Podcasts about high sensitivity

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with Andy Mort. I think you will appreciate his wisdom, poetic way with words and sense of humor. Andy is a UK-based songwriter and musician whose work as a creativity coach explores the intersection of high sensitivity, creativity, and the influence of culture.Aside from sharing some of our own experiences with high sensitivity and gentle rebellion, we discuss various ways those of us with high sensitivity (as described by Elaine Aaron) might better align with our nature. We also discuss:* 00:00 — High Sensitivity and Its Misconceptions* 01:54 — The Concept of Differential Susceptibility and Environmental Impact* 03:47 — Andy Mort's Journey Into Understanding Temperament and Sensitivity* 07:05 — The Discovery of the Highly Sensitive Person Trait and Its Biological Roots* 09:58 — The Idea of Being a Gentle Rebel and Leading With Authenticity* 14:51 — The Importance of Creating Supportive Environments for Sensitive People* 19:47 — Creativity as a Form of Self-Expression and Nervous System Regulation* 25:07 — The Role of Sensitivity in Leadership and Group Dynamics* 29:58 — The Challenges and Opportunities of Sharing Creative Work* 34:46 — The Societal Narratives Around Sensitivity and Self-Acceptance* 39:57 — The Importance of Community and Support for Sensitive Individuals* 45:06 — The Concept of Gentle Rebellion and Aligning With One's Nature* 49:45 — Closing Thoughts on Sensitivity, Creativity, and LeadershipFull transcript included belowWhere to find Andy Mort:*

Welcome to today's episode of Wisdom Talk Radio! This is where we explore the depths of conscious living and how to live an expanded life. Join us to be inspired, encouraged, transformed and to tap into a deeper experience of joy and possibility. Have you ever felt like you were “too sensitive,” or even, “too much?” What does that say about a society that, instead of celebrating a range of experience, expression, and creativity, gives us boxes in which to fit ourselves, fit be damned. We're diving into this today with a special guest, so, stay tuned for a powerful episode.I'm Laurie Seymour, host of Wisdom Talk Radio and CEO and founder of The Baca Institute, home of the Quantum Connection Process. You can go there to discover your unique connection with the essence of who you are by taking the Quantum Connection quiz. Why quantum connection? We are each designed to directly connect with Source in our own way. Knowing your own archetype style opens a deeper connection for you with the Universe. It's the secret to creating what you truly want in your life. Because who you are is exactly who is needed.A trauma-informed therapist, researcher, TED speaker, and leading expert in ADHD, sensitivity, and nervous-system-based care, Dr. Amelia Kelley is the author of Powered by ADHD. She is the founder of the Powered by ADHD community and the owner of Kelley Counseling & Wellness, serving neurodivergent and highly sensitive individuals across the lifespan. Her work has been featured in NPR, Psychology Today, and other national outlets. Her 2025 TED Talk on early mental health screening was selected as a TED Editor's Pick. She hosts The Sensitivity Doctor podcast. Find Dr. Amelia Kelley here: https://www.ameliakelley.com/  https://www.instagram.com/drameliakelley/ https://www.facebook.com/DrAmeliaKelley/ https://open.spotify.com/show/0P7wxzgwoupiaohxRamiA3Don't miss a single episode! Join the Wisdom Talk Radio/The Baca Institute mailing list HERE. Find Laurie Seymour at https://thebacainstitute.com/ .Follow Wisdom Talk Radio on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wisdomtalkradio Subscribe on Apple.Want to reach out to me? You can email me directly at laurie@thebacainstitute.com If you are enjoying our show and you'd like to spread the love, please subscribe, download, comment, and tell your friends and family about us. We want to thank you for your continued support. We really appreciate it! Find more episodes of Wisdom Talk Radio HERE Discover your Quantum Connection Style! (QUIZ)The first step to mastering your Quantum Connection is to know your natural style of being in the world.We are each designed to connect with Source differently. Knowing your style, with both your superpowers and your learning edge, is the first step of aligning with your inner guidance at a deeper level than you ever thought you could. It's the doorway to creating what you truly want in your life.Click here to take the quiz now: Quantum Connection QuizFind Unconditional Remembrance: Your Connection to Source HEREAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Have you felt embarrassed by your sensitivity? In this episode, I talk with William Allen about the journey of learning to understand and embrace being an HSP as well as:Moving from living inauthentically to accepting your sensitivityThe challenges faced by HSP men such as lack of community and models of sensitive masculinityPracticing portable self-care such as meditation, breathing, and connection with nature to recover from overwhelm more quicklyFinding more resilience as an HSP with the 3Es: Educate, Embrace, EvangelizeWilliam is an author with a writer's heart and researcher's mind. After getting a degree in Psychology with an eye on doing psychology research, he recalibrated for a career in Information Technology. He retired early from his corporate job to start his Hypno-coaching and neurofeedback brain training business, BrainPilots, in Bend, Oregon. In late 2016, he began his blog, The Sensitive Man, about his experiences, as a highly sensitive man. The blog became the genesis of his first book, Confessions of a Sensitive Man. His new book, On Being a Sensitive Man, is the follow up book, which focuses on how to live in the world as a sensitive man. He feels that HSP males need to take their keen insights and intuition and make them public. He would like to shed more light on highly sensitive males and the much-needed role they need to take in our society.Keep in touch with William:Website: http://www.thesensitiveman.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/zallenwFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesensitivemanLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wrallenResources Mentioned:Online HSP Men's Group: https://www.thesensitiveman.com/hsp-mens-group.htmlConfessions of a Sensitive Man by William Allen: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781098325169On Being a Sensitive Man: Success Strategies for Harnessing Your Highly Sensing Nature by William Allen: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9781667817439The Highly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182Research on High Sensitivity: https://sensitivityresearch.comSensitive: The Untold Story documentary: https://sensitivethemovie.comSensitive Men Rising documentary: https://sensitivemenrising.orgFor more deep conversations like this, join me in Sensitive Circles - a cozy online community for highly sensitive people to find meaningful connection and deepen self-awareness at their own pace. More details: https://www.sensitivecircles.com Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at: https://www.sensitivestories.comYou can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengthsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengthsAnd for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off. If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs! This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.  Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.  

