Relationships can be challenging for highly sensitive people
Interactions with others and just being in social situations can be challenging for those of us who are highly sensitive.
Although sensitivity is not the same thing, it often goes along with introversion or even shyness.
[See my post: Shyness, Introversion, Sensitivity – What’s the Difference?]
Actor Scarlett Johansson has commented: “I think I was born with a great awareness of my surroundings and an awareness of other people… Sometimes that awareness is good, and sometimes I wish I wasn’t so sensitive.”
[From post Sensitive to others but staying safe.]
In her article Highly Sensitive People – Sounds, Smells and Sentiments, psychologist Susan Meindl writes that some highly sensitive people are still extroverts.
“Usually these are people who have grown up in supportive extended families where social interaction was a source of comfort and the family ‘ran interference’ protecting them from over-stimulation and anxiety until they had the skills to manage the world themselves.
“They still typically report needing a lot of ‘down time’ to recuperate after social encounters.”
But, she adds, “Highly sensitive children born into less supportive families which do not recognize their special vulnerability and protect them often grow up to be anxious, withdrawn or emotionally avoidant.”
Those are more reasons to take emotional care of yourself – choosing, as much as you can, friends and work situations where you can flourish as a highly sensitive person.
Shyness and introversion may seem to be the same in some ways, at least on the surface.
They can overlap, and we may have both traits – but they are not the same thing. And they are not the same as the trait of high sensitivity.
Follow the link to my post with more, including a video.
- just highlight text 
I have been quite overwhelmed in the last several weeks as I have discovered many new and extremely interesting developments about my psychological and emotional makeup. It all began with one little search on Google…and now, my world has been turned completely upside down.
I am that “gifted” inventive-creative person who is highly sensitive, and mind-boggling creative…and I am also a pseudo-extrovert. I say this, because I have managed to take “defensive” action in my life by being the outgoing person in the room. It is disarming for people, and they must choose quickly how they will interact with me. However; this is not my true place of comfort…I would much rather be alone where I can paint, draw, do photography, write, design and edit videos, or play on the piano, or write music in my music programs. I can do this for hours…on my own, and I never feel discontent.
What I have not realized for the last 26 years or so; I am in fact a “gifted” person (and this is still quite uncomfortable to acknowledge), but now it all makes sense to me.
I have always been told; “you are just too sensitive”, and “you just need to relax”, or, “don’t take it so personal”; but how can I not be sensitive? I have learned that I am “hardwired” this way…my brain IS this way, it’s not something I control, or can control. I admit, I understand we must make the decision to choose how we let situations affect us, and our response to them; but, I am so tired of the world around me telling me that I am a certain way, and this certain way is wrong. I absolutely hate it. I wish the rest of the world could understand what this state of being is truly like.
I did not have a supportive family, they failed to understand me, and so did many of the teachers in my life when I was in school. I ended up becoming that percentage who is gifted, but was not developed and consequently flew under the radar so to speak. Indeed, my natural tendency to create, to understand, to explore…lead me into many different directions (thankfully, I did use my unknown smartness to fill the void through my creative aspirations), but, it has never been a completely successful venture for many reasons (that I am now beginning to understand…ADD).
So, it has been truly the most wonderful thing in the world to discover Talent Develop website, and now this one. I don’t know how I managed to survive as long as I have. Thanks so much for providing all this wonderful information to those of us who just didn’t know the truth about our real selves.
Thanks for your personal and thoughtful comment. It has taken me many years of struggle and self-criticism to realize that being uncommon is an asset. Keep exploring – my other sites, as well as sites by so many other people.
Yeah, sometimes the feelings of (too much pain or joy) is so overwhelming. Sometimes when im engulfed with pain, i wish i rather die…im not suicidal though…Well, i cope with it by journalling, self discovery, spirituality & meditation. I can easily read between lines, ppl dark intentions, why i am always prone to meet the borderlines, narcisisst, passive-aggressive, etc. Life is journey, i am embracing it rather running away from it
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Highly sensitve people are only ones who ever change anything provided they get the courage.
I beat myself up a lot wondering why I didn’t fit in with other people. Everyone else seems to have 1000 friends on facebook while I prefer my solitude.
I get overloaded with too many people. I go to school 25 hours a week and that is enough for my social interaction. Anything else takes too much out of me. You have the time you spend socializing plus the down time you need to re-charge your battery.
Sometimes I get sick of society pushing all these empty squares for people to fill up. Not everyone is a square.
When you look to actors you see the most phenomenal ones have always been different.. Always been weird, to sensitve.. It’s the only way to be a great actor in my opinion.