Emotional Hypersensitivity Quiz

Emotional hypersensitivity is a personality trait that plenty of people can identify with. Being hypersensitive can mean being overwhelmed by things in your environment or feeling emotions and empathy really intensely. If you’ve ever been told, “Wow, you’re really sensitive,” then you might actually be hypersensitive!

Not that being emotionally hypersensitive is bad—it’s just a personality trait that some people have. So, answer a few questions, and we’ll tell you if emotional hypersensitivity is something you might have, too.

Questions Overview

Quizzes Are More Fun With Friends

Share this quiz with your friends and compare results.

1. Strongly. Their mood affects mine in turn.
2. Somewhat. My mood doesn’t change, but I feel for them.
3. A little bit, but I don’t let that affect my actions.
4. Not at all. Their mood is theirs—mine is totally separate.

1. I do it a lot.
2. I do it sometimes.
3. I do it occasionally.
4. I don’t do that.

1. Yes, all the time!
2. Yes, sometimes.
3. Occasionally, I'll get a hunch.
4. Not really. I need people to tell me how they feel.

1. Honestly, I get completely overwhelmed.
2. I get a little anxious and uncomfortable.
3. It’s a lot, but I can adjust to it.
4. I don’t really have a reaction. It’s all good!

1. I need time alone, so I withdraw somewhere quiet.
2. I need a little “me-time,” so I take breaks from time to time.
3. I need to vent about it to my friends.
4. I’m fine—I thrive when things get intense.

1. Intensely. I take criticism really hard.
2. I try to put on a brave face, but it hurts deep down.
3. I sometimes struggle with it, but I can deal with it as long as it’s constructive.
4. I’m not bothered. It gives me something to work on!

1. Avoiding it at all costs.
2. Avoiding it unless it directly involves me.
3. Trying to get past it as quickly as possible.
4. In the thick of it, trying to sort things out.

1. I overthink all the time.
2. I catch myself overthinking sometimes.
3. I’m not really an overthinker.

1. Peace, calm, and a chance to recharge myself.
2. Comfort, for a while (until I get bored).
3. Time to do what I want and not worry about others.
4. Honestly, loneliness. I don’t like a lot of solitude.

1. All the time.
2. Most of the time.
3. Sometimes.
4. Rarely.

1. It makes me uncomfortable. I prefer solo!
2. Okay. I prefer 1:1, but I can deal with big groups.
3. Great. I love group collaborations!

1. Very easily. It doesn’t take much to scare me!
2. I scare easily when it comes to specific things I don’t like.
3. I think I get scared about as much as the average person.
4. Not easily at all. In fact, it’s really hard to scare me.

More Quizzes

The Official wikiHow Quiz Newsletter

More About Emotional Hypersensitivity

What is emotional hypersensitivity?

Emotional hypersensitivity is a personality trait describing the way your brain and nervous system react to emotional stimuli. It’s typically defined by a more intense perception of both your emotions and sensory stimuli through which you perceive the world around you. If you’re hypersensitive, you tend to experience emotions and sensory stimuli more profoundly and intensely than most (and everyone is sensitive to some degree; some people are just more sensitive than others).

If you’re hypersensitive, you may tend to get upset easily, feel or be affected by other people’s emotions and moods more strongly, and take things very personally. For instance, you might take a lot of little things to heart that other people might not think twice about, or take longer to recover when feeling emotional pain. It may also be much harder to take criticism, even when it’s intended to be constructive, as people with emotional hypersensitivity tend to feel other people’s words very profoundly.

Little things may even influence your emotions and moods easily, like watching a movie or reading a book. You’re also more likely to pick up small changes in your environment, as well as other people’s moods.

Having such a deep reaction to emotional and sensory stimuli can be overwhelming at times—so how can you manage emotional hypersensitivity when it grows intense?

Coping Methods for Hypersensitivity

Figure out what triggers your hypersensitivity. Not every emotionally hypersensitive person will react to the same stimuli—so what triggers a reaction in you? Once you know the answer to that question, you can be prepared for situations that are likely to affect you more deeply and make adjustments for your comfort (or even avoid them, when possible).

Know your limits. In other words, don’t force something if you know it’ll be really upsetting and overstimulating for you. It’s okay to bow out! Everyone has their own limits, and there’s nothing wrong with sticking to yours. If you really can’t get out of something that you know will trigger your hypersensitivity, you can at least give yourself time to recuperate after.

Find ways to block out stimuli. For instance, if you know loud noises affect you, you can use earplugs or similar devices to limit the stimuli.

Get adequate sleep at night. This is something everyone should be doing, anyway—but when you’re hypersensitive, something as simple as getting a full night of sleep (or even a midday nap) can really help you deal with upsetting stimuli.

Practice mindful meditation. Take time to sit with yourself, be present in the moment, and meditate to get in a calmer, more peaceful headspace. This can help you reflect on your day, your needs, and your emotional state.

Schedule downtime for yourself. Once again, this might seem a little obvious, since it’s good advice for anyone—but if you’re hypersensitive, it’s really helpful for you to rest, unwind, and recharge.

Appreciate yourself. Yes, there are negatives to emotional hypersensitivity—but there are also strengths. You likely have a deeper understanding of your own emotions as well as other people’s, and high levels of empathy. Emotionally hypersensitive people can also be really creative, with a deep appreciation for things like art and music!

Want to learn more?

For more information about emotional hypersensitivity, check out the following resources:

• https://health.clevelandclinic.org/highly-sensitive-person
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/alone-together/202504/understanding-differences-in-emotion-sensitivity
• https://www.adhdcentre.co.uk/adhd-and-hypersensitivity-physical-and-emotional-issues/

You Might Also Like

References

Generated by RSStT. The copyright belongs to the original author.

Source