I’m a psychologist and these are the 5 signs you’re a highly sensitive person

A psychologist has revealed the five signs that you are a highly sensitive person.

Dr Julie Smith, a clinical psychologist with a private practice in Hampshire, boasts more than four million followers on TikTok. 

She often speaks about mental health online, with videos on how to build your confidence, why you may be procrastinating, and the signs that you be may being manipulated. 

In a recent clip which has received almost 250,000 views, Dr Smith reveals the signs that you may be a highly sensitive person. 

She begins by saying: ‘Here’s five signs of a highly sensitive person. Number one, other people’s moods and pain affect you deeply.’

Dr Smith said that highly sensitive individuals often tend to be ‘deeply affected’ by violent films and seeing others in distress.

They may feel like they need to spent a while processing things and may actively avoid these situations. 

She also says that this is not a disorder, but a neutral trait, where the nervous system is more sensitive than others. 

The psychologist added that around 15 to 20 per cent of the population experience this.

She continued by saying: ‘Number two, when you’re in a busy environment, you often feel the need to withdraw and be alone to get relief from the stimulation of those surroundings.’

Moving onto the third point, Dr Smith says when others try to overload you too many things at once, ‘you quickly become overwhelmed by all the demands.’ 

‘Number four, you hate change and avoid having a lot going on because of all the strong emotions that come with it,’ she continued. 

Dr Smith then revealed the last sign, which is when asked to compete or perform in front of others, you get bad nerves.

This nervousness then ends up meaning that you do a lot worse than you otherwise would’ve done. 

She said highly sensitive people also tend to ‘hate change’ and ‘avoid having a lot going on because of all the strong emotions that come with it’

Dr Smith also captioned the video: ‘The recognition that some people experience more sensitivity than others is based on decades of research by psychotherapist Elaine Aaron. 

‘But it is crucial to point out that this is not a clinical diagnosis. It is not a disorder that needs changing. 

‘You are not flawed in any way. But it’s common for highly sensitive i individuals to feel that way, because people vary greatly in how much their nervous system is aroused in the same situation. 

‘So the signs of a highly sensitive person is a description of variation in individuals that can cause us problems if we don’t account for it.’

Viewers of the video took to the comments section to discuss the video and many people said they related to what the psychologist was saying. 

Viewers of the video took to the comments section to discuss the video and many people said they related to what the psychologist was saying

One user wrote: ‘Wow I didn’t think I was but you have just described me.’

Another said: ‘I don’t know how but this video helped me a lot, thank you. I wish I could have you as my therapist.’ 

A third penned: ‘(I’ve) been called over sensitive by past employers, been made to feel wrong for how I feel and it’s the worst.’

A fourth commented: ‘Okay that person is me. All of the signs (are) literally relatable.’