Are highly sensitive people defensive?

Alternatively, a person who is sensitive in a temperamental way is usually defensive regarding threats to his or her ego. Hypervigilant about protecting his or her self-esteem, this person often, unconsciously, deflects accountability, and unfairly projects blame onto others to escape internal discomfort.


Are defensive people sensitive?

They are sensitive but, often, their reactions to your comments are a defence mechanism. The two may feel the same to the person experiencing these feelings but, in reality, they are worlds apart.

What are the telltale signs of a highly sensitive person?

8 Signs You May Be a Highly Sensitive Person:
  • You're very emotional. ...
  • You're very compassionate and generous. ...
  • You're sensitive to criticism. ...
  • You feel different from everyone else and sometimes alone. ...
  • You're sensitive to external stimuli. ...
  • You overthink and worry. ...
  • You're intuitive. ...
  • You often feel tired and overwhelmed.


What do highly sensitive people struggle with?

Living with High Sensitivity

HSPs may struggle to adapt to new circumstances, may demonstrate seemingly inappropriate emotional responses in social situations, and may easily become uncomfortable in response to light, sound, or certain physical sensations.

What are the traits of a highly sensitive person?

How do you know if you're a highly sensitive person?
  • Highly dislike violence. ...
  • Experience the emotions of others. ...
  • Often feel overstimulated. ...
  • Often withdraw. ...
  • Startle easily. ...
  • A rich inner life. ...
  • Deeply moved by beauty. ...
  • Perceptive.


Highly sensitive people and narcissism



Do HSP have anger issues?

Due to traits of their personality, heightened empathy or childhood conditioning, many highly sensitive people have repressed anger, and do not know how to deal with their emotions healthily.

Is HSP a narcissist?

It is important to note that many highly sensitive people are not narcissistic. Highly sensitive people are often aware, empathetic, and excellent listeners, which are the antithesis of narcissism.

What hurts a highly sensitive person?

Highly sensitive people may be more affected by certain situations such as tension, violence, and conflict, which may lead them to avoid things that make them feel uncomfortable. You might be highly touched by beauty or emotionality. Highly sensitive people tend to feel deeply moved by the beauty they see around them.


What kind of partner does a HSP need?

A verbal safe haven: HSPs thrive in relationships where they feel seen, heard, and valued. Since highly sensitive people feel things more deeply than most, their feelings often get hurt more quickly than others'. HSPs thrive in relationships where they feel seen, heard, and valued.

What is the secret superpower of highly sensitive people?

Most highly sensitive people display rare strengths in key areas of emotional intelligence, also known as emotional quotient (EQ) — the ability to recognize and understand emotions in themselves and others. These strengths including self-awareness and social-awareness.

Are HSP emotionally intelligent?

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. The good news is that highly sensitive people aren't more or less emotionally intelligent than others.


What causes a person to become highly sensitive?

There can be many different reasons. Sometimes, we become more emotional when we go through difficult or stressful times. Recent bereavement, trauma, and stress can make us feel more emotional. Some people tend to be emotionally sensitive because it's a part of their personality.

Do highly sensitive people have friends?

Healthy HSP friendships deeply support each other, using listening as a two-way street. HSPs often put others' needs above their own, doing whatever they can to help a friend feel better. A highly sensitive person needs friends who appreciate their care, won't abuse it, and are happy to reciprocate.

What kind of person is always defensive?

Defensive individuals often have control and power issues, and perceive anyone confronting them or holding them accountable as a threat. They are uncomfortable with feelings in general and managing their own.


What causes a person to be constantly defensive?

They may have low self-esteem or depression. They may experience self-blame, guilt, or shame about what they are perceiving as criticism. These feelings and experiences may lead the person to defend themselves and try to stop feeling this way. This can lead them to become defensive.

What is the root cause of defensiveness?

As you've learned, being defensive is a result of feeling ashamed, hurt, guilty, attacked, etc. If a person is feeling this way, responding with further criticism is likely to end only in stonewalling or an argument. Instead, show empathy and concern for the situation that the other person is experiencing.

What not to say to a highly sensitive person?

10 Things You Should Never Say to a Highly Sensitive Person
  • Yes, we know we're sensitive. ...
  • “You're too sensitive.” ...
  • “Don't take things so personally. ...
  • “It's not that big a deal. ...
  • “SURPRISE!” (“Expect the unexpected” is not a phrase HSPs live by.) ...
  • “Let's go to this loud, crowded event!”


Which personality type is most likely to be HSP?

Most HSPs are either INFJs or INFPs — the ones that don't tend to be ENFJs or ENFPs. Whether you're one or both, it's important to know what stresses you, what overstimulates you and what makes you feel calm, relaxed and happy.

What should a highly sensitive person avoid?

Highly Sensitive Person Essential Reads
  • Reduce the number of intense stimuli in your environment.
  • Limit the number of tasks when multi-tasking.
  • Avoid burnout by noticing early warning signs, such as feeling overwhelmed and anxious.
  • Get your thoughts and deep emotions on paper so that they won't cloud your brain.


What happens in the brain of a highly sensitive person?

Highly sensitive people activate brain areas to a greater extent to interpret in great depth and detail the information of the affective and emotional states of the people around them, especially those close to them.


What makes a HSP happy?

Close, meaningful relationships

HSPs crave deep connections with others. In fact, according to Aron, they may get bored or restless in relationships that lack meaningful interaction.

Do HSPs need more sleep?

Sleep is crucial for HSPs, so make sure its highly quality and your night-time sleep is long. Most HSPs need at least 8 hours, and many sleep over the average -- 9 or 10 hours nightly. If you're not getting enough sleep you WILL burn out and edge towards depression, anxiety and become less capable of functioning.

Are highly sensitive people toxic?

And while sensitive people are highly intuitive, because they have such a strong sense of empathy, they can easily end up in toxic relationships more so than others.


Does HSP overthink?

A common struggle for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) is overthinking. “My brain won't stop,” or, “I can't turn it off!” or “I'm overanalyzing again” are common refrains.

Do HSP attract narcissists?

Yes, unfortunately; and all too often it's an HSP, the person who keenly feels the pain of others and takes a true sense of satisfaction from helping. HSPs are often the first to try to console and comfort someone in need, and that puts them at risk of getting pulled into a narcissist's trap.
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