With it being back to school season, this topic feels especially timely. In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with family advocate Tracy Spiaggia, founder of Slingshot Health Coaching, about recognizing high sensitivity in children and how to support sensitive children and their parents.We discuss the core traits of the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) trait, Tracy's great “power strip” analogy for sensory overload, and why the tripping of the power strip (the stress response) can look different in different children (fight, flight, freeze, or shutdown). We talk about challenges that may point to high sensitivity — school behavior problems, breakfast refusal, perfectionism, somatic complaints — and the practical framework Tracy uses with families to sort the “immovables” in their lives from what can actually be changed.We each share our own experience growing up as highly sensitive children, and how we each began our parenting journey largely unaware of this trait. We address the importance of awareness and self-compassion for parents. And, we close with commenting on the value of identifying and addressing pyrrole disorder- a fairly common biochemical imbalance in those with highly sensitive who are struggling with brain and physical symptoms.Timestamps:0:00 Introduction to high sensitivity and its importance2:04 Recognizing high sensitivity in children and adults3:58 Parental support strategies for sensitive children5:52 Stress response styles and their impact7:56 The physiology of high sensitivity and overstimulation9:59 Creating modifiable environments for thriving12:06 The evolutionary purpose of high sensitivity14:04 Practical tips for supporting sensitive children in school and home15:58 The importance of self-awareness and compassion in parenting18:04 The role of nutrition and physical activity in sensitivity management20:02 Supporting adult highly sensitive persons22:11 The power of community and shared experiences24:04 Overcoming shame and embracing sensitivity as a strength25:59 Practical steps for creating supportive environments28:00 The importance of ongoing learning and adaptation29:53 Closing thoughts and resources for further supportIntroductions (0:00)Dr. Courtney SnyderWelcome to the Holistic Psychiatry Podcast. I'm Dr. Courtney Snyder, a physician and holistic child and adult psychiatrist. In this episode, I have the pleasure of having a conversation with Tracy Spiaggia, who is an experienced health coach who works with families. Using Elaine Aron's term of the highly sensitive person, HSP, Tracy and I will discuss high sensitivity in children. This trait, as Tracy will mention, occurs in about 20% of the population. Tracy and I both consider ourselves to be highly sensitive, so in addition to sharing our professional experience, we'll also share insights from our own childhoods, as well as insights from parenting highly sensitive children. Tracy is currently a candidate for a PhD in what will be Whole Health Leadership. She's a Functional Nutrition and Lifestyle Practitioner, Certified Integrative Attachment Theory Coach, Brain Health Specialist, National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and the author of the book From “Chained to Changed. Break Mental Strongholds and Transform Your Life Through Faith.”CourtneyWe have so many intersections in terms of what we care about and are interested in — nutrition, functional medicine, attachment, families.TracyWhy I hang on every word you put out.CourtneyThank you. Thank you.CourtneyOne of the things that I was thinking about is how much people do to support children that have all these different issues, but there's not a lot of recognition of high sensitivity in children, nor what their unique needs are. They're living in a world that's not designed for high sensitivity. As we talk, we can help raise awareness about what that looks like — how to recognize when a child is highly sensitive, and not in a symptomatic, pathologic frame, but really, that's who they uniquely are. And then we'll move into how to help people make choices to support these children so that they can thrive, and also recognize the situations where they're probably not going to thrive as easily.TracyCorrect. And then how, as a mom and dad, can I modify my expectations on the child and give them a lived experience that best aligns with their sensitive nature — so that they can become who they're supposed to be, not vicariously living through the child, especially if you're a non-sensitive parent.CourtneyWe should talk about both — when the parent is also sensitive, and then when they're not necessarily, ‘cause there's different dynamics that would come up.TracyYes, yes, yes, absolutely. Especially if the sensitive parent never knew — hello, never knew anything about HSP. And so you're raising your children, and then when you come to find out, like, your whole brain just explodes in. And then I just kind of really became a completely different parent, almost on a dime, finding this work. And I felt the most free I've ever felt in my life when I came across the work. So yeah, we'll talk about that too.Growing Up Without an Awareness of the HSP Trait(3:21)CourtneyI know — I think like you, I look back and there's things I would have done differently. Now having a daughter who's twenty-one, certainly learning when I did has helped her, and this information helps her even make her own choices at this point. When I thought about parenting, it also made me think about being a highly sensitive person, and my own experience as a child, because there certainly wasn't language back in the sixties and seventies.TracyHere's a great example. I'm going to make it personal instead of hypothetical. My parents — we came from a household where my dad was a police officer, my mom stayed home, four kids, money was super tight. And so the summer would come, and I now, as a seasoned mother, I can only imagine how she'd be like, almost dreading it — like, “oh my gosh, they're all here.” So we would have to go to swim team ‘cause it was free from the town. We'd have to go to the town pool. We'd have a choice — we weren't asked, “you're going to swim team.” And if my memory serves, it started super early, maybe seven, eight o'clock in the morning. Back then I was just a bag of bones, I was so thin, and that water was freezing. I had no idea why I was so terrified to perform in front of others, but that's part of the HSP. Like I shared earlier — when I came across this work and all of the questions that were asked to see if you fall on the spectrum of HSP, I'm like, yep, yep, yep, yep, yep.But when it was my turn to compete, I would nine out of ten times not show up on my block. I would hide in the bathroom. I'd even get good at climbing up on top of the toilet with the door closed, so if my mom came in — you know, you can't see feet. So I would hear my name being called, like, “McMurray, block three,” and I wouldn't show up the vast majority of the time, because I'd rather the punishment on the back end than have to endure a public display of competing in swim team.So I give that as an example — if a parent were skilled, the first time I don't show up for my competition, there should be some really safe but powerful questions being asked, like, “hey, what's going on for you? I noticed you weren't there, you didn't show up.” Obviously you're not doing that to — the parent should be able to say, “obviously you're not doing that just to irritate me,” but we take it all so personally as exhausted parents. But if they were skilled, they could ask questions, and I'd be able to say to them, “this is really scary for me, I don't want to do this, I don't like getting into the pool at seven in the morning, I'm freezing, I'd be blue, I don't like this, I don't want to do this.” And then they'd say, “my goodness, okay, you don't have to do this anymore, you can come and stay home and we can figure out what you enjoy.” I didn't grow up like that.So that's an example of a rule I made up to the game of life — if something is bringing you to the brink of sheer