Similar personality conditions
Several mental health illnesses are similar to high sensitivity. So it is important to know the differences between these conditions and high sensitivity.
- Introversion: Are you easily overwhelmed by certain changes in your environment? It could’ve been because you are an introvert [3] or a highly sensitive person. However, introverts are only overwhelmed by social experiences such as crowded and noisy places. On the other hand, highly sensitive people can be overwhelmed by social, physical, and emotional experiences.
- Sensory processing disorder (SPD): feeling disinclined to any sensory input? It is a trait seen in people with a sensory processing disorder and high sensitivity. People with SPD may experience unstable motor function [4], which does not happen in highly sensitive people. People with SPD may also experience low reactivity to sensory input, while people with HSPs experience high reactivity.
- Autism: High sensitivity and autism are two different conditions. HSPs overreact to sensory input [5], while autisms may have either hyposensitivity (under-responsiveness) or hypersensitivity
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): HSPs is commonly confused for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) [6]. The two conditions are characterized by an overreaction to stimuli. But people with ADHD may experience some cognitive symptoms such as an inability to focus. These symptoms are not seen in HSPs.
In addition, you may experience high sensitivity to other mental conditions. For example, you may have SPD and be a highly sensitive person. ADHD and High sensitivity mostly occur together.