One of our experiences as a highly sensitive person may be shyness.
Evan Rachel Wood said, “I used to not even be able to order pizza on the phone because I was just so shy.”
She thinks acting allows so much to come out on-screen, “because that’s my time to let go in a safe place.”
[Photo from ‘Westworld’.]
~~~
Scarlett Johansson has noted that sensitivity can have a dark side:
“I think I was born with a great awareness of my surroundings and of other people.
“Sometimes that awareness is good, and sometimes I wish I wasn’t so sensitive.”
[Photo: Scarlett Johansson at an event for Avengers: Endgame.]
~~~
Everyone has some sensitivity to inner experiences and emotions, to the moods of others, and to many other sensations – but highly sensitive people have unusually strong awareness and reactivity.
One of my related articles Using Your High Sensitivity Personality As an Actor.
Also see more posts on my site Highly Sensitive and Creative.
~~~~~~
Shyness, introversion and high sensitivity may share some qualities, and they can overlap and interact, but they are not the same.
Many people may think of themselves as shy or at least call themselves shy as a convenient label – or they may be characterized that way by other people – when actually they are highly sensitive or introverted and therefore feel more emotionally safe and comfortable in less social situations.
From my article Shyness, Introversion, Sensitivity – What’s the Difference?
~~~~~~~
Douglas Eby (M.A./Psychology) is author of the The Creative Mind series of sites which provide “Information and inspiration to help creative people thrive.”
ø ø ø ø