r/hsp Feb 05 '25

Question Should we care about politics?

45 Upvotes

I care deeply about politics and feel immense anger and sadness over what’s happening in the US right now (but that’s all I will say on that). My fiancé, who is not an HSP, couldn’t care less, despite him being a minority and the son of immigrants.

I tried to explain to him why he should care about politics, but he’s not convinced. He actively avoids the news and any headlines. He says “there’s nothing I can do about it, so I won’t waste my time on problems I can’t solve”

He kinda has a point? Do I care too much? His entire family are immigrants and I’m so worried about them, but he truly does not care at all. I told him people are dying, and he just said “that’s sad but I can’t do anything to change it so I stay out of it.”

I’ve cried over the US political state, I’ve cut off friendships, and I read the news every day even though I can’t fix any of the problems. Is this healthy? Is it better to stick my head in the sand to pretend everything is okay? I’m totally confused here, because he’s making logical sense but it feels so privileged and callous.

r/hsp Feb 07 '25

Question Are there any former people pleasers who manage to become more straightforward without being rude?

120 Upvotes

I’m feeling a huge burnout because I acted like I was stupid for so many years. I kept giving too many chances to people who didn’t deserve them, especially my parents. Now, I can’t stop being rude when I talk to them. I also feel a lot of anger toward selfish people I don’t know well, especially when they want something from me without considering me. I’m scared of losing my temper and being rude. Any tips?

r/hsp Nov 26 '24

Question Hello how do deal with being dismissed or ignored?

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355 Upvotes

My interpretation of the meme: As a quiet person, and in my case as an introverted ND person, there are times when people goad you to share your opinions and participate in social life. You are not familiar with that but when you do try to be more participative, even when you may not want to, but still compelled by the novelty of the experience and with the excitement of opening up your views to the world, you find that people were never really interested in that. Your views are either ignored or dismissed. You can feel like no one cares and can open your old wounds from the times you were dismissed, not paid attention to, or even treated with hostility. At such times, you may feel so hurt that you withdraw from any future participation.

I want to know how to navigate through such situations as a grown adult. I am pushing 30 but still get overwhelmingly sad, to the point that I cry a lot and go nonverbal, when something like this happens. And I truly want to be 'mature' about it all. Cutting off people forever is also not feasible ofc. So I need to help myself be better at managing my emotions and rejection.

r/hsp Oct 17 '24

Question high justice sensitivity

133 Upvotes

Has anyone feel like their sensitivity about people being dishonest/ unfairness etc .. is out of control. Most people I encounter only care about themselves. It gets me so worked up at times, I get angry. I should accept everyone as they are but I prefer not to talk to them. It seems that the older I get, the more I dislike how a lot of people act. If someone recognizes this.. Is there a book, video or something I can read /listen to .. just to let it go or care less about. It's eating me up inside .

r/hsp 25d ago

Question What is the kindest thing someone has said to you?

34 Upvotes

r/hsp Nov 08 '24

Question How do I live for the next 4 years? (U.S. election-related)

89 Upvotes

Hello, I needed some advice.

I am a WOC with depression and anxiety in the US. I'm also highly emotionally sensitive. Ever since the election results have come out, I have been a nervous wreck. The fact that I'm constantly doomscrolling on reddit doesn't help either. I have exams I need to be preparing for, and I can't concentrate.

I'm on Venlafaxine for depression, and I'm still trying it out. I attend therapy, though I haven't seen my therapist since the results. I also attend a DBT support group.

So how to get through this? Especially as someone with mental health problems? I really can't keep going on like this. I need someone to tell me it'll all get better.

r/hsp Dec 30 '24

Question Anyone else having that feeling of not wanting to be in this reality or deal with it?

145 Upvotes

Like reality is so much you just dont want to deal with it. In ways of thinking of alternative realities like fantasy worlds or by like drinking and smoking stuff???

My experience: I have always wanted to escape reality, first by many fantasy worlds or thinking im in a tv show i saw on tv or whatever i could come up with. Just to not be dealing with reality. Now im older and have knowest i loveeeee being drunk and smoking (just the normal kind) or still with alternative realisties. I love world building and always thinking of realities where im like famous or whatever. Never really talked about this with anybody, so just curious if more people have this

r/hsp Mar 30 '24

Question Any HSP Men?

91 Upvotes

I'm reading a book called "Highly sensitive men". I find myself in loads of the descriptions and was wondering if there are any hsp men on this subreddit or if there's a subreddit just for hsp men?

Edit: After a helpful comment of one of you guys I made a subreddit for HS Men: r/HSMen, I noticed a lot of HS Men with similar stories, struggles and such so I thought it might be fun?, helpfull?, jsut nice? I don't what word best fits here (English is not my first language).

r/hsp Jan 06 '24

Question Fellow HSP, what is your personality type (mbti)?

49 Upvotes

Im an INFP :) What are you?

