Sensitive people are more likely to experience anxiety and depression
Scientists from Queen Mary University of London analyzed data from 33 studies and came to the conclusion that people with high sensitivity are more likely to experience mental difficulties. They experience stress more deeply, get tired faster from an overabundance of impressions, and react more acutely to other people’s emotions. But there is another side to this feature — such people can benefit more than others from therapy and practices like meditation and mindfulness. It turned out that it is the environmental conditions and the approach to treatment that can play a crucial role. According to the researchers, the awareness of specialists about the phenomenon of sensitivity will help to make more accurate diagnoses and help patients more effectively. The work was published in the journal Clinical Psychological Science.
Some people easily pass by someone else’s sadness, while others feel it almost like their own. It turned out that such sensitive people are more vulnerable to anxiety, depression and even post-traumatic disorders.
Interestingly, sensitivity is not a diagnosis, but a character trait. It manifests itself in how vividly a person perceives the outside world: whether it’s a loud sound, light, or a change in the mood of a loved one. It turned out that about a third of the people on the planet can be attributed to this category.
The study was the first meta-analysis to bring together data on the relationship between sensitivity and mental health. There were 33 studies in the sample, and almost all of them showed that the higher the sensitivity level, the higher the risk of experiencing anxiety and depression.
But there is a bright side to this. Sensitive people respond to therapy more often and faster. Relaxation practices, breathing exercises, and mindfulness can help them noticeably more than the less receptive ones. That is, the character trait itself becomes both a challenge and a resource.
Psychologists note that it is important that doctors and psychotherapists take this factor into account more often. This will help not only in making a diagnosis, but also in choosing the treatment that will give the maximum effect.
The researchers remind us that sensitivity makes a person both more vulnerable and more open to positive changes. It all depends on the conditions in which he lives and what kind of support he receives.
Published
August, 2025
Category
Interesting facts
Duration of reading
2—3 minutes
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