terror, just don't show up for it, go hide somewhere. That's one example of how I started to cobble together rules of the game of life so that I could survive it.CourtneyAnd that's so interesting, because in my own early life, I think I cobbled the rule of “you just do it no matter what.” That has its own problems, because you don't even become aware — you just persist through what's quite uncomfortable. Whether that's sporting events, public speaking, which for me was a complete nightmare — anticipating, many months in advance, a book report or something like that. And I think, even looking back, I could say, “I had anxiety as a child.” But when you think about high sensitivity, and you think about the context with which one is trying to navigate — which is highly stressful, chronic, and in some cases severe stress — that doesn't have to even be anxiety. It could just be a severely, chronically stressful situation, trying to be in a world of extroverts. In my family I was the youngest of four, and I was the only one that was highly sensitive.It's Not Anxiety. It's Physiology. (7:53)TracyAs you describe that, I don't hear an anxious child. I hear a physiology. I hear the brilliant design of the physical body, that your alert system was working perfectly well — trying to say you're living a life that's antithetical to who you are, but you're kind of being forced along for the ride. If there's a lot of children, those at the tail end just kind of get bolted on, as opposed to being seen — not all the time, but most of the time — because parents are just human beings with finite resources and probably very little skill, and are just trying to seriously survive the day.CourtneyYeah, exactly.TracyTrying to survive the day. So the kids just get bolted on, but it's the meaning that we make out of just being bolted on, or being told what you're doing. And so I don't hear anxiety — I hear a physiology that's working beautifully, because your body continuously alerted you to the reality of having to show up in a world where you're not asked, you're told what you're going to be doing, but it goes against the nature you were given.And this is why — I really do have a moral conundrum with just jumping straight into pharmaceutical prescription, because the body's brilliant. It's not broken. So if we have chronic depressive episodes, if we have peaking anxiety, there's something to hear. There is something to be listened to before we go trying to dull and mute all of those sensory, dashboard-like signals. There's something there. And so I feel like those states have been kind of villainized — “get rid of it at all costs” — where it's like, if we can stay in the uncomfortability while we remain super curious and highly supported, you're going to be able to have that body communicate to you where you're living out of order. Could even be a diet that's out of order. If your relationships are okay, and you scratch your head like, “hmm, I feel great with my family, my parents hear me, they see me, I feel heard and seen, I don't feel judged, I'm doing the things I like, I'm not being forced to do things I don't like” — then it's time to say, okay, maybe there's certain foods that I am or am not eating that the body is trying to alert you to, to give you your best life.CourtneyRight — and it can be an alignment of all of those factors.TracyOf course. And it's like a snowball at the top of a mountain that builds to this ginormous thing by the end, because it just collects and builds momentum as it goes down. That's what I try to help parents see — either for themselves, beginning in childhood, or what's going on for their own child, especially the non-sensitive parent coming in with the sensitive child, saying “I don't know what's wrong with him or her, fix—” And it's like, no, no, no, no. You're the most important person on planet Earth. It's me helping you relate to your child in a way that will turn those signals down, because they finally feel seen, heard, understood, unconditionally accepted. And then you will move to create an environment that lets the body relax.The Traits I Look For — and the Power Strip (11:08)CourtneyYeah. So let's talk about HSP first in adults, and then how that translates to children — because the reality too is that chronic stress in childhood has different implications. The pillars that I think about — and a lot of this is abilities as well as potential liabilities — ability to process a lot of information, being a deep thinker, feeling things deeply, problems with stress tolerance, and then sensory sensitivity, whether that's picking up on the emotions in a room or sensitivity to bright light, loud noises, textures. People don't have to have all of these to fall on the spectrum. Being empathic, tuned into other people's feelings, maybe even being more emotionally reactive.TracyI wonder how you'll feel about the way I try to explain it to the clients I work with, because it is — when you're not interested, you and I could geek out on this for a whole week straight with no naps. But you have to really capture the essence of what we're trying to share with people so it can change the way they live and operate and relate to other people.So the way I offer it in a layperson's framework: I point to a particular outlet on the wall, with one lamp plugged into it. An electrician, when they wire a house, the same number of volts is going to come out of each outlet — the lamp is the only device plugged into that one outlet, drawing its 120 volts, and it lights the lamp, and the lamp is fine. But over here by my desk, there's still only one outlet, but I need many, many things to operate off that 120 volts. So I have a power strip, and in that same 120-volt outlet, I have the power strip with five things plugged in. And it has a mechanism — this is the whole purpose of the power strip — to shut down when I'm trying to draw too much energy out of that same outlet.We have the same thing built into our nervous system. When the world is tugging and pulling at a highly sensitive nervous system — through forced clothing that has seams, a rough turtleneck — I'll talk from personal experience, like being in a wet, sandy bathing suit on a hot beach. I just wanted to be dead. It was so overstimulating for me. I am the power strip, and life is plugging in without my permission — stealing bandwidth, stealing nervous system resiliency from me. So then when I'm left with the last thing to be plugged in, which is like, “hey, come for dinner,” and it's something I don't like — that could trip my whole nervous system. And the uninformed family members: “you're always the problem, it's always you.” And it's like, no, you don't understand all the things that were plugged in before that, stealing all of that nervous system bandwidth from me. This last thing is what you observe, but that was what tripped the nervous system.My stress response style, by nature, is fighter — so that trip will manifest in your preferred stress response style. For me it's combative. For other people it could be complete shutdown, or “I'm getting out of here” and they flee. Other people, they dissociate — they just kind of freeze, they're there but they're not there, nobody's home. That's where that innate preferred stress response style shows up when the power strip trips. And then what we do is we assign — “that's their personality.” And it's not their personality, this is their stress response style. You have to get curious about each person — how much bandwidth do you have before you trip, how much is stealing from you? Some people could wear a wet bathing suit and just lay there, nothing plugged into their strip. Me — “when do we get to go back and take a shower? Please, can I leave?”So that's the analogy I use: examine yourself, then consider your child. Do you believe they're a one-outlet person, where life is good and nothing else is going to get into that outlet? Or are they a power-strip person, where there's all kinds of opportunity to plug into that same voltage, causing that person to go into a sympathetic-dominant state.CourtneyRight, right, right, that's