Have you ever been called “too sensitive” at any point in your life? It’s something that happens to a lot of us who wear our hearts on our sleeves, who seem to be impacted by anything and everything around us. And although it may seem like a negative label, it actually denotes the fact that you’re likely a highly perceptive person.
“People who are highly perceptive are often mislabeled as being ‘too sensitive,’” Dr. Annie Hsueh, PhD—a clinical psychologist, a Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist (EFCT) and the founder of Hope and Sage Psychological Services—confirms.
Since highly perceptive and highly sensitive people are more prone to overstimulation, they are seen by others as being more easily overloaded.
“For observers who don’t share this type of sensitivity, they may judge highly perceptive and highly sensitive people as being ‘too sensitive,’” Dr. Hsueh reiterates.
Although this label often gets thrown around, she emphasizes that the traits of high sensitivity and high perceptiveness are not a flaw—it’s just that the majority of people do not have these traits. They may simply misinterpret high perceptiveness as a type of overreaction.
“Another reason people may receive the ‘too sensitive’ label is that our society sometimes associates emotional expression or sensitivity as a weakness,” she points out.
There are many positives to being highly perceptive and sensitive, even if you’ve received that “delicate” or “dramatic” label. Read on to discover the seven signs you’re a highly perceptive person, along with the benefits that come with it.
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How Do You Know if You’re Highly Perceptive?
If you’re highly perceptive, according to Dr. Hsueh, you may find yourself observing other people’s behaviors or your interactions with others.
“For example, you might notice if you are the only person in your friend group who notices certain little details about the group dynamics or the vibe of the restaurant you are hanging out at,” she shares. “Or perhaps at work you get feedback from colleagues about your ability to notice details.”
She adds that highly perceptive people often process positive emotions on a deep level.
“They may notice feelings of awe in response to nature. They may feel deeply moved by art and beauty,” she notes.
Dr. Hsueh explains that Dr. Elaine Aron, a psychotherapist and researcher who has authored books about the highly sensitive person (HSP), uses an acronym called D.O.E.S. to describe the core personality traits of highly sensitive people.
She details that “D” is for Depth of Processing, “O” is for Overstimulation, “E” is for Emotional Reactivity (“E” is also for empathy) and “S” is for Sensing the Subtle.
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Benefits of Being Highly Sensitive
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As Dr. Hsueh says, highly sensitive people have many strengths.
“People who are highly perceptive process information deeply and are good at noticing subtleties,” she explains. “Therefore, they are often emotionally intelligent. They are also often deep thinkers, empathetic, intuitive, insightful and conscientious.”
She says that the highly sensitive person can bring a unique perspective to group dynamics in terms of the professional world as well as in private life, like in relationships.
“They may be able to offer insights into things that might not otherwise be available without their sensitivity,” she says.
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7 Signs You’re Highly Perceptive—Not ‘Too Sensitive,’ According to a Psychologist
1. Needing time to adjust
Since you’re highly perceptive, details can easily bombard you in a new situation, which is why you likely need some time to adjust. Dr. Hsueh says that, for instance, going to a new restaurant can be a little overwhelming to a highly sensitive person due to all the new stimuli coming at them all at once.
2. Feeling tired and burned out
Dr. Hsueh says that you may feel “tired and drained” after being in a place where there’s an abundance of stimuli.
3. Noticing small details
As someone who’s highly perceptive, you probably notice a lot of things that others just don’t seem to, as Dr. Hsueh says. That’s why you are often marked with the “too sensitive” or “too much” label.
4. Labeled an ‘empath’
Another label that you may often receive? Being empathic. In general, Dr. Hsueh shares that highly perceptive people are “seen as more empathetic,” something that is definitely a positive.
5. Feeling news stories more heavily
Dr. Hsueh points out that when you consume media, such as news or movies, you may feel the weight of the emotions associated with the content more heavily. For example, highly sensitive people might have a harder time watching horror movies because the imagery and content are overly violent.
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6. Needing to recharge
All those details can be a lot to take in, so Dr. Hsueh shares that you may need to recharge sooner than most people after being out and about.
7. Aware of external and internal environments
“Often, highly perceptive people are aware of both their internal, subjective experiences and their external environment,” Dr. Hsueh states. “Their intuition and insight often make them emotionally intelligent. This is in contrast to people who are emotionally reactive or volatile and lash out or get emotionally dysregulated due to unresolved triggers.”
She underscores that high perceptiveness is not a flaw.
“People who are highly perceptive do not overreact by default,” she says. “They notice subtle cues others often miss. They are not reacting intensively without triggers.”
She goes on to say that being highly sensitive can be a superpower.
“Embrace and nurture your trait,” she advises. “Spend time with people who understand and value you.”
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Source:
- Dr. Annie Hsueh, PhD, clinical psychologist, Certified Emotionally Focused Couples Therapist and founder of Hope and Sage Psychological Services.
