feeling your feels deeply. It can actually have real implications for your mental health.
The term highly sensitive person (HSP) was coined in 1997 by psychologist Elaine Aron, PhD. Essentially, it’s not simply about being “overly emotional” or overreactive: It describes someone with high sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)—meaning their nervous system is more affected by and reacts more strongly to changes in their environment. This can include things like bright lights and loud noises, but also subtle shifts in people’s moods or body language.
According to new research, however, this common personality trait can also make you more susceptible to mental health issues. In a recent meta-analysis of 33 studies published this week, researchers found that individuals with higher environmental sensitivity were more likely to experience anxiety and depression compared to less sensitive ones—partly because their heightened responsiveness and tendency to overthink may make them more susceptible to feeling overwhelmed and ruminating on stressful experiences.
To be clear, being an HSP isn’t an official mental health diagnosis, and it’s important to note that not all psychologists subscribe to this label. It is, however, a very real experience for around 20% of people, according to a 2014 study coauthored by Dr. Aron. So how can you tell if you’re a highly sensitive person? Here’s what to look out for.
How to know if you’re a highly sensitive person
High sensitivity can be challenging to identify, Jadzia Jagiellowicz, PhD, a psychologist who researches high sensitivity and a contributing author to The Highly Sensitive Brain: Research, Assessment, and Treatment of Sensory Processing Sensitivity, tells SELF—partly because it shares similarities with some mental health disorders.
Anxiety, for example, can also cause people to have strong emotional reactions or need downtime to recover from a particularly social weekend. Trauma, too, can cause high emotional arousal and make people hyperaware of their environment. And people with ADHD or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may also notice signs of sensory sensitivity. (However, unlike clinical anxiety, ADHD, ASD, and post-traumatic stress disorder, you can’t be diagnosed with high sensitivity.)
But if you consider yourself an HSP, there are some general criteria to look for. (Dr. Aron’s self-test is one place to start.) Here are a few signs to consider.
1. You’re very aware of what’s happening in and around you.
You don’t just notice whatever’s going on around you: It easily overwhelms you. For example, you might immediately clock harsh lighting when you walk into a room and have trouble focusing on anything else because of it. Or a noisy and crowded morning commute may put you on high alert from the second you leave your house until you arrive at work, making you want to crawl back under your covers.
