I’ve always known I was different — but for most of my life, I didn’t have the words for it.
Long before, as a child, I could sense things others couldn’t. The feelings, the tension in the air, the things left unsaid. I’d often get overwhelmed by small details others brushed off — someone talking too long, the feeling of dust in the air, or even changes in someone’s facial expression. People thought I was overthinking or imagining things.
So, I started wondering if I had an anger issue — why was I irritated so easily? Why couldn’t I “just let it go” like everyone else?
It wasn’t until much later that I began to understand: this wasn’t just impatience. It was sensitivity.
The Signs I Missed
During my marriage life, it brought many of my sensitivities into sharper focus. I was so affected by my partner’s heavy smell, the smell of sweat, bad breath, even the way the room felt after he entered. I kept buying sprays, diffusers, essential oils… and cleaning things that others couldn’t even see. My ex-partner have assumed that I was overreacting — maybe OCD. But it was never proven or check.
Looking back, I realize now—my senses were just in overdrive all along.
Then came this strange moment. I was dining by the beach, eating great delicious food with a beautiful sunset, but I couldn’t stop feeling the movement of the sand. I had only glanced at it once, but my mind couldn’t let go. That moment stuck with me. Why was I so deeply affected by something so small, and not so near?
I still didn’t know what it meant or why I would feel something like this.
Then, in another chapter of self-discovery, after I knew that I've ADHD traits. That’s when I stumbled upon something called HSP — Highly Sensitive Processing. I wasn’t looking for a diagnosis. I just wanted to understand myself more.
And suddenly, everything started to make sense.
The Moment of Clarity
At first, I was shocked. Highly Sensitive Processing? I had never heard of it.
But as I read more, I began to piece it all together: It wasn’t imagining things. I wasn’t broken. I was just wired differently.
Learning this allowed me to revisit so many moments in my life with a new perspective — from the unexplainable irritations to the overwhelming empathy, like feeling deep sorrow over someone else’s painful experience that had nothing to do with me.
More importantly, it helped me stop judging myself. For the first time, I felt I understood what was going on.
Designing a Space That Heals Me
If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, you might know that I designed both my Marital home and my Current Bedroom at my parents’ house on my own.
One of the most healing decisions I made was to renovate my room during one of the lowest points of my life. I healed so much faster in this space while moving on from married life to divorce. Back then, everything felt very overwhelming — I didn’t fully understand why. But now I realize, maybe it’s because I’m highly sensitive. And yet, it’s that same sensitivity that helped me design every detail of my room, even without being a professional interior designer.
Coming back to the main point — I moved back to my parents' home. Asking them for permission to renovate was a process in itself, especially when I was both financially strained and emotionally drained. But because I designed the space myself and only hired a contractor to build it, I managed to save quite a bit. That said, before any of this even began, most people told me to “Just survive.” But I asked myself instead: What do I need to truly live?
The answer was clear: I needed a space that flowed with me, not against me — a space that could support my mental healing.
Even when people thought I was being high-maintenance, deep inside I knew this wasn’t about luxury. This was survival for me.
And once the bedroom was done up? It felt all worth it. I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. No anxiety about what I didn’t have. No craving for more. Just… peace.
Now, I have three favorite spots in my room:
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My working desk – where ideas flow and productivity shines.
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My bay window – where I sip tea or journal, sitting with calm.
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The floor corner by my bed – where I ground myself and rest.
When life overwhelms me, this room heals me faster than anything else.
If You’re Feeling the Same Way…
I don’t have everything figured out — I’m still learning every day. But I’ve learned that:
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Awareness is everything. Once I knew what I was dealing with, I could stop fighting myself.
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Acceptance changes the game. I can’t change how I’m wired — but I can choose how I care for myself.
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Sensitivity is not a flaw. In fact, it’s part of what makes me thrive in my work. My clients appreciate how deeply I understand nuance and detail — the same traits that used to feel like a burden.
To Anyone Who Feels “Too Much”:
It often feels like a problem from the start, because we usually learn by observing others — and most people aren’t wired the same way we are. For highly sensitive people (HSPs), this difference can be hard for others to understand. Our reactions are sometimes mistaken for attitude problems, simply because certain things are too overwhelming for us to handle. We may also come across as stubborn, but the truth is, it’s not that easy for us to just "change" — it’s far more difficult than most people realize.
So, please don’t run away from your sensitivity. Don’t be ashamed of it.
Instead, ask yourself:
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How does this part of me affect my daily life?
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What can I do to support myself, not suppress myself?
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Am I creating an environment where I can truly breathe?
There are always two sides to everything — the good and the bad. Learning to understand the weaknesses and harness the strengths is just as important as learning to manage HSP.
Image Credits: Pexels / Prateek Katyal
And if you’re still figuring it out, you’re not alone. Talk to someone. Read. Reflect. And when you’re ready, create a space — even just a corner — that feels like home to your soul.
That’s where healing begins.
I’ve found it difficult to get clear information about HSPs — even people around me often don’t know this trait exists. That’s why I written this blog article: to help individuals who may be going through similar experiences better understand what it means to be a Highly Sensitive Person.
Disclaimer: I’m not a professional — everything I share here is based on personal experience and my own research.
This is written from a place of self-awareness, compassion, and a heart that’s still learning.
Common Symptoms or Traits of HSPs
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♥ Thanks for reading!