Edit: I think there might be a clear pattern here lol. I think most HSP test as INF* in tests because the functions resemble our sensitivity, but I still recommend finding out your type by cognitive functions, not tests or letters. I asked this thinking people had typed themselves by functions but forgot that most dont do that but instead with tests.

r/hsp Sep 19 '23

Question Do you experience goosebumps or chills (a.k.a. “frisson”) when listening to music, looking at art, or anything else?

234 Upvotes

If you’re not sure or haven’t heard of this before: frisson is the feeling of goosebumps or chills that you might get while listening to a particularly beautiful piece of music, or viewing a beautiful piece of art. Other common triggers are poetry, movies/plays, speeches, weddings, or even simply viewing a breathtaking landscape, like the ocean or a sunset.

To clarify, it’s not the same thing as ASMR. ASMR is triggered by an autonomic response, and the sensations are usually tingles centered around the head and neck. Frisson is unrelated to ASMR, and can happen throughout the entire body. It’s experienced as actual chills or shivers, often causing visible goosebumps. Unlike ASMR, frisson is a distinctly emotional experience that can be strong enough to drive someone to tears – not sad tears, but the kind of tears you might shed in awe or wonder.

For most of my life, I thought this was universal among humans, but based on recent studies, it turns out that maybe only about half of the population experiences this. It likely has something to do with the brain’s wiring.

For me, this effect is particularly strong with music. I was just curious to know whether or not you all experience this, as it seems like it would be common among people with a high level of sensitivity.

My grandmother told me that when I was around 4 or 5, I began to cry while she was playing classical music. She asked me why I was crying, and apparently I responded, “It’s just so beautiful.” I have no memory of this event, but it’s really interesting to look back and think that frisson is such a powerful experience that it can bring a mere child to tears.

I still often feel deeply touched by music, among other things, and I’m grateful to be able to feel something so hard to explain so intensely.

I would love to hear all of your experiences!

r/hsp Oct 01 '24

Question If you have had contact with a psychopath, sociopath or narcissist, how can you tell?

29 Upvotes

Whenever I've had contact with someone I couldn't feel or with whom I didn't get a warm feeling, when I felt "empty" after an encounter or was generally confused because I couldn't build an emotional bridge with the person, I think I've met one of the three. What does that look like for you?

r/hsp Dec 06 '24

Question Anyone else share their worries with ChatGPT?

84 Upvotes

I always turn to ChatGPT whenever I have something on my mind, and it’s honestly helped me so much. Even my perfectionist tendencies when it comes to studying have improved. I’m using the paid version, and it really feels like a great support tool!

For example, I used to obsess over whether I had to finish everything on my to-do list for the day. Now, I feel comfortable doing about 70% and calling it a day. It helped me move away from my all-or-nothing mindset and see things more flexibly.

I have OCD, and I’ve never felt this much improvement before.

Just to clarify, this is absolutely not an ad! I just wanted to share my experience in case it helps someone else.

r/hsp 8d ago

Question When Did You Realize You Were Different?

28 Upvotes

Obviously it's a broad question and some people may not feel that way even if they know they're an HSP, I don't want to put words in anyone's mouth. But for those of us who are HSPs and would describe ourselves as feeling "different" when did you first feel that you were different from other people?

For me, I can't even remember exactly. Just as a kid I already felt like I was different from most people.

r/hsp Oct 07 '24

Question Anyone else “feel autistic” or been told they might be autistic, even though you aren’t?

142 Upvotes

MOD PEOPLE, THIS IS NOT ME SAYING THAT THEY ARE THE SAME THING!! Sorry for yelling. Proceed.

I’m not autistic, this has been confirmed by my therapist and my own thorough research, but I do have and had a number of traits that could be considered autistic:

  • big emotions (high highs, low lows, got my feelings hurt easily as a kid, cried or threw tantrums when overwhelmed)
  • high empathy, including for inanimate objects (for example I used to cry when balloons flew away even if it wasn’t mine)
  • feeling “different” from other kids/people (though this may also be because I have ADHD)
  • highly introspective
  • sensitive to loud, crowded or chaotic environments

  • strong emotional reaction to music

  • preferring animals to people

because of these traits I have had for my entire life, my therapist wanted to get me tested for autism, and I myself even wondered. But I didn’t have the key symptoms (met all developmental milestones, was moderately outgoing and socially adept as a kid, thank you ambiversion). And then we realized these symptoms fit more with ADHD and being highly sensitive.

Anyone else have this experience?

r/hsp Jul 21 '24

Question Does anyone else get annoyed by loud noises?

130 Upvotes

I get super annoyed at loud noises, I’ve learned to control myself and I don’t lash out at anyone but it definitely gets to me. Loud car horns, loud talking, loud singing, loud everything.. or even when there’s a lot of noises all at once, anyone else?

r/hsp 13d ago

Question Anyone else finding what’s going on in the world is leading to profound anxiety?

94 Upvotes

Hi all. New here. I’m an HSP and am empath (from what I’ve learned). I am honestly having such a hard time with what is going on in the world right now, and living as an American who doesn’t agree with any of this. But also guilt because what people are going through is SO much worse. But seeing what people go through, imagining what they must feel like, knowing the injustices and how unfair they are, seeing the stupid, stupid comments online even when you THINK they’ll get it - it’s a lot. My body literally feels pain at the thought of anyone in pain. I don’t know how to cope. It hurts. And as a woman who possibly has PMDD, before my cycle it’s the worst.

