{"id":2043,"date":"2016-05-26T10:31:03","date_gmt":"2016-05-26T10:31:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ankewebersmit.com\/?page_id=2043"},"modified":"2026-03-09T16:15:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T16:15:58","slug":"10-must-know-misconceptions-about-high-sensitive-people","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ankewebersmit.com\/en\/10-must-know-misconceptions-about-high-sensitive-people\/","title":{"rendered":"10 must-know misconceptions about (high) sensitive people"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Two weeks ago we\u2019ve learned a lot about the advantages of being a (high) sensitive person<\/a>\u00a0. Remember, about 1\/ 5 of all people would qualify as highly sensitive. (High) sensitives are people with particular genetic characteristic that makes them keenly attuned to the world around them. Because (high) sensitive people process sensory input more deeply than others, they tend to be more empathetic and thoughtful. They might be easily overstimulated and require (regular) breaks of peace and quiet to reload their energy balance.<\/p>\n

Today I would like to expose the most common, regrettable misconceptions about (high) sensitive people.<\/p>\n

Why do I think you will enjoy\u00a0this article?<\/strong><\/p>\n

For 2 very good reasons:<\/p>\n

For 2 very good reasons:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. If you are (high) sensitive<\/strong>, it is good to know how others might perceive you. Knowing this you may (or may not) choose to react to such misconceptions in situations that you might otherwise have failed to understand or simply ignored. This might strengthens the positive image that others have of you.<\/li>\n
  2. If you are not (high) sensitive<\/strong>, it is valuable to know that your impression of a certain behavior in another person might not be based on what you\u2019ve learned during your previous experience in life. It might just be a result of (high) sensitivity characteristics (see f. ex. misconceptions number 3, 4 & 6) . This helps you to gracefully prevent misjudgment and instead create an encounter where new possibilities of inter-personal contact unfold.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Here we go:<\/p>\n

    Misconception number 1:\u00a0\u00a0 (High) sensitives are introverts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Although (high) sensitivity is often used synonymously with introversion these traits are not the same. While they share similar characteristics (like wanting downtime and having relatively quiet personalities), renown (high) sensitivity expert Dr Elaine Aron<\/a> discovered that approximately 30 % of (high) sensitive persons are. In fact, extroverts.<\/p>\n

    Misconception number 2:\u00a0\u00a0 Being (high) sensitive is another word for being shy.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Both introvert people and (high) sensitive people are often mistaken as being shy.\u00a0 Although the traits share characteristics as sensitivity to overwhelming social situations, being shy is generally a learned behavior while being (high) sensitive is innate. Dr Aron<\/a> states: ‘Shyness is a fear of social evaluation, and we are not born with that fear.’<\/p>\n

    Misconception number 3: ADHD and (High) sensitivity are closely related.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Although ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder; collective name for ADHD, HD (hyperactive Disorder) and ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder)) have some traits that overlap with (High) sensitivity the two are different things. ADHD was defined as a \u2018psychiatric disorder\u2019 (handbook of DSM Diagnostic and Statistical handbook of Mental disorders III, 1987). (High) sensitivity (HSP), is not a disorder but an innate characteristic that 15-20% of all people were born with.<\/p>\n

    Some traits that are common in both groups are:<\/p>\n