HSP Test

The HSP Test

(Courtesy of Dr. Elaine Aron)

Answering yes to more than 14 questions, you are likely highly sensitive.

  1. I am easily overwhelmed by strong sensory input.

  2. I seem to be aware of subtleties in my environment.

  3. Other people’s moods affect me.

  4. I tend to be very sensitive to pain.

  5. I find myself needing to withdraw during busy days, into bed or a darkened room or any place where I can have some privacy and relief from stimulation.

  6. I am particularly sensitive to the effects of caffeine.

  7. I am easily overwhelmed by things like bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics, or sirens close by.

  8. I have a rich, complex inner life.

  9. I am made uncomfortable by loud noises.

  10. I am deeply moved by the arts or music.

  11. My nervous system sometimes feels so frazzled that I just have to go off by myself.

  12. I am conscientious.

  13. I startle easily.

  14. I get rattled when I have a lot to do in a short amount of time.

  15. When people are uncomfortable in a physical environment, I tend to know what needs to be done to make it more comfortable (like changing the lighting or the seating).

  16. I am annoyed when people try to get me to do too many things at once.

  17. I try hard to avoid making mistakes or forgetting things.

  18. I make a point to avoid violent movies and TV shows.

  19. I become unpleasantly aroused when a lot is going on around me.

  20. Being very hungry creates a strong reaction in me, disrupting my concentration or mood.

  21. Changes in my life shake me up.

  22. I notice and enjoy delicate or fine scents, tastes, sounds, or works of art.

  23. I find it unpleasant to have a lot going on at once.

  24. I make it a high priority to arrange my life to avoid upsetting or overwhelming situations. I am bothered by intense stimuli, like loud noises or chaotic scenes.

  25. When I must compete or be observed while performing a task, I become so nervous or shaky that I do much worse than I would otherwise.

  26. When I was a child, my parents or teachers seemed to see me as sensitive or shy.