I no longer wished to “fix” my sensitivity. Instead, I created a life that aligned with my sensitive soul.

You may not feel like you need to seek help, but that’s the dangerous irony: when HSPs don’t feel much, it’s potentially a cause for concern.

“As a highly sensitive person who wanted her family to be happy, I used to constantly search for ways to please them. But living in a van is something that I wanted for myself.”

Light sensitivity is common among HSPs — from overhead fluorescent lights at work to sunlight coming through the bedroom window.

Highly sensitive people need a bit of extra emotional armor to take on emotionally charged events.

HSPs may be more sensitive to constructive criticism, because they feel things more deeply than others.

Knowing what triggers you — and having a plan for when you find yourself in a stressful situation — can help you feel less overwhelmed.

HSPs may be more sensitive to constructive criticism, because they feel things more deeply than others.

HSPs often feel like they’re different from other people, but when they have a trusted community, they nourish themselves with human connection.

Particularly for highly sensitive people, a play ethic helps reduce overstimulation and increase a sense of calm.

For a long time, I felt like there was something wrong with me. But then I learned to reclaim my high sensitivity as a positive trait rather than a flaw.

When I learned I’m a highly sensitive person, it felt as if an instructional manual had been recovered.