great. Really helpful — you and I are good examples from our own experience, because I was more the shutdown-and-comply kid. So less obvious — I think both are struggling in different ways. Some children it might be more externalized, and others it might not be at all.TracyYeah, and then not at all — unfortunately, parents can easily miss that and say, “you're such a good girl, you're such a good boy.” They're actually in shutdown. They have no voice.CourtneyExactly. Right — or having headaches and stomachaches, somatic-type symptoms.TracyAbsolutely, absolutely. See that all the time — I'm sure you do too.What Families May Notice First (17:16)CourtneySo we should talk about what types of problems people might notice before they actually notice the sensitivity itself — whether that's meltdowns, withdrawing from activities. What would you say are common things families come to you with that relate to this?TracyThe most common would be problematic behaviors in school. Being woken out of a dead sleep, refusing breakfast because you're so high-stress, under-rested — it's almost like a nauseous feeling. So unknowingly, they send their child into an incredibly stressful environment, undernourished, without any nutrition on board to blunt the effects of all that myriad stress — all those plugs going into that power strip. A lot of parents will bring their child in — mothers, let's just say it's almost always moms — “help me, they're not allowing my child to come into the mainstream class.” And I'm like, has anybody, including the school counselor, gotten curious around energy reserves, the status of stress, the nutrition that's on board? If the child is refusing to eat, we need to really look at that, because there is stress that has got to be pruned from this child's life, so their biochemistry normalizes to the degree where they can tolerate a small breakfast to start.That's not normal human behavior, to break your fast upon waking and have a nauseous reaction to food. You have to understand that body is communicating, once again, brilliantly — it's deprioritizing nourishment and digestion and prioritizing stress response. People don't understand that. So I'd say one of the most common is just combativeness or non-compliance in these domains of life, in school, or when I tell them to do such and such at home. And listen — there's going to be some non-pathological defiance. That's normal, progressive development for a child. They test the boundaries, depending on their temperament, because they're always on a trajectory to individuate. Once they get to around eight, nine years old, and that nervous system's cement has kind of cured a little bit, now they're looking out into the world to figure out, “who am I, I want to separate a little bit from this family of origin and figure myself out.” That may look like being difficult or combative, but they're trying to individuate.Sometimes when I hear myself talk, Courtney, I feel badly for the child, but I also feel badly for us parents, because we're calling parents higher and higher to awareness and education when they're so exhausted trying to pay the bills, keeping the lights on, food in the fridge — who lost their job, who's getting a divorce, who has an incurable disease. And at the same time I'm trying to call you higher with your parental skills so you can better attune to your child. I know how that lands on a tired parent, because I was hurt too. But we have to understand that the reason we'd have that type of response to this information is because nobody supported us when we were little. So we just learned “this is life, buck up and deal with it,” and we live from those rules we cobbled together as a kid — “I guess I just have to figure it out on my own.” And a parent, unknowingly, is doing the same thing — telling this struggling little child, “figure it out, man, I'm spent, I'm tired, I can't.”CourtneyI mean, ultimately this should make parents' lives easier if they can understand what the needs are of the child, so there's not meltdowns at school in the cafeteria where it's so loud, or on the school bus — there would be just peace overall for everybody.TracyYou're a hundred percent right, and that is the critical message. If there's any takeaway from this conversation for your listeners, it's — it will get a little worse before it gets better. And that's true with any healing journey. You broke a bone, okay, it's gonna hurt, I have to reset the bone. It gets worse before it gets better. But when you come alongside professionals like you and I, we have a path, a strategy to bring you along — we'll hold you really well during the worse part, but then you will be liberated into not just a future, but potentially a legacy that you can completely change. You can leave this mark as a patient person, a considerate person, a forgiving person, a compassionate person — all of the beautiful traits of the highly sensitive get to just flourish unabated if we create an environment for it.Self-Compassion and the Family Timeline (24:27)CourtneySo it can be meltdowns, or children withdrawing from activities. It could be perfectionism almost, or self-consciousness — being so in tune and observant that they might assume everyone else is as observant, and be highly self-conscious or perfectionistic about themselves or even others. Is that something you see in the families you work with?TracyJust as much. The perfectionism, the overachievement, the over-giving. These kids need to be able to look to us when they're in crisis — “I'm freaking out, but you're steady, you're the rock I can cling to.” So if we freak out when they freak out — and listen, a lot of what I'm sharing are insights after I've made the mistakes. I would give anything to know then what I know now, but I can't go back. So I did a lot of things right, but I did some things not so great. And now I repackage and repurpose the mistakes into something we can offer to the world — “moms, dads, you don't have to make the same mistakes I did, you can learn from me.” And I believe God will honor that, and even allow forgiveness and grace and mercy to flow in my children towards me for the things I didn't do well.CourtneyI think those are really valuable conversations to have — one, for parents to be able to apologize and teach their children the value in that, but also just this own self-compassion, that we're all doing the best we can. And it leads into this idea of — if you're a highly sensitive parent with a highly sensitive child, which would have been my experience — there are a lot of both gifts in terms of recognizing their needs, and also a lot of challenges in terms of not wanting to project too much onto them what their needs might be. I think there were times when my own concern about how the world operates in relation to sensitive people was almost problematic, and other times where I was sort of going along with the culture. I think it can go both ways, and the main thing is just to be conscious of it if you're a sensitive parent.Sort the Immovable From the Modifiable (30:36)CourtneyWhich actually leads us to this idea of what types of choices might parents make that would help support a child who is highly sensitive — whether that's in the home, at school (there's not always a lot of choice in terms of school options), or activities. I think that's worth grappling with — the real practicalities of, within a home, how might things be different if someone's going with the flow versus recognizing, “I have a child that's highly sensitive.”TracyYeah, I think it's important — I don't think we stated it — if there are listeners new to the concept, only about twenty percent of the population is thought to have this trait, and that trait lives on a spectrum. So if you're in the twenty percent, we have to explore how full you are on that spectrum. This journey is very unique and individualized — you have to study each individual child and each parent separately to know exactly what you're working with. I think the next step would be to make a two-column list: these are the immovable, unmodifiable realities