I suddenly make sense

I was reading one of my favorite blogs, and she mentioned that she was an HSP...a Highly Sensitive Person.  I was intrigued as to what that meant.  I looked it up, and I discovered that I am one!  Oh my goodness, it was so exciting to read.  I realize that may not make much sense, but honestly, I felt that I suddenly made more sense!  Approximately 15-20% of the population is this way.  It is enough that it is not considered a disorder, but it has to do with how our nervous system processes things.

I've always said I feel more passionately than others.  If I'm happy, I'm probably thrilled.  If I'm sad, I'm very sad.  I avoid political debates because of conflict, and conflict of any kind make me physically uncomfortable.  I've always been intuitive, and observant.  Even if I know that it is only a toy mouse, I jump a mile high.  My brain can literally be thinking, "It's a toy mouse," but my body has already reacted by jumping and screaming.  I detest going places where there are crowds and loud noises.  I often dread the thought of social plans, even though I am not an introvert.  Because of how my nervous system processes things, I have food aversions and a heightened sense of smell.  I am often physically exhausted by my emotional reactions.  I don't want to watch anything that will make me cry, and I prefer not to have surprises...I actually prefer watching TV and movies that I've seen before.  I prefer (almost demand) that my mornings do not involve music or TV.  I want quiet, and I certainly can't handle anything "heavy".  Vacations are awesome...except that everything is new and my nervous system "has" to process everything.  I am annoyed by things I can't tune out that most people don't even notice.  I've had vivid dreams that stay with me throughout the entire day.  I often can't shake the way I felt from a dream or worse yet, a nightmare.

And it turns out this is all perfectly normal!  Honestly, I always thought I was just wound too tightly, and that actually is true.  But it turns out it isn't my fault.  I literally can't just relax and let it go.  It may sound silly, but it is such a relief to know that I'm not the only out there that reacts this way to things!