What is a Highly Sensitive Person?

A highly sensitive person experiences the world a little differently than others. Highly sensitive individuals process information more deeply and are acutely aware of subtleties the rest of us may miss.

This means they tend to be creative and insightful but also more prone to stress and overwhelm. If you notice the signs that your child may fall under an HSP definition, it is helpful to understand how their brain works differently to support and encourage them as they feel things on a deeper level.

Every person and every child is uniquely different. At BLOOM, we believe in meeting each family where they are at. With various courses on Parenting a Needy Child, Emotional Control and Regulation, and Sensory Processing, you can gain the tools to help your child achieve.

What Does It Mean to Be Highly Sensitive?

Being a highly sensitive person is a biological difference someone is born with. Their brains process information very deeply, including thoughts, sensory input, and emotions.

The neurons for emotions and sensation-sensory input are interconnected in the amygdala section of the brain. They are right next to each other and even overlap.

Anytime there is a sensory component, there is also an emotional component, and vice versa. For instance, a soup your grandmother used to make would bring the emotions you felt towards your grandmother- perhaps a warm fuzzy feeling of love and security. A piece of music from your wedding or from a tragic occasion would bring up emotions from that time.

On the flip side, emotions affect a person's sensations. When feeling emotionally sensitive, for example, one may have a hard time with anyone touching them. This can also be true of loud noises, crowds, or certain smells that may simply overwhelm them due to their sensitive emotions.

5 Signs of a Highly Sensitive Child

Some signs and signals may point to your child being born as a highly sensitive person. Identifying this personality trait will help you engage with and support your child in the most loving way possible. If you notice these common signs of a highly sensitive child, you know that your son or daughter may process the world around them differently.

Time pressure is very stressful–more so than for their peers. Sure, every child likely feels some level of stress around quizzes and exams. However, if a child is anxious to the point that they cannot perform, this can be a sign they are a highly sensitive person.

Sudden and loud noises startle them. Because people with HSP process sensory input differently, unexpected loud noises have a much greater impact than for a person not born with HSP.

Change is unsettling. If you notice your child particularly struggling (more than their peers) with change–positive or negative–this can be a sign they are a highly sensitive person.

They have a strong connection to their inner world. What does this look like? Due to the way your child deeply processes, they often develop a rich inner world. Your child may have had several imaginary friends, enjoyed fantasy-based play, and even be prone to daydreaming. They may also experience heightened body aches, pains, hunger, and indigestion as a result.

They’re perceptive. A highly sensitive child takes in their surroundings differently than others. They notice things other children may miss and are exceptionally perceptive and insightful, often seemingly beyond their years.

Support for Your Highly Sensitive Child

The truth is the world relies on highly sensitive people. These individuals are conscientious, work hard not to make mistakes, and are perceptive of the world around them. All traits that positively affect our world!

Embracing the unique qualities of your highly sensitive child and meeting them at their point of need will help your child to feel seen and heard–and also help them thrive in their environment.

BLOOM’s online resources and courses meet parents as they walk with their children, supporting them in their learning and needs. Discover our courses on Sensory Processing, Parenting a Needy Child, and Emotional Control and Regulation today.