in our lives. “This is where we live, we're a two-income household, I'm a single-parent house, I have to go to work, you have to go to public school, I don't have resources otherwise” — okay, that's an immovable reality, put it in that column, because it is what it is, and that doesn't set you up for a worse outcome. We have to start appreciating that none of us are a victim, we're all victors — if we just do the work of taking inventory of the reality of our lives and create a schematic of sorts, we all will be given the same opportunity for thriving and flourishing. Nobody's at some gross disadvantage — I know some people might think I'm talking financially, but I'm really talking about inner resources.CourtneyI was just going to say — even if a child is in a public-school setting, there are still ways to create some downtime in their life, versus going from school to activity to activity to lots of stimulation.TracyA hundred percent. Even within the school experience, you can ask for certain accommodations — and we do this all the time. If you have a profoundly highly sensitive child who's being flooded with fluorescent lights, sitting in hard chairs amongst peers who are loud — if it turns out the mom and dad say, “you know what, I think it'd be really helpful if they could just get a 10-minute snack break, high protein, moderate fat, not sugar,” and maybe 10 minutes with the school counselor to recharge that battery — exactly. So you might have public school as an immovable, but that doesn't mean it's not modifiable. You can still branch it over to the modifiable and figure out what aspects of that day are draining the nervous system resilience and causing chronic stress, and what's modifiable there. Schools have really embraced their role in improving mental health outcomes, by and large. So as long as you advocate for your child in a respectful and reasonable way, there are aspects of this immovable reality that can be modified to give some resilience back to the child. But the most influence is obviously going to come from their home environment and experiences.CourtneyJust thinking through this lens can impact what choices are available to people.TracyPeople by and large have no understanding — again, because they're not interested in this sphere of learning and knowing. They have very little understanding and appreciation of all of the modifiable factors of their daily lives. It's like removing one plug from a really burdened power strip — that's what we try to do, remove some of the plugs we can, proactively, to give some of that bandwidth back to the child. That's what makes this work very customized, very individualized. I do groups — I don't know if you do groups — so it's more affordable and accessible, and I'm saying the same thing to larger groups of people, and they can begin to process the information and create their own customized strategy.CourtneyYeah — and in the groups, they can hear each other, and there's some degree of support, because that's the other huge part — however people can find like-minded people and families, and it sounds like your group is a way to do that.TracyYeah, it normalizes your experience — and don't we all, frankly, want that as adults and parents, but even more so a child wants to be normalized. There's nothing wrong with you that you get really overstimulated on the beach, in the sun, in a wet sandy bathing suit for eight hours straight with very little food. There's nothing wrong with you — there's something profoundly wrong with that experience. So it takes the shame off, and if we can throw off the shame, the body feels liberated to start to migrate its way back to parasympathetic — maybe we can actually take a deep breath, because we're not in imminent danger.It's Not a Flaw — It's a Design (36:34)CourtneyRight. So things like being mindful of downtime, opportunities to be in less stimulating environments. Routine can be important too, as far as anticipating and knowing something's not going to come out of left field and derail things.TracyCritically important, I think.CourtneyAnd I think about it even with this idea of “they're going to have to live in the real world” — many adults wouldn't choose for themselves to be in situations with a lot of people and a lot of loud noise. Working adults are better able to recognize a preference for certain types of work, depending on what's practical for them. But we expect children to do what every other child is doing, and expect them to thrive in that way. Most adults aren't living in “the real world” like that.TracyEspecially today, with remote working, where you could be a grown adult making a wonderful salary right from the comfort of your own living room — at least for my generation, there was obviously no such thing.CourtneyAnd we haven't talked about how many strengths come with this, and how many strengths and abilities can be lost trying to navigate or fit into a world that's largely not built around high sensitivity. As the research shows, this is evolutionarily here for a reason — everyone should want people with high sensitivity to be thriving, and want the children to have the opportunity to thrive.TracyAbsolutely. Another really helpful point for your listeners: when Dr. Aron discovered the trait, researchers have continued to discover it in over 100 species of animals and insects, and that work continues. This is something innate in all creatures, and it's brilliant — not too many of us, but just enough of us to sound the alarm for dangers that the non-sensitive can't see coming. We can see the headlights of the train where these people are oblivious, standing on the tracks. So to live in a world without people with these fine, highly tuned senses to alert the masses — it's kind of like the carbon monoxide detector in a home. You probably don't pay much mind, but let me tell you, when it goes off, it's saving your life. We are the carbon monoxide detectors. We are the ones alerting you long before you're aware there's danger afoot. It's a gorgeous trait — I wouldn't trade it for anything.CourtneyYeah.TracyI really wouldn't. It fills me with so much purpose and passion, and I'm able to move through this world and feel so deeply — really high highs, yes, really low lows, but I feel alive. I don't feel kind of in that middle of “meh.” I'm never meh, that's never me. I think it's a beautiful thing if people can get over the stigma the world would probably want to attach to it.Pyrrole DisorderCourtneyRight, right, right. And I'll just mention too, for people who are highly sensitive and struggling maybe with mental health or physical health issues, in part because of chronic stress — the issue around pyrrole disorder, which is more common in those of us who are highly sensitive, results in specific nutrient imbalances that are not difficult to treat. That doesn't apply to everyone we're talking about, but some people dipping into more severe issues could really benefit from that kind of information.Where to Find Tracy (41:04)TracyMy goodness — to me that's almost the lowest-hanging fruit. That's why I love functional nutrition — trying to repair a familial relationship is hard work, but elevating your zinc and B6 levels, that's pretty low-hanging fruit.CourtneyI know, right, right. Tell everyone how they can find you, the work that you do — do you have an active group right now that you're working with?TracyNo, we'll kick off the next group — I run them in the fall and in the spring, so the next group will kick off, I believe, mid-September. They can find me — my practice is called Slingshot Health Coaching, after the David and Goliath story in scripture. Slingshot Health Coaching on Facebook and Instagram — I'm not a huge social media person, but there's a presence there. Website is just slingshothc.com. Anybody can book a complimentary call to explore — you have to meet the person, make sure the chemistry is good, that I'm actually the right practitioner for you. That's available to anybody, and you can certainly subscribe — I send out a fair amount of content by email, and I run a lot of complimentary studies and things people can do for free, to build community.CourtneyGreat. Thank you so much.I hope you enjoyed our conversation. As always, I welcome your thoughts and questions. Until next time,CourtneyCourtney Snyder MDResources:* Tracy Spiaggia at Slingshot Health Coaching* High Sensitivity Through 3 Lenses (HSP, Pyrrole Disorder & RCCX Theory)→* Elaine Aaron - The Highly Sensitive Person (website)Dr. Courtney Snyder MD is a holistic, functional, and environmental psychiatrist for children and adults. Find her at courtneysnydermd.com and on the Holistic Psychiatry Podcast on all major platforms.Medical Disclaimer: This newsletter is for educational purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Consult your own physician for any medical issues you may be having. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit courtneysnydermd.substack.com/subscribe

