Have you ever wondered if you are a highly sensitive introvert? Do you ever wonder what life is like for the highly sensitive introvert? Well, let’s have a look.
Life for a highly sensitive person has its perks and challenges and so does introversion. Being highly sensitive can leave an individual overwhelmed at anytime.
Highly sensitive people perceive the environment more than every other person. This includes sounds and lights which eventually leaves them overstimulated.
Being highly sensitive is a biological difference that could happen to any personality type. It means you see, hear, and feel things more than the average person.
There’s a general misconception that highly sensitive people are introverted. HSPs come in different personality types. They could be extroverts, introverts, and ambiverts.
This article will focus on the highly sensitive introvert which makes up more of the HSP population for good reasons.
10 Signs You Are A Highly Sensitive Introvert
Here are 10 signs you do not want to miss as a highly sensitive introvert.
1. Your Empathy Makes You Frequently Exhausted
Being a highly sensitive person means that you’re empathetic. Being empathetic can stress you often. You feel the emotions of people around you when they are happy or when they are sad.
This includes your friends, family, and even your partner. If the people you hold dear to you are sad, you can get sad too and that affects your day. This is because you often absorb the energy of others around you.
This isn’t always exclusive to the people you hold close to your heart. Your empathetic nature can be activated when you meet a person and hear their story. You can always sense when a person has a burden that they carry. In such a situation, you automatically feel the need to help.
2. You Need Recharge Time
Contrary to popular believe, introverts do not hate people. They struggle with external stimulation for a long time. After a while, they require some alone time. This alone time helps them recharge for their next socialization.
Highly sensitive people are constantly overwhelmed by their emotions and that of those around them. Without recharging, they can be affected mentally.
Being a highly sensitive introvert means that you need alone more than the regular introvert. This is yet another reason a lot of people think highly sensitive people are all introverted. They need their recharge time.
3. You Are Detail Oriented
You might be a highly sensitive introvert if you are extremely detail oriented. A number of introverts are known for their keen observational skills. Their sensitivity is second to none.
This could be a good thing as it keeps them ahead of the game in most cases. However, a negative trait can leave them overthinking and over analyzing every step.
Highly sensitive introverts survive in the workforce by being detail oriented. This is obvious in anything they do. Especially in arts and craftsmanship, the highly sensitive introvert can reign supreme.
4. You Have A Strong Reaction To Things
A highly sensitive introvert has strong reactions to the things around them. This is another reason why they prefer being on their own. Things such as violence, even on TV, can leave them visibly shaken.
Highly sensitive introverts often avoid books and movies that can leave them shaken and triggered.
This also applies to them in beauty as well. They are moved by beautiful things, stories, and sceneries. They absorb every single bit of it more than others.
They find things that are easily missed by their non highly sensitive counterparts.
5. You Are an Over-thinker
This is a no brainer for the highly sensitive introvert. Lots of introverts are already known for their overthinking abilities which applies to highly sensitive people as well.
Highly sensitive introverts notice things others often miss. They over analyze every word spoken to them and everything they see. This is one of the reasons for their anxiety.
One way to know you are a highly sensitive introvert is simply understanding body language. Often, you’ll over analyze things until you get sad. Sometimes you’re right about what you feel but other times, you take it too far.
6. You Get Mentally Fatigued A Lot
As an introvert and a highly sensitive person, you’ll get tired more than the average person. Lots of things can drain you. Small talk, having a very busy day at work, or a social event can drain you. You’ll get easily exhausted.
This explains why highly sensitive persons sleep a lot. You are essentially taking a break from the stimulation around you. It could be as simple as a power nap. However, without it, you can get cranky and less productive.
You completely detest when someone interrupts your sleep. This often gets you easily irritated. If this describes you, then you probably are a highly sensitive introvert.
7. You Feel Light and Sound
This might be strange to lots of other people, but you feel light and sound. These too can cause overstimulation. This is why everything tends to seem a little too loud or a little too bright for you.
Sharp noises and lights can trigger highly sensitive persons. This can leave you defensive and anxious. You require moderation when it comes to sounds and lights. As a result, lots of people think you’re weird.
Being an introverted and highly sensitive individual is like merging two personalities that are greatly similar but with few peculiarities that makes all the difference.
8. Your Social Skills Are Not Exactly Great
For introverts, socializing is tasking. It’s harder going to the bar or attending a party. They dislike having to be around large groups of people. These activities aren’t an introverts definition of fun.
Highly sensitive introverts avoid noisy environments and places that can make them too empathetic. It’s not just the people, but the environment as well.
They prefer spending time with individuals more than having them in group or in a noisy environment talking about meaningless things. If this describes you, it’s possible you’re a highly sensitive introvert.
9. You Get Really Hangry
Highly sensitive introverts get hungry and angry at the same time. You need to eat and if you do not eat, you can be at your most irritable form.
This is a trait more common in highly sensitive people more than the average introvert. HSPs tend to be very Hangry which is as a result of dips in their sugar level. But once they have their meals, the world tends to make a little more sense.
10. You Have Various Anxiety Triggers
From the ever-changing emotions of people around them to sensitive lights and sounds, life for introverts can be mentally draining. Anxiety is usually associated with introverted behavior.
Not all introverts are anxious but a lot of people suffering from anxiety tend to be introverted. This also applies to highly sensitive people.
Being detail oriented and empathetic is enough to send anyone’s emotions down a spiraling mess. So, if this is you, you might be an introverted HSP.
Managing Life as A Highly Sensitive Introvert
One of the best ways to manage being an introverted and highly sensitive person is through the art of meditation and journaling. These helps you put down your feels and understand the power of expression.
Meditation helps you to be more in tune with your surroundings and it aids in shutting out negativity. Managing life as a highly sensitive introvert may be hard sometimes but it is not impossible.
Combining means of managing introversion and sensitivity can never go wrong.
