Sensitive People in an Insensitive World

[anart]

I scored 14, but I'm not as important as I used to be. ;)

What do you mean? :)

I could be wrong, but I think he is referring to the idea that a lot of the listed symptoms are also related to inner-considering and self-importance. I think that's also why several of the people in this thread have noted that they would have scored higher several years ago! :) (correct me if I'm mistaken on that, go2)

 

[herondancer]

11, and that is an improvement from for me. I still have a lot of work to do.

 

[Rich]

11, and that is an improvement from for me. I still have a lot of work to do.

I was about the same. One that was interesting to me was

When people are uncomfortable in a physical environment I tend to know what needs to be done to make it more comfortable (like changing the lighting or the seating).

Often when I'm with others, I can't really relax until everyone else around is comfortable. Whether it be concerned about how their sitting or whether they have a cup of tea or not.

 

[go2]

I scored 14, but I'm not as important as I used to be. ;)

What do you mean? :)

I could be wrong, but I think he is referring to the idea that a lot of the listed symptoms are also related to inner-considering and self-importance. I think that's also why several of the people in this thread have noted that they would have scored higher several years ago! :) (correct me if I'm mistaken on that, go2)

Yes, you are right anart. Some must experience anxiety doing the test. A low score is insensitive and a high score is self-centered. It is a good opportunity to observe our feeling about test taking. I notice you didn't post a score, anart. Did you even bother to take the test? :)

 

[Masamune]

I got 27. I have also noticed that I have gotten better about some issues over time with work on myself but also I think that the healthier I get the more sensitive I become. It seemed like before I was so toxic and had so many mental/emotional issues that I was fairly numb to my sensitivity. Now I am more aware of it and know how to cope much better with it.

I read The Highly Sensitive Person also and thought it was a great book. I think it will be very helpful also for those of you who are highly sensitive and have social anxiety issues. Here are some good videos from the author:

About The Highly Sensitive Person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04gnoReKgD4

The Highly Sensitive Person: An Interview with Elaine Aron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DezjkilrSY

 

[SolarMother]

I got 27. I have also noticed that I have gotten better about some issues over time with work on myself but also I think that the healthier I get the more sensitive I become. It seemed like before I was so toxic and had so many mental/emotional issues that I was fairly numb to my sensitivity. Now I am more aware of it and know how to cope much better with it.

I read The Highly Sensitive Person also and thought it was a great book. I think it will be very helpful also for those of you who are highly sensitive and have social anxiety issues. Here are some good videos from the author:

About The Highly Sensitive Person: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04gnoReKgD4

The Highly Sensitive Person: An Interview with Elaine Aron: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DezjkilrSY

Masamune, I know what you mean.
I took this test about 2-3 months ago and got 27. Then I read the book. Just took it again and got 22. Something is going on!! Perhaps with my ability to be more objective--probably the many experiences I've had of 'rejection' and hurt 'feelings,' which seem to be burning away some dross/toxicity or programs in me in how I react (overly Cancerian ) I see that the awareness just keeps adding up to coping with situations in which the perceived rejection just drops away fairly quickly, or at least overnight! Sometimes I am wonder about becoming too 'tough,' and losing my feminine qualities. My husband finds what he calls my 'feminine fragility' quite endearing. Any comments out there?

 

[Masamune]

Masamune, I know what you mean.
I took this test about 2-3 months ago and got 27. Then I read the book. Just took it again and got 22. Something is going on!! Perhaps with my ability to be more objective--probably the many experiences I've had of 'rejection' and hurt 'feelings,' which seem to be burning away some dross/toxicity or programs in me in how I react (overly Cancerian ) I see that the awareness just keeps adding up to coping with situations in which the perceived rejection just drops away fairly quickly, or at least overnight! Sometimes I am wonder about becoming too 'tough,' and losing my feminine qualities. My husband finds what he calls my 'feminine fragility' quite endearing. Any comments out there?

Hi SolarMother! Actually the point I was trying to make was that I was observing myself become more sensitive (or just becoming more conscious of it) over the years and I theorized that it may be from Work on myself and by cleaning up my diet/taking the right supplements so that I am better able to get in touch with myself. Has anyone else noticed that? It may be also that I am dealing with many neurological issues so my nervous system may be more sensitive than in the past.

