Looking for the Sensitivity Quiz?

Something even more validating might be waiting for you.

What if There’s More to Your Sensitivity Than You’ve Been Told?

For years, my Sensitivity Quiz helped thousands of people finally feel seen. It validated traits like deep empathy, emotional intensity, and sensory overwhelm—and for many, it was the first step toward self-understanding.

Like you, I once identified as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). It was a comforting framework. But over time, something still felt missing. As I continued my clinical work, personal exploration, and deep research, I discovered that what many of us called “high sensitivity” was actually part of something bigger.

Our Understanding of Autism Has Grown—And It Changes Everything

In the 1990s, when the HSP term was developed, autism was narrowly defined—framed by outdated stereotypes and a deficit-based lens. It was seen primarily in young white boys with visible behavioral differences.

But things have changed.

Today, through years of neurodivergent advocacy, lived experience, and research, we understand autism as a natural and necessary form of human variation. It's not a disorder to be fixed—it’s simply a different way of experiencing the world.

Many traits once attributed to sensitivity—like sensory overwhelm, masking, deep empathy, and chronic burnout—are now recognized as core parts of the sensitive autistic phenotype. This presentation of autism has often gone unnoticed, especially in the sensitive, women, AFAB, and in those who’ve masked from an early age.

Common Traits in the Sensitive Autistic Phenotype

If these traits feel familiar, you may be part of the sensitive autistic experience.

Challenges and Differences

  • Persistent anxiety in social or unfamiliar settings

  • Feeling different, out of place, awkward, or “alien”

  • Heightened emotional overwhelm and sensitivity to injustice

  • Often seen as shy or quiet as a child

  • A sense of being “wrong” or “too much”

  • Spent years striving to “be better” or “fix” yourself

  • Feeling isolated, left out, or chronically lonely

  • Deep self-criticism—feeling flawed, not enough, or uncomfortable in your own skin

  • Told you talk too much, too little, or ask too many questions

  • Uncomfortable in groups; prefer 1:1 or small familiar connections

  • Eye contact may feel intense, overwhelming, or too vulnerable

  • Difficulty with small talk or conversations outside your interests

  • Masking, mimicking, or camouflaging to fit into neurotypical norms

  • Deep need for solitude to recharge and return to your authentic self

  • Experiences of meltdowns, shutdowns, or long-lasting burnout

  • Heightened sensory sensitivity across multiple senses (ie, sound, light, texture, smell, motion)

  • Special Interests: Deep, passionate focus on specific topics that bring joy, comfort, or clarity

Other Common Experiences

  • Chronic illness (including fatigue, pain, digestive or hormonal challenges)

  • Depression, often linked to lifelong misunderstanding or masking

Could This Be the Missing Puzzle Piece?

How many of these traits do you relate to?

These are common autistic traits—and with this broader understanding, hundreds of thousands of us are now realizing that we’re autistic. Especially those of us who’ve always identified as sensitive.

If many of these resonate with you, I invite you to take my free autism quiz—created specifically for sensitive and neurodivergent individuals.

👉 Take the Free Autism Quiz
👉 Explore My Research & Resources on the Sensitive Autistic Phenotype
 👉 Learn About Autism Assessments for Adults (via video)

Why the Sensitivity Quiz Is No Longer Here

As our understanding has evolved, so has my work.

I no longer offer the original Sensitivity Quiz—not because it wasn’t helpful, but because it didn’t tell the full story. It stopped just short of the clarity so many people truly needed.

What I offer now is based on updated science, lived experience, and the voices of hundreds of thousands who’ve discovered they weren’t just sensitive—they were autistic in a way the old models never made room for.

This shift has been life-changing—bringing clarity, healing, and belonging to those who spent years feeling misunderstood.

This Doesn’t Mean Sensitivity Isn’t Real

Sensitivity is very real. But for many of us, the HSP label only explained part of our experience.

If you’ve ever felt the world is “too much,” that you are “too much,” or that something has always felt different—I gently invite you to explore what I call the sensitive autistic experience. You might just find the missing puzzle piece you’ve been searching for.

It’s gentle, validating, and created specifically for sensitive people like you.

FAQ

What if I still identify as an HSP?

That’s okay! For many, it’s still a meaningful part of identity. This isn’t about taking anything away—it’s about expanding what’s possible.

Is the autism quiz a diagnosis?

No. It’s an educational tool to help you reflect. If it resonates, it might be worth pursuing further support or a formal assessment.

I’m not ready to think of myself as autistic—should I still explore?

Yes, if you're curious. You’re welcome to take what resonates and leave the rest. There is no pressure—only invitation.

With warmth,

Julie Bjelland, LMFT
Psychotherapist, Author, and Founder of the Sensitive Empowerment Community
🌐 JulieBjelland.com