What is Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)?

Sensory processing sensitivity (SPS) means some people feel things more deeply than others, like when they touch something soft or hear a loud sound.

Imagine you're playing with your favorite blanket. It's super cozy, and you love how it feels on your skin. Now imagine someone else who gets overwhelmed by the same blanket, maybe it feels too scratchy or too warm. That’s what SPS is like: some people notice and feel things more than others do.

SPS works like a volume control.

For people with SPS, their senses are like a radio that's always tuned to a higher frequency. They might feel every little touch, hear every small sound, or even be affected by the way light shines in the room. It’s not that they can't handle these things, it just feels more intense to them.

It’s also like having extra feeling in your skin.

If you've ever felt a tiny bug crawling on your leg and it seemed huge, that's what people with SPS might feel all day long, every little thing seems bigger and brighter to them.