For most highly sensitive people, advocating for a physical need feels like being a burden. Jen Fitzpatrick, a celiac advocate and founder of the Confident Celiac Community, joins Alissa to talk about the years she spent staying quiet about her own needs and the shift that finally changed it.The tension is one a lot of HSPs with a chronic condition know well. Speaking up is what keeps you safe, but every people pleasing instinct says stay quiet instead. Alissa and Jen unpack why that instinct runs so deep and how to move through it anyway.Pulling from Jen's diagnosis story, a study abroad trip where she watched everyone else eat what she couldn't, and Alissa's own experience navigating her daughter's recent diagnosis, the conversation moves through shame, community and self worth.In this episode, you'll learn:Why highly sensitive people are especially likely to stay quiet about a chronic health needJen's own story of cross contamination scares and learning to advocate for herself after years of people pleasingThe simple swap that changed everything for Jen, saying thank you instead of sorryWhy choosing ten seconds of social discomfort is almost always worth it over days of physical painHow finding community turned a hard diagnosis into something less isolating for both Jen and AlissaFollow Jen:Website: https://www.thenomadicfitzpatricks.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thenomadicfitz Self-Love Toolkit: https://the-nomadic-fitzpatricks-gluten-free.teachable.com/p/celiac-self-love-toolkit-1059254 Uncover your sneaky internal belief that's stopping you from being your most confident self TAKE The FREE Shadow Archetype Quiz NOWLearn my 6-step process for managing & neutralizing your triggers as an HSP in our FREE UN-Botherable Workshop!Join the Not Too Sensitive Club

Ingar Ziad Restan, Yong Yong Tew, Ole-Thomas Steiro, Ziwen Li, Hilde L Tjora, Jørund Langørgen, Torbjørn Omland, Paul Collinson, Rune Bjørneklett, Kjell Vikenes, Trude Steinsvik, Øyvind Skadberg, Øistein R Mjelva, Alf Inge Larsen, Vernon V S Bonarjee, Nicholas L Mills, Kristin M Aakre. Exploring Sex-Specific High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin Thresholds for Rule-Out of Non-ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Clinical Chemistry, Volume 72, Issue 8, August 2026, Pages 868–879. https://doi.org/10.1093/clinchem/hvag030

In this episode, my guest is Dr. Sean Cain, PhD, a Harvard Medical School-trained expert in the impact of light on the human circadian system, a Matthew Flinders Professor at Flinders University, and Co-Founder and CEO of Circadian Health Innovations. Today, he discusses how people differ more than fiftyfold in how sensitive their circadian systems are to evening light, that nearly half of modern homes are bright enough at night to suppress melatonin by fifty percent, and that most of us have no conscious awareness of any of it. We discuss the large observational studies he and his team have published linking bright days and dark nights to depression, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and mortality, as well as his research on impaired light sensitivity in depression and why the amplitude of your circadian rhythm may matter more than its timing. We also discuss MiEye, the wearable light sensor his team developed, and practical changes to home and daytime lighting that anyone can make tonight.CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SHOWNOTESThis includes all other resourcesSponsor: Brighter Lamphttps://getbrighter.com/?sjram=P2jrTbowzJOdCode: JONATHANJ   Subscribe to the newsletter: https://jonathanjarecki.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chipsTimestamps 00:00 Intro03:54 Dr. Sean Cain04:42 Dr. Cain's Love for Science and Research10:25 Understanding Circadian Rhythms: Anatomy and Function10:56 Setting the stage: Circadian Biology, Rhythms, SCN, ipRGCs16:20 Light, Circadian Entrainment, Mechanisms19:57 High Sensitivity and Interindividual Variability in the Response of the Circadian of the Human Circa22:02 Individual Sensitivity to Light and Circadian Disruption27:22 Home Lighting, Sunset, LEDs, Fluorescents, Incandescents27:37 Home Lighting and Its Effects on Circadian Health33:46 Tools: circadian friendly home lighting39:24 Population health outcomes; UK BioBank39:29 Psychiatric Disorders47:52 SPONSOR: Brighter Lamp49:34 The Link Between Light Exposure and Mental Health01:04:18 Light Exposure and Longevity: Key Findings01:09:45 The Importance of Daylight for Health01:17:41 Understanding Circadian Rhythms and Light Exposure01:17:52 The Impact of Light on Mood and Self-Perception01:23:39 Innovations in Circadian Health: My Eye Device01:34:15 Jet Lag Management and the Jet Lag App01:39:09 Support, YouTube, Spotify & Apple Follow, Reviews & Feedback, Social Media, Substack Newsletter

217  Ever feel like you can never quite relax in your marriage—even when nothing is really wrong?Maybe a part of you feels like you have to manage the relationship all the time… or you're constantly noticing your partner's mood, his tone, how quickly he texts back, whether he seems distant, or whether the two of you still feel "okay." You aren't trying to overthink your relationship...but somehow, part of your mind is always checking and tracking if things are going a little south.In this episode, I unpack what I call this often hidden job so many highly sensitive women unknowingly take on: monitoring the relationship.We'll explore:How to recognize when paying attention has unconsciously become monitoring.Why this pattern is so common for highly sensitive women.How your nervous system turns sensitivity into vigilance.The surprising cost of constantly tracking your relationship.And what becomes possible when you no longer feel responsible for monitoring love in order to feel safe.If you've ever found yourself wondering "Are we okay?" more often than you'd like, this conversation will help you understand why—and, more importantly, show you a different path.If you're longing for a relationship that feels lighter, safer, more connected, and more like coming home to your best friend, this is an important episode.SHOW NOTES: Learn more about the full Safe Heart Pathway through Sanctuary 1:1 (where Foundations of Emotional Well-Being is included as the first layer)Or begin with Foundations of Emotional Well-Being for HSPs (FEW) on its own first.FREE QUIZ: How Much is High Sensitivity Impacting Your Relationship (and are you even highly sensitive)? You want to know. Because, high sensitivity has a major impact on intimate relationships – for better or worse. Take this 3 minute quiz to discover if you're highly sensitive and how deeply it's affecting you, and your happiness in your relationship. You will also get your next steps to making sure sensitivity works for your relationship, instead of against it.ENJOYING THE SHOW? Don't miss an episode! Subscribe via Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Stitcher. Leave  a review in Apple Podcasts--we are SO grateful!Check out the Start Here Podcast Pathway for a suggested route through the most important episodes to start with or review — the ones that will help you feel calmer, more secure, and more hopeful in your relationship.