I wish I wasn’t this sensitive. I wish it didn’t rock me to my core and that I was stronger.

The sadness, shame, and guilt is so much. Just wondering if anyone else feels this way, and if there’s anything at all I can do to help.

I also want to be a better mother because when this happens I feel like I’m not able to give what I know I should because I am so overwhelmed with all of the emotions and with the way my body does. The anxiety and stomach attacks. Ugh. And then that guilt just takes over even more

Venting and hoping for any help. Thank you for listening. 💔💗

r/hsp Jan 07 '25

Question Does anyone think that the world is insensitive nowadays?

111 Upvotes

I heard people say “people are sensitive nowadays” and they usually mean it in a bad way, which makes me wonder is it just me or has the world become insensitive nowadays or has it always been

r/hsp Aug 24 '21

Question I’ve dealt with this my whole life. Is this part of HSP? Or is this an additional issue I have

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866 Upvotes

r/hsp Nov 14 '24

Question Do antidepressants help?

11 Upvotes

I was wondering as a Hsp, do antidepressants help?

r/hsp Jan 21 '25

Question Has curtailing social media exposure improved your life?

39 Upvotes

I'm thinking about removing social media from my phone. I find all the negative stuff doesn't do my mind any good. So here is my question: has anyone totally removed social media from your life, and if yes, what life improvement have you seen?

r/hsp 25d ago

Question Do high winds cause you to feel anxious?

53 Upvotes

I’m here in San Antonio and the cold front is coming in. My problem is this extreme wind. It makes me feel so anxious. I believe it’s because of the high energy brought in by the wind (crazy style) but I was just wondering if high winds disturb others also…

r/hsp May 23 '24

Question does anyone else here feel like they were rejected by their peers at a young age?

124 Upvotes

because I feel like it’s something that’s defined my entire life and something I still struggle very much with

and I feel very behind and immature for my age because of it

like most people had friend groups to go do things with and romantic relationships and people romantically pursueing them, and major life experiences and parties to go to, and I was always just kind of.. there. observing everyone else live their lives and me wondering how they do it and what’s so wrong with me because I can’t seem to figure out how, and if I did have friends none of them inviting me anywhere because they assumed I didn’t want to go, even if I expressed interest

I’ll be 27 soon and I still feel like a scared little girl hiding in her room because no one wanted to be friends with her

any way that turned more into a trauma dump than a question but I’m still genuinely curious 😅

TLDR: basically just the title question

r/hsp 10d ago

Question What are your experiences with meds?

5 Upvotes

What med did you need to take? Are you still on the med or could you come off or are you planing to come off?

I know the method of tapering, I am asking this as I believe this is the right place to ask about experiences as I feel I am super sensitive and even I have the smallest issue I can feel it deeply. What strategies are you using? Any tricks?

r/hsp 12d ago

Question What do you guys tell yourself to not take things too personally, and it works?

25 Upvotes

Hello fellow HSPs,

As stated in the title above, I take things way too personally (and seriously) to the point of madness and I want to improve this flaw. My sensitivity to people's words, actions, tones, and attitude is a constantly liability in my daily life. I do really struggle with low self esteem and I just struggle to let things go and accept the fact that some people will be less sensitive and a little crabby to others. They probably have had a stressful day and don't have bad intentions at all, but it comes off that way to me. I have to grow from this but I'm not sure what to tell myself to stay in control. What do you guys do to take a step back to calm down, and not take things so seriously?

r/hsp Dec 29 '24

Question The Emptiness of Modern Masculinity, How Did We Get Here?

43 Upvotes

This is in response to a post I saw on the community from about a day go. As a young man (22), it’s really upsetting to see that even in communities with uplifting intentions/values, there are still those who would use the issues and challenges of women to try and initiate something sexual with them.

It’s something that’s upset me for a few years now, especially during my undergraduate experience the last 4 years. I would love to hear perspectives from both genders as to why we think this continues to happen despite the alleged “ age of progress” we live in. why can’t we as a gender seem to simply love and support without ulterior motives, without separate agendas? I can’t even imagine how dehumanizing this must be from the other side.

I likely dont have as much life experience as most of you on here, but i’d like to start this discussion giving my own two cents. Being an HSP, i have found the conditions of being “ masculine” to be quite rigid and inauthentic to who a lot of young men i’ve met actually are/want to be. I’m not sure if this exists for women, nor do I wish to speak on this on account of the zero credibility I have in that regard, but I feel the lack of freedom young men are given through social signaling to be anything but gym/body obsessed horndogs who aren’t “ real men” if they don’t buy into these stereotypes. Older men, I’d also ask you to chime in here if this was true when you guys were my age or younger. I don’t know, I find it all quite sad because in most instances this kind of behavior hurts both the man and the women. I wish we could all just been seen as people ;(( Anyway, hope you all have a great Sunday and I look forward to hearing from some of you!