highly sensitive person

[PamNY]

Sometimes I am the only one on the train who does not have earbuds on. The rest are reading a book or doing some kind of puzzle.
I sit and look at the people or stare into space.

Just FYI, I seriously dislike people who stare at me on the train. There is a very fine line between "looking at" and "staring at," I realize.

[GLC1968]

For those of you who have been in therapy this may be blindingly obvious, but to me who hasn't this actually gave some insight. And insight makes it easier to identify and avoid "bad" triggers, for one, and feel less guilty about certain things, like being a lot less social than most friends and family.

Exactly.

Let me suggest how insignificant this is in the grand scheme of my life. I've NEVER been to therapy and I consider myself an exceedingly well adjusted contributing member of society. If I'm not happy, I blame only myself and I take steps to change it. I have lived a very positive, very fullfilled life. HSP is NOT a crutch or a death sentence, or really even a problem.

I would strongly disagree that knowing this is 'common sense' as I have a great deal of common sense and it would never occur to me that 1/5 of the population would also have these odd traits. If I had given it any thought, I guess I would assume that there were other people like me out there somewhere, but the chances of actually meeting them were slim to none. It's not exactly mainstream conversation material, right? Additionally, the thought that this HSP is prevalent enough that people have actually studied it and given it a name is kind of mind-boggling to me.

Will this change anything in my life? Not really. I have added one more book to my reading list, though.

[badger]

as others have already pointed out, I think this discussion is NOT about pathology or focusing on the negative but actually celebrating the positive about it. To me it's great.

It's not like I'm being validated that I've got issues and need therapy to cope with life (been there done that). It's just to reassure us that what we're feeling isn't BAD, and in fact GOOD when it comes to survival instincts.

And it's not just humans who are highly sensitive; animals are, too. They've even found some goldfish to have highly senstive traits, and those will be the ones who'll surive because they'll be the cautious ones who won't jump out the fish bowl to shrivel up.

[Crankin]

Pam, I don't "stare" at people. I look, and maybe stare at the posters on the wall of the train. I only ride for 2 stops, so I don't have too much time there, thankfully. I can't read on the train... makes me dizzy. I can read on the commuter rail, when and if I take it, since I am on for 40 minutes or so. It goes slower.
I just don't like buds in my ears, nor do I have any great desire to listen to music.
Jolt, I think you get more of the cell phone conversations on the commuter rail, when people have more time. Not so much on the Red line. That would bug me, too, since it bugs me anywhere out in public.
Sounds like the "things that piss me off" thread.