15 Characteristics of Highly Sensitive People (PAS)

Do you know someone who has reactions that you consider disproportionate? Does he get angry easily when you make a comment? Do you protest if the music is too loud or the light is bright? You may find yourself in front of a highly sensitive person (PAS).

In this Psychology-Online article, we will see the main characteristics of highly sensitive people and we will clarify the aspects to take into account about highly sensitive people, so that your relationship with them is more fluid and fruitful.

Index

1. What a highly sensitive person is like
2. What do I do if I am a highly sensitive person?
3. How to treat a highly sensitive person

Highly sensitive people experience greater emotional and sensory reactivity to stimuli. That is, things affect them to a greater extent. The PAS do not choose to be sensitive, what happens is that your neuro-sensory system processes information more intensively. Hence, they experience more acute emotions, overreact, or feel upset in certain circumstances.

Let's see the signs and characteristics of highly sensitive people:

1. Increased physical sensitivity. They tend to feel annoying when faced with noises or intense lights, they notice changes in temperature earlier.
2. Empathy. Highly sensitive people are more empathetic. Another sign that identifies highly sensitive people is that by processing emotions more intensely, they understand others better. In the next article, we talk about what is emotional empathy.
3. Polite behavior and prudent. Another characteristic of PAS refers to behavior: they tend to behave politely.
4. Sensitivity to violenceAnother characteristic sign of a highly sensitive person is that they have a hard time watching movies or too violent news.
5. Difficulty taking criticism. PAS people take criticism as attacks, even if it is constructive.
6. Emotion depth. Highly sensitive people are deeper emotionally.
7. They take things very seriously, which can sometimes cause them discomfort.
8. Habitual crying. PAS people cry more easily.
9. Excessive worry. Highly sensitive people worry excessively about the problems of others.
10. Difficulty making decisions. Another characteristic of PAS is that it costs them more to make decisions and it affects them more when they make mistakes.
11. Preference for individual activities. Another sign of highly sensitive people is that they prefer to do things alone because they feel observed and judged.
12. Discomfort from environmental stimuli. They feel annoying in crowded and noisy environments.
13. Observation. The PAS are more focused on the details.
14. Tendency to anxiety and depression. By processing emotions more intensely, highly sensitive people are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression.
15. Greater enjoyment of pleasant sensations. They enjoy more the pleasant emotions that they feel when reading a good book, listening to a deep song, looking at works of art, dancing, singing ...

In case you feel identified with the characteristics of highly sensitive people, we recommend this article: How to know if I am a highly sensitive person.

When you discover that your way of reacting and taking things has an explanation, you feel enormous relief. You start to understand that you are not weird or weird, but you process information in another way.

But of course, just knowing does not stop it from affecting your life. Therefore, we are going to see what you can do so that being highly sensitive does not affect you more than necessary:

• Explain your high sensitivity without exposing yourself too much. Tell your family, partner and friends that there are certain things that affect you more intensely than them so they can take it into account.
• Work your self esteem. If you feel safe, you will handle criticism or judgment better. In the next article we talk about How to improve self-esteem.
• Take advantage of the good of being a PAS. You will enjoy more music, smells, pleasant sensations, pleasant emotions ...
• Become a valuable member of your team. You pay more attention to the details, so you will see issues that go unnoticed by others. At work this can make a big difference.

Sometimes, it strikes us that something that is of little importance to us for another can suppose a world. The first reaction to something we don't understand is anger. Therefore, it is important that you know, as far as possible, how a highly sensitive person feels.

If there is any PAS in your life, find out what it entails. You can use articles and books, but what more information is going to provide you is talking directly with him or her to explain how he or she feels so that you can put yourself in her place with more ease. In the meantime, keep the following in mind:

• Don't judge him. PAS continually feel judged and criticized. Don't contribute to that.
• Put yourself in their place As many times as needed. It is not about agreeing, but about putting yourself in her shoes and seeing things from her point of view.
• Let him know that experiencing stronger emotions is not wrong. If she cries easily or shows excessive joy, support her so she doesn't feel self-conscious.
• Help him make decisions. It is something that costs them a lot.
• Be cautious. When you have to say something negative, be sure to do so, but do it tactfully.
• Do not deprive him of his space. The PAS feel comfortable in solitude, so if you see that you need more time to be alone or alone, give it to them.
• Offer to listen to their concerns. and don't accuse him of complaining too much. I do not mean that you reinforce the complaints, but that you serve as support and relief so that they feel understood.
• Avoid lying or hiding information so as not to upset her. You better be honest, but do it tactfully and calmly.
• Encourage him to share his emotions with you. Understanding and understanding will improve.

In the following article, you will find more information about How to treat a highly sensitive person.

This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

If you want to read more articles similar to Characteristics of Highly Sensitive People (PAS), we recommend that you enter our category of Personality.

• Castanyer, O. (2003). Assertiveness: expression of healthy self-esteem. Bilbao: Desclée de Brouwer
• Chacón, A; Moisés de la Serna, J and Pérez Chacón, M. (2021). Are you highly sensitive? Discover all the keys. Tektime.