"Are all introverts highly sensitive?" is a question I get quite often. While there are indeed some similarities, there are also some differences.
In short, an introvert is someone who recharges when he or she is alone. An introvert likes to be with other people, but prefers smaller groups when doing so. He or she needs more time to recharge, think and analyze things than an extrovert does. High sensitivity is mainly a neurological phenomenon. As an HSP, you process stimuli very deeply, making all kinds of connections.
For introverts, the starting point is inside: that is where you get your energy from and that is also where you return when you run out of energy. You must process stimuli from outside before you will respond to them. As an introvert, you are also more sensitive to it than an extrovert: you are easily over-stimulated, because your brain needs less dopamine (the happiness hormone) than an extrovert. As a result, you have less need to be in constant contact and you prefer to avoid conflicts.
Extroverted
High sensitives are also very sensitive to stimuli and process things deeply. But as an HSP you can also be an extrovert. In that case you have a great need for constant contact with others, but you also want to protect yourself against overstimulation: two opposing forces. It is generally stated that about 70 percent of all highly sensitive people are introverts, but that as much as 30 percent are extroverts. So introversion and high sensitivity are not necessarily always linked.
The sensitivity to stimuli is slightly different for introverts than for HSPs. Introversion is mainly about avoiding stimuli related to contact with others (too large groups of people, conflicts), while for a highly sensitive person the sensory stimuli are the most important ones. Think of loud sounds or bright lights.
Within the group of HSPs, there is also a category that actively searches for stimuli in the form of new things: the high sensation seeker. About ten percent of highly sensitive people fall into this category. This is not to say that they will suddenly jump out of an airplane without preparation, but rather that they want to do something new well prepared. This mainly concerns new sensory stimuli.
Wondering if you are an introvert? I can help clarify that. Contact me for an appointment.
