16 Habits Of Highly Sensitive People

1. They feel more deeply.

One of the hallmark characteristics of highly sensitive people is the ability to feel more deeply than their less-sensitive peers. They're very intuitive, and go very deep inside to try to figure things out.

2. They're more emotionally reactive.

People who are highly sensitive will react more in a situation. For instance, they will have more empathy and feel more concern for a friend's problems.

3. They're probably used to hearing, "Don't take things so personally" and "Why are you so sensitive?"

4. They prefer to exercise solo.

Highly sensitive people may tend to avoid team sports, where there's a sense that everyone is watching their every move. However, this is not a blanket rule -- there are some highly sensitive people who may have had parents who provided an understanding and supportive environment that would make it easier for them to participate in group sports.

5. It takes longer for them to make decisions.

Highly sensitive people are more aware of subtleties and details that could make decisions harder to make. Even if there is no "right" or "wrong" decision -- for example, it's impossible to choose a "wrong" flavor of ice cream.--- highly sensitive people will still tend to take longer to choose.

6. And on that note, they are more upset if they make a "bad" or "wrong" decision.

7. They're extremely detail-oriented.

Highly sensitive people are the first ones to notice the details in a room, the new shoes that you're wearing, or a change in weather.

8. Not all highly sensitive people are introverts.

In fact, about 30 percent of highly sensitive people are extroverts. Many times, highly sensitive people who are also extroverts grew up in a close-knit community and thus would interact with a lot of people.

9. They work well in team environments.

Because highly sensitive people are such deep thinkers, they make valuable workers and members of teams. However, they may be well-suited for positions in teams where they don't have to make the final decision.

10. They're more prone to anxiety or depression (but only if they've had a lot of past negative experiences without having a supportive environment).

11. That annoying sound is probably significantly more annoying to a highly sensitive person.

While it's hard to say anyone is a fan of annoying noises, highly sensitive people are on a whole more, well, sensitive to chaos and noise.

12. Violent movies are the worst.

Because highly sensitive people are so high in empathy and more easily overstimulated, movies with violence or horror themes may not be their cup of tea.

13. They cry more easily.

That's why it's important for highly sensitive people to put themselves in situations where they won't be made to feel embarrassed or "wrong" for crying easily.

14. They have above-average manners.

Highly sensitive people are also highly conscientious people. Because of this, they're more likely to be considerate and exhibit good manners.

15. The effects of criticism are especially amplified in highly sensitive people.

Highly sensitive people have reactions to criticism that are more intense than less sensitive people. As a result, they may employ certain tactics to avoid said criticism, including people-pleasing (so that there is no longer anything to criticize), criticizing themselves first, and avoiding the source of the criticism altogether.

16. Prefer solo work environments.

Many highly sensitive people enjoy working from home or being self-employed because they can control the stimuli in their work environments. For those without the luxury of creating their own flexible work schedules (and environments), highly sensitive people might enjoy working in a cubicle -- where they have more privacy and less noise -- than in an open-office plan.

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