All the Feels

Some people experience emotions more intensely than others. Ringing true for you? We'll show you how to make it a superpower.

- Lauren Del Turco

“You're so sensitive." That statement feels loaded with judgment (and even like an insult in some cases)—but if the past two years of stress, political unrest, and routine upheaval taught us anything, it's that sensitivity is exactly what the world needs more of right now.

In scientific terms, sensitivity is “the ability to perceive and process information about the environment, whether external or internal,” says Michael Pluess, PhD, a researcher on the topic.

Yep, it's rooted in our biology, and beyond humans, it has been observed in hundreds of animal species. (The more you know!) While the general conception of a sensitive person is someone whose feelings are easily hurt, those who have "high sensitivity” are experiencing something different. It's an innate Spidey sense that makes them feel, think, and react more intensely than others.

Are You Highly Sensitive?

If a few of the following statements resonate with you, you might be.

You were shy or sensitive as a child (or were considered so by other people).

You get tired, stressed, and overwhelmed more easily than those around you.

You tend to really mull situations through.

You often need time to yourself to decompress or process things.

You find it easy to empathize with others.

You have a profound appreciation for ature, art, and beauty.

You pick up on details around you (including other people's moods) that most overlook.