Being a highly sensitive person is not a weakness or a curse, and when dating one of these caring souls, it’s important to keep these pointers in mind.
The highly sensitive person makes one of the most passionate and caring lovers in the world. Since they are so in-tune with others and deeply empathetic, they always treat their loved ones with respect and devotion.
A highly sensitive person has a difficult time trying to function in a world that feels incredibly overwhelming. Sometimes they feel misunderstood. All they really want in a love relationship is to find someone who understands and respects their sensitivity.
Dating a highly sensitive person – 20 things you can’t ignore
Some people are under the misconception that “highly sensitive” means weak. This couldn’t be further from the truth. These people face a barrage of stimuli daily that others simply do not. It can be incredibly exhausting and overwhelming on any given day.
Dating a highly sensitive person is both a roller coaster and a wonderful adventure, depending on how you look at it. If you nurture and understand your highly sensitive partner, they reward you with passionate love and fierce loyalty.
When dating a highly sensitive person, keep the following things in mind.
#1 They are constantly feeling. A highly sensitive person is not equipped with an on/off switch for their feelings. They constantly feel, and most often, they feel what others are feeling.
Imagine picking up the signals of everyone else’s moods depending on who you are in contact with on any given day. That’s what a highly sensitive person experiences all the time.
#2 They can be moody. Since highly sensitive people are so affected by the emotions and moods of others, they can be prone to mood swings themselves. It’s not uncommon for them to wake up in a great mood, only to visit a negative parent or deal with a rude cashier, and come home feeling angry or depressed.
It’s best to understand it’s usually not you that caused them to feel this way, but others in their daily environment.
#3 They can be indecisive. A highly sensitive person weighs out risk versus reward and contemplates all the possible consequences of an action before making any decisions. This seems wishy-washy or indecisive. Really, they just have more analytical minds and are incredibly hard on themselves when they make a bad decision.
Therefore, they do not usually like to be rushed or pressured into doing something until they have thought it through completely.
#4 They have emotional reactions to life. Since highly sensitive people feel things so deeply all the time, they see the world through a lens of their emotions. While their mind is deeply logical and analytical, when it comes to personal matters, they react first with their emotions and then think about it after.
#5 They are more prone to bring out the waterworks. Having emotional reactions to life, also means sensitive people find it hard to keep a poker face when they are hurt or stressed. Crying often can be a natural release for the pent-up emotions. They are not being dramatic to gain attention or sympathy, they simply can’t help crying to help themselves feel better.
#6 They might struggle with depression or anxiety. Since these people are constantly swept up into the moods and feelings of others, they can be prone to depression or anxiety.
Imagine never knowing if you are actually sad, or if you are picking up the sadness of a lonely friend or relative. The onslaught of constant feelings that they face every day makes them anxious and afraid to leave the house, for fear of picking up these overwhelming emotions.
#7 They can be hard on themselves. Highly sensitive people can be incredibly hard on themselves when they make mistakes or wrong decisions. Even though they forgive and are sympathetic to a fault towards other, they are their own biggest critic, and aim for perfection in all that they do.
#8 People are drawn to them. It’s not uncommon for these people to attract all sorts of strangers that all seem to want to vent their problems or gain advice. Highly sensitive people have an aura of compassion and understanding, and that makes others want to flock around them.
#9 They are in tune with their surroundings. These people are maddeningly observant. They notice the fine details everywhere, in a way that others don’t. They are very aware of what goes on around them, including facial expressions and body language of other people, and usually sense when someone in the room is angry, lonely, or upset.
#10 They are great listeners. Highly sensitive people are such people magnets because they mastered the art of listening. They know how to make anyone feel heard, and therefore, people pour their hearts out to them.
#11 They put themselves in your shoes. A highly sensitive person really understands what you go through, even if they aren’t going through the same thing themselves. They are born with an innate empathy, and truly feel the pain of others.
#12 They give great advice. Highly sensitive people are natural advisers because they listen carefully and empathize with your situation. They won’t tell you something for the hell of it, because they truly want to help.
#13 They are attuned to their own body. These people carry around a lot of extra emotional baggage, and they are also physically sensitive to their environment. They need exercise, plenty of rest, and a healthy diet to feel balanced.
#14 They get easily overwhelmed. It sometimes feel like the weight of the world is on their shoulders, causing sensitive people to act out or withdraw in order to regain clarity and peace.
#15 They need frequent periods of alone time. Since these people are so easily overwhelmed by long periods of time spent with others, they frequently need periods of alone time. To recharge their batteries and get back to feeling normal. Give them time to process their feelings, and they’ll be super appreciative of having such an understanding partner.
#16 They have natural intuition. Highly sensitive people have a natural intuition. They know if they like a person right away, or if they get a bad feeling about them. They also sometimes avoid a bad scenario when their intuition kicks in with a warning sign.
#17 They are hurt by real world problems. These people are profoundly affected by bad news, negativity, and the problems that affect the world today. They literally feel the pain and anguish of the world and can’t handle watching violence or torture on TV.
#18 Drawn to spiritual practices. These people dabble in all kinds of spiritual practices. They might enjoy learning about folk religions, Wicca, or shamanism. They respect all spiritual beliefs, and usually expect that you respect their spirituality as well, as it can sometimes be a big part of their life.
#19 They love deeply. Highly sensitive people love deeply and completely. They are not the type to deceive or hurt someone they love, because they would only hurt themselves just as much. If you are loved by them, you will know.
#20 They forgive but won’t forget. Since highly sensitive people are so sensitive and emotional, when they are hurt, they likely won’t soon forget it. They are gracious enough to forgive someone, but they won’t dare to put themselves in the same situation again.
Dating a highly sensitive person can be a deeply rewarding experience, if you keep these things in mind. These people are capable of deep love, but get on their bad side, and you might never see that loving side again.