 

[Gonzo]

I got a 24. The term sensitive is a little loaded as there are subjective definitions out there. For example, one could be hypersensitive to shocks or loud sounds as a result of post traumatic stress disorder and yet not conscientious or sensitive to the needs of themselves or others. On the other hand, one could be extremely sensitive about how they are perceived and also be conscientious towards others but not be affected by external stimuli (aside from the reactions of others).

I've definitely got the whole gambit. I'm hypersensitive to loud noises and chaos around me, spend great energy into trying to make others feel comfortable (over empathizing, but perhaps also mitigating against negative impressions of me), used to get my feelings hurt easily (getting better at that) and, although I have a high tolerance for pain, I feel the slightest of sensations disproportionately high.

Always nice to see the long road ahead (he says sarcastically).

Gonzo

 

[theos]

I scored 18.

 

[Guardian]

I got an 11?? I THOUGHT I was more sensitive than that??


Edited to add: I think some of these are trick questions.

 

[foofighter]

I got a 7. When I look at the things listed, and why I didn't check them, I would sum it up to doing the Work (constant exposure to impossible people and changing situations), martial arts practice (very important for learning to deal with stress, pain, chaos), and trying to self-observe as often as possible. Still lots to be done, but some progress at least.

 

[Starlight]

ODCM! I got a 24! Maybe I'm too sensitive...

 

[Guardian]

I got a 7. When I look at the things listed, and why I didn't check them, I would sum it up to doing the Work (constant exposure to impossible people and changing situations), martial practice (very important for learning to deal with stress, pain, chaos), and trying to self-observe as often as possible. Still lots to be done, but some progress at least.

So you're saying the less sensitive we are the better??

 

[foofighter]

I got a 7. When I look at the things listed, and why I didn't check them, I would sum it up to doing the Work (constant exposure to impossible people and changing situations), martial practice (very important for learning to deal with stress, pain, chaos), and trying to self-observe as often as possible. Still lots to be done, but some progress at least.

So you're saying the less sensitive we are the better??

Not really. Most of the sensitivities that I have I would want to keep, like scents, tastes and art, and sensing other people's moods. But being insensitive to pain, loud sounds and chaos is very handy in stressed situations. But as I just said to Starlight (who scored 24), I don't think this test is so much about right and wrong, more like "this is where you are, but is this where you want to be?". Each person has to decide for himself/herself what is "right". OSIT.

 

[Buddy]

I got an 11?? I THOUGHT I was more sensitive than that??


Edited to add: I think some of these are trick questions.

I wouldn't worry. I got a 10. From what I've researched so far, Elaine N. Aron is slightly distorting Jung's "innate sensitivity" concept and, together with her non-scientific survey consisting of self-described emotional reaction states from the respondents, using it as a synonym for her referent-less nominalization called: "the high emotional sensitivity personality type".

SO, there's a whole 'nother way to look at this. I've got a list of sources and tidbits to make a post from later, but for the time being, here's what the founder of "Schema Therapy" (something we also place some value on here) says:

As explained above, many writers on HSP propose a positive, accepting attitude towards [being an] HSP. However, this is not the general consensus in the professional psychological community. For instance, Jeffrey E. Young, founder of the increasingly applied Schema Therapy, although never having been critical of HSP writers or writings, links high sensitivity, or as he calls it, the "highly empathic temperament" with the Self Sacrifice Schema (Young, 2003, pp. 246–251), which in turn is almost always related to the Emotional Deprivation Schema. In his opinion, these persons (patients) need to learn to focus on themselves instead of others and to learn to get their own needs met, needs they typically are not aware of. As such, HSP can be seen not as a positive personality trait, but as a psychopathological condition that can be treated with experiential, cognitive, behavioral, and limited-reparenting strategies.
_http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highly_sensitive_people

I've detected an apparently overt bias against folks labeled as "adhd" as well, and attempting to place them on the opposite end of the spectrum:

If Attention Deficit Disorder comes up (because it is another trait receiving a lot of press), say they are unrelated and possibly the opposite, although HSPs may be misdiagnosed as ADHD because overstimulation can sometimes make us “hyper” or unable to concentrate.
_http://www.hsperson.com/pages/cz_art3.htm

...just because some ADHD'ers cannot internalize stress, pain and anguish and give off the aura of the "suffering sensitive".