What's an HSP? HSP stands for highly sensitive person. Are you one? Take the quiz below to see:
True or False?
•I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input.
•I seem to be aware of subtleties in my environment.
•Other people's moods affect me.
•I tend to be very sensitive to pain.
•I find myself needing to withdraw during busy days,into bed or into a darkened room or any place where I can have some privacy and relief from stimulation.
•I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.
•I am easily overwhelmed by things like bright lights, strong smells,coarse fabrics,or sirens close by.
•I have a rich,complex inner life.
•I am made uncomfortable by loud noises.
•I am deeply moved by the arts or music.
•My nervous system sometimes feels so frazzled that I just have to go off by myself.
•I am conscientious.
•I startle easily.
•I get rattled when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.
•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).
•I am annoyed when people try to get me to do too many things at once.
•I try hard to avoid making mistakes or forgetting things.
•I make a point to avoid violent movies and TV shows.
•I become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is going on around me.
•Being very hungry creates a strong reaction in me,disrupting my concentration or mood.
•Changes in my life shake me up.
•I notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, works of art.
•I find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once.
•I make it a high priority to arrange my life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations.
•I am bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes.
•When I must compete or be observed while performing a task, I become so nervous or shaky that I do much worse than I would otherwise.
•When I was a child, my parents or teachers seemed to see me as sensitive or shy.
If you answered True to many of these questions, you might be an HSP. For more accurate results, you can go to
http://www.hsperson.com/pages/test.htm to take the test, which is automatically scored for you.
If you are an HSP, it makes sense that you find soft and cozy surroundings pleasant because HSPs are highly sensitive to their surroundings. And, apparently, the HSP can be greatly comforted by cozy home elements, such as soft lighting, relaxing scents and music.
For more information, you might want to check out:
The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron, Ph. D., available at amazon.com