Are you quietly restless or get lost in the clouds? In this episode, I talk with Nikolai Blinow, LMHC about the subtle signs of ADHD in highly sensitive people and:  Why HSPs and women are often misdiagnosedThe three types of ADHD and how they presentHow to embrace neurodiversity as a strength and lean into radical acceptanceNikolai is a highly-sensitive person with ADHD who helps fellow HSP and ADHD women in leadership roles who are done with operating in survival mode. Her work blends strategic therapy & nervous system re-calibration to help women slow down, stay powerful, and keep their edge.Keep in touch with Nikolai:Website: http://www.ompowermentpsych.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikolai-diana-blinow-9239302Resources Mentioned:Nikolai's self-care challenges: https://www.ompowermentpsych.com/freechallengeHighly Sensitive Person by Dr. Elaine Aron: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780553062182ADHD 2.0 by Drs. Hallowell and Ratey: https://bookshop.org/a/63892/9780399178740HSP Self-Test: https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-testADHD Self-Report Scale: https://add.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/adhd-questionnaire-ASRS111.pdfDivergently Community: https://www.joindivergently.comAutism, ADHD, or High Sensitivity research review: https://youtu.be/qTap7Ibbq1cFor more deep conversations like this, join me in Sensitive Circles - a cozy online community for highly sensitive people to find meaningful connection and deepen self-awareness at their own pace. More details: https://www.sensitivecircles.com Thanks for listening! You can read the full show notes and sign up for my email list to get new episode announcements and other resources at: https://www.sensitivestories.comYou can also follow "SensitiveStrengths" for behind-the-scenes content plus more educational and inspirational HSP resources: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensitivestrengths TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sensitivestrengthsYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@sensitivestrengthsAnd for more support, attend a Sensitive Sessions monthly workshop: https://www.sensitivesessions.com. Use code PODCAST for 25% off. If you have a moment, please rate and review the podcast, it helps Sensitive Stories reach more HSPs! This episode is for educational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment with a mental health or medical professional.  Some links are affiliate links. You are under no obligation to purchase any book, product or service. I am not responsible for the quality or satisfaction of any purchase.  

As a holistic and functional psychiatrist, I see many people who are highly sensitive. Most are deep divers into information and able to connect a lot of dots. Many are gifted. Many struggle with overwhelm and low stress tolerance. Some struggled with anxiety, inner tension, or feeling “too much” for as long as they can remember. Some feel different - that they don't fit in.As a holistic and functional psychiatrist with over twenty years in practice, I've worked with thousands of highly sensitive adults and children. Most are deep divers into information, able to connect a lot of dots — many are gifted. And yet many struggle with overwhelm, low stress tolerance, anxiety, or inner tension that has been there for as long as they can remember. Many feel different, like they don't quite fit in. What I've found is that sensitivity itself is rarely the problem — it's the seeming vulnerability to brain-related or physical conditions. Over the years I've found three different models to be especially useful in explaining some of the vulnerabilities and the strengths of those of us who are highly sensitive: Dr. Elaine Aron's work on the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), the nutritional medicine concept of Pyrrole Disorder, and Dr. Sharon Meglathery's RCCX Theory. Each looks at a similar group of traits through a different lens — psychological, biochemical, and genetic, respectively.Before I start, I want to emphasize that sensitivity is not a pathology or a diagnosis. It is actually a trait that has existed across human history for a reason. My goal is not to pathologize it, but to understand it — and to offer tools to those who have these traits but who are struggling with a condition more prevalent in those with these traits. As I go through these three frameworks, the overlap will be obvious and I'll highlight what each of these has to offer that the others don't.What You'll Learn* The HSP model provides validation and a language for sensitive individuals.* Pyrrole Disorder involves an overproduction of pyrroles, leading to nutrient depletion of nutrients critical for neurotransmitter functioning.* Pyrrole Disorder is common in brain-related conditions.* RCCX Theory connects genetic vulnerabilities to sensitivity and chronic illness.* Stress amplifies the experiences of highly sensitive individuals.* Understanding these models can lead to effective treatment options.* There are meaningful paths forward for those who are highly sensitive.Chapters* 00:00 Understanding High Sensitivity* 02:26 The Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) Model* 10:23 Exploring Pyrrole Disorder* 18:18 RCCX Theory Explained* 30:11 Intersecting Models: HSP, Pyrrole Disorder & RCCX Theory* 34:40 Conclusion and Path ForwardI. THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE PERSONIn the early 1990s, psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron identified a personality trait she called Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) — and the people who score high in it she called Highly Sensitive Persons, or HSPs.This is not a diagnosis. It is a trait, present in roughly 15–20% of the population. It has been found across more than 100 species — from fruit flies to primates. This tells us it is evolutionarily conserved — it confers survival advantages. In any social group, having members who are wired to notice subtle cues, process information deeply, and detect threats before others do is extremely valuable. Fitting with this, many of these individuals, who also struggle with complex chronic health issues are considered the “canaries in the coal mine” since their bodies react to environmental triggers (environmental toxins, chemicals, or stressors) long before the rest of the population.Dr. Aron captured the core features of this trait in an acronym she called DOES:D — Depth of processing: HSPs think deeply, reflect before acting, and notice subtleties that others miss.O — Overstimulation: Because they process so thoroughly, HSPs reach their threshold more quickly in high-stimulation environments.E — Emotional reactivity and Empathy: HSPs feel emotions intensely and are highly attuned to the emotions of those around them.S — Sensitivity to subtle stimuli: They pick up on things — in their environment, in social dynamics, in the body — that others simply don't register.As you can see, traits that are super powers, can become liabilities. The deep diver who loses sight of the big picture. The empath who absorbs everyone else's energy as their own energy becomes depleted. The person who withdraws from the world because the stimulation has simply become too much.HSP ResearchBeyond the clinical observations, there is now a growing body of neuroscience and genetic research supporting this trait. There is evidence that the brains of sensitive people are doing more, processing more and feeling more.fMRI studies (Acevedo, Aron et al., 2014) have shown that when HSPs view emotional images — particularly photos of loved ones expressing happiness or sadness — their brains show significantly greater activation in regions associated with awareness, empathy, and sensory integration.Twin studies show that Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) as