For extroverts, sensitivity is often an asset; For introverts, sensitivity can be a liability.
Sensitivity comes with both positives and negatives for any personality type. The introvert’s energy is deeply sensitive. It naturally seeks to understand and process its surroundings.
In a world that’s meant to cater to extroverts, people who are sensitive can be easily misunderstood. In fact, we’re often told to change our personalities and styles of communication. But it turns out being sensitive can have some amazing upsides that you can take advantage of!
As an introvert, I find myself wanting to recharge after being in social situations for too long and at the same time, wishing I could be more thoughtful and aware in those same situations. This leads to a variety of different reactions on my part. Having been acting from a sensor perspective and now being more intuitive, it can be difficult juggling them all. We can face this delicate balance bouncing from one side to another: from being sensitive to people’s emotions to being overwhelmed by the sensory stimulation of a crowd all at the same time.
In this article, I’ll cover a few strategies for balancing your natural sensitivities in different scenarios with self-care. As an INTJ, I may be slightly biased in how I am expressing how other introverts probably feel in certain situations.
What is Sensitivity?
For extroverts, sensitivity is often an asset. Being able to pick up on the subtle signals in a room or situation can help them navigate social situations or make connections with others.
For introverts, sensitivity can be a liability — even if they don’t realize it.
Sensitivity is the ability to pick up on subtle changes in your environment. For example, if you’re sensitive to sound, you may be able to hear someone sneeze on the other side of the room. If you’re sensitive to touch or taste, a light breeze may feel cold on your skin or a strong flavor may be too much for you to handle.
Sensitivity isn’t just limited to sensory experiences — it can also include emotional reactions and mental processing speed. For example, if you’re sensitive to social interactions, talking with someone new might make you anxious and uncomfortable because of all of the things going through your mind at once: What do I say? How do I act? How will they react?
According to Dr. Elaine Aron, who pioneered research into this topic, about 15 percent of people are highly sensitive, which means they readily pick up on subtle stimuli that others may not notice. The other 85 percent are considered low-sensory (or nonsensitive) individuals.
Introverts and Sensitivity: How Does It Impact Energy?
Introverts are more sensitive to their environments. This can be a positive thing — it means that introverts pick up on subtle cues and nuances that those who are less sensitive may miss. However, it also means that introverts feel things more deeply than others and are easily overwhelmed by too much stimulation.
When you’re an introvert, you probably notice yourself feeling tired and drained after spending time with a lot of people or doing something that’s stimulating. But even if you’re not an introvert, you might notice these symptoms when it comes to socializing and being around others.
I’m an introvert and have always struggled with managing my energy in different situations, especially at work and with my friends. When I was younger, I didn’t know how to manage my energy so I would just push myself through my day without taking breaks or going home early if I needed them. As soon as I started working full-time, I realized how important it is to take regular breaks and use self-care tools so that I can recharge my energy levels. Discover here to understand how an introvert recharges their social battery.
As an INTJ, I tend to be highly logical and analytical in my thinking style. This can be helpful when you’re working through issues or problems because it allows you to see things from all angles and come up with solutions that make sense. However, it can also lead to overthinking and analysis paralysis if not managed properly.
Overthinking can cause you to feel stressed out by situations that most people would find stimulating or interesting. You may notice that you feel more comfortable when there’s less going on around you — like fewer people in the room or less noise coming from your phone while reading an article online.
Battling Overstimulation and Taking Time to Process
Do you have a hard time dealing with overstimulation? I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately, especially as I’ve started to notice that my natural sensitivities are becoming more and more apparent.
One of the most common traits among INTJs is that we are extremely sensitive to our environment — especially sensory stimulation. Our sensitivity is usually a good thing, but it can also be overwhelming at times. When we experience overstimulation, it can cause us to shut down or become uncharacteristically emotional.
We have a tendency to be overwhelmed by sensory input because we process information very quickly and deeply. We may be so lost in thought that we don’t notice what’s going on around us, which can lead to feeling like we’re “bubbling over with emotion” when really all that’s happening is that we need some time alone to process everything that has happened recently.
My tips: Take some time alone in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed so that you can take a break from distractions and get back into balance. You need time to process what you’ve experienced before moving on to the next thing. This may not be the case with some people, but if it is, you have to give yourself permission to do this in your own way and at your own pace.
People-Dependency and Boundaries
It’s important for people with sensitive nervous systems to understand that their needs are just as important as those of other people. When you’re used to being told what to do and when to do it, it can be difficult to set boundaries with people around you.
But if you don’t learn how to set boundaries, then there’s no way for you to take care of yourself in healthy ways. Setting boundaries means saying “no” when necessary and paying attention to how much time and energy you’re putting into other people’s needs at the expense of your own.
The key is learning how to set boundaries so that you don’t get drained by everyone else’s needs or wants. It’s important to know what you need and how far you’re willing to go before you burn out on giving too much of yourself away.
Me, I define my boundaries by how much stimulation I can handle at any given time. For example, if someone is talking too loudly or there’s too much going on around me, I have learned over time that it makes sense for me to leave a situation so that my brain can regain its focus and clarity.
If you’re a highly sensitive person, it can be difficult to navigate relationships with friends or family who are more outgoing than you. You may find yourself becoming overly dependent on these people without realizing it. This can also cause problems when it comes time for them to focus on their own needs instead of yours. In these situations, it’s important to set boundaries with others so that they know what’s expected from them in terms of communication and support.
If you’re an introvert who spends most of your time alone (or even if you aren’t), chances are that it’s hard for you to find boundaries between yourself and others. It can be easy for other people to take advantage of your kindness, but setting boundaries around what you will and won’t do for others can help give yourself some space from others.
Relating with Other Introverts and HSPs
There are a lot of misconceptions about introverts. The same is true for HSPs (highly sensitive people).
Introverts can be outgoing and talkative in the right situations. They can be social, but they need time to recharge. And it’s not a personality disorder — it’s simply how their brains work. HSPs are more easily overwhelmed by external stimulation, so they process information and emotions more deeply than others. They may have heightened awareness of subtleties in their environment, and they tend to notice more details than others do.
But while introversion and being an HSP may seem like polar opposites, they actually go hand-in-hand. Many introverts are also highly sensitive people (HSPs). And even if you don’t consider yourself an introvert or an HSP, there are still ways that these traits can impact your life — even if you don’t have any idea what we’re talking about!
Introverts have different needs from extroverts, but we can all experience stress and overwhelm in similar ways. You might feel like everyone else has it all together and that they’re having more fun than you are, but they’re probably dealing with their own challenges and issues just like you are!
The key to relating to other introverts is understanding their need for alone time. It’s important to give them the space they need and respect their desire for privacy. If you’re an extrovert, it might be difficult for you to understand what it means for someone else to be an introvert, but if you can get on board with their way of life, then your relationships will be much smoother.
Planning for Downtime
When we get home from work or school, it can be difficult to switch off our brains. But if we don’t create some time to decompress, we’re more likely to become stressed and anxious. If this sounds like you, try scheduling an evening where you know there will be no distractions — like planning a movie night with friends or family members who won’t interrupt your alone time.
This can be one of the hardest things for people who are sensitive because they want to do everything and please everyone around them. In order to maintain a healthy balance between your needs and those of others, it’s important to schedule downtime into your day so that you don’t feel overwhelmed by the demands placed upon you at work or home.
Having a plan for downtime is essential when it comes to managing your natural sensitivities — especially if you are introverted like me! When I feel overwhelmed or drained by people or situations, I need time alone in order to recharge my batteries. While this might seem contradictory at first glance because many introverts enjoy spending time with other people (and can even thrive in social situations), there is still a limit beyond which our social energy reserves are depleted — and only through solitude can we replenish those reserves again.
Whether you’re a high-energy or an even-keeled person, your energy is likely to fluctuate over the course of a day. In order to avoid major ups and downs, you can use some self-care strategies to keep yourself balanced throughout the day. Have a self-care routine (check out my favorite self-care indie brand) or try keeping a journal by your bed and writing down what made you feel good in the morning, as well as what trouble you had falling asleep. From there, you can determine which time periods can use some extra attention so that you have more energy overall—not just for the “important” things in life.
When it comes to keeping your energy balanced, there are many factors to consider. Take the time to think about what you need in each moment, and then act on that thought. This way, you will have more energy for the important aspects of your life and fewer moments where you feel drained or exhausted.
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