The DOES model
Psychologist Elaine Aron, who coined the concept in the 1990s, summed up high sensitivity in four traits (DOES): Depth of processing, being easily Overstimulated, Emotional reactivity and empathy, and Sensitivity to subtleties.
According to Aron, depth of processing is the core from which the others stem. Later research suggests that sensing subtleties is the most distinctive trait and the one that best separates high sensitivity from other personality traits.
It's not a disorder
High sensitivity is a temperament trait, not a problem to fix. Understanding it helps you manage rest, choose the right environments and make the most of strengths like empathy, creativity and intuition.