defined by Dr. Aron is approximately 47% heritable. Small studies as opposed to large genome wide studies have focused on genetic variants involving dopamine and serotonin systems, such as a serotonin transport gene, a dopamine receptor gene, and COMT, which codes for the enzyme that metabolizes dopamine and norepinephrine.While this hints at a biochemical dimension, the HSP framework doesn't address this as directly as the other two models I'll discuss, nor does it explain the higher prevalence of physical health conditions in those who are highly sensitive.Research published in 2026 (Matsuzawa et al.) found that individuals high in SPS had substantially higher rates of depression (13.8%), anxiety disorder (10.5%), and developmental disorders, such as ADHD and ASD, compared to the general population.Despite this overlap with developmental disorders: unlike, ADHD, HSPs typically have excellent concentration in quiet environments. And unlike the social deficits described in ASD, HSPs tend to have heightened social attunement. They often feel too much of what's happening in social situations, not too little, even if they respond awkwardly at times.Research shows that high sensory processing sensitivity is associated with more frequent physical symptoms — back pain, fatigue, digestive issues, frequent illness.What This Framework OffersThe HSP model has given millions of people validation and a language for these traits that has allowed them to shift from “what is wrong with me” to “this is how I am wired.”It also offers an evolutionary reframe. High sensitivity is not a mistake and is not pathologic. It is a feature of the human population that has served us.What it doesn't offer is a biological explanation for why some sensitive people suffer so acutely — or a path toward biochemical intervention. II. PYRROLE DISORDERPyrrole disorder is a biochemical imbalance that has been recognized for decades, though it remains largely unknown in mainstream psychiatry. It involves an overproduction of pyrroles — metabolic byproducts that, on their own, are not a problem. When they are high, however, they can result in a depletion of zinc, B6 and a few other nutrients.First identified in the 1950s and first treated with zinc and B6 in the 1980s, pyrrole disorder is one of the most common nutrient imbalances found in brain-related conditions — and one of the most treatable. Yet most people who have it have never heard of it. I learned about pyrroles in 2014 when I first trained with the Walsh Research Institute.The Importance of Zinc, B6 & MagnesiumVitamin B6 is required to synthesize dopamine, serotonin, and GABA — three of the most critical neurotransmitters for mood regulation, anxiety, and stress response. Zinc plays a profound role in the central nervous system, the immune system, gastrointestinal tract (which we now know has its own significant influence on brain health) and connective tissue (joints and skin).Pyrrole Disorder Traits & SymptomsThe most consistent feature is low stress tolerance. People with elevated pyrroles are often described as those for whom life seems harder than it should be, every transition can be destabilizing and every large group or new environment feels like too much.The overlap with the HSP profile is striking, but here, we start to see not only traits, but symptoms.- Socially anxious, shy, or fearful since childhood, with severe inner tension- Sensitive to bright light, loud noises, textures, and odors- Avoids crowds, strangers, and new situations- History of reading difficulty- Poor short-term memory- Underachievement- Irritability, mood swings, bouts of depression- Tends to stay up late; little or no dream recall; morning nausea- White spots on fingernails; very dry skin; stretch marks; poor wound healing- Joint pain- Frequent infections or autoimmune tendenciesMost people with pyrrole disorder don't have all of these symptoms — but the inner tension, the high sensitivity, and low stress intolerance are very common.What the Data ShowsThe Walsh Research Institute has collected data on over 30,000 patients. Elevated pyrroles were found in:* 18% of those with ADHD* 24% of those with depression* 28% of those with behavioral disorders* 35% of those with autism* 35% of those with bipolar disorder* 30% of those with schizophrenia* 12% of those with PTSDAnd in only 8% of healthy controls — meaning those with no psychiatric diagnosis.What Causes Pyrrole Disorder?For many, there appears to be a genetic component, but for others, pyrroles appear to have increased due to high physiologic or emotional stress. Examples include candida overgrowth or other forms of gut microbial imbalances, mold toxicity, heavy metals, chemical exposures, illness, emotional trauma, major life transitions or even growth spurts in children.What This Framework Brings UsRelative to the HSP framework, an understanding of pyrroles gives a specific, treatable biological mechanism. When zinc, B6, Magnesium and other nutrients are depleted, we know how the brain's neurotransmitter functioning is affected — and we know what to do about it.Treatment from a Walsh Research Institute trained practitioner typically involves a nutrient protocol of zinc (based on zinc and copper testing), B6 or its active form P5P, and other nutrients for pyrrole disorder and other nutrient imbalances identified. For many patients, a lifetime of chronic inner tension and fearfulness begins to shift within days to a couple of weeks of starting the nutrients.Treatment doesn't change one's personality, but it can improve social discomfort, overwhelm, the anxiety, the depression that has been layered on top of that sensitivity.Where zinc deficiency can impact a lot of the physical conditions that appear to be more common in those who are hypersensitive, it doesn't fully explain the significant hormonal, inflammatory, connective tissue symptoms and autoimmunity we see in many who are hypersensitive.III. RCCX THEORYRCCX theory has been proposed by Dr. Sharon Meglathery, MD — a psychiatrist and internist whose own complex health history (which is very similar to my own) led her to one of the most compelling explanations I've encountered for why hypersensitivity, neurodivergence, psychiatric conditions, MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome), EDS (Ehlers Danlos Syndrome), POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), CIRS (Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome) and/or CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) and autoimmunity tend to cluster together in certain individuals and families.RCCX refers to a module of four genes on chromosome 6. Three of them appear to be particularly important to our health, and two of those have very high rates of mutation.The Three Key Genes(1) TNXB codes for a protein involved in connective tissue. Variants range from subtle joint hypermobility to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. But connective tissue isn't just about joints — it's also about the permeability of the gut-blood barrier, the blood-brain barrier, and vulnerability to upper cervical (neck) instability, which can put tension on the vagus nerve and affect the entire autonomic nervous system.(2) CYP21A2 is the most important gene in the module when it comes to psychiatric conditions. It codes for 21-hydroxylase, an enzyme needed to convert 17-hydroxyprogesterone into cortisol. When there is a mutation — and there can be many, of varying degrees — the body may struggle to meet the demand for cortisol under stress. A weakness on this gene could have two primary effects:First — The theory holds that many people with CYP21A2 mutations, even without hypermobility, may develop what Dr. Meglathery calls a “brain wired for danger” — essentially, a nervous system calibrated toward threat detection from early in life, with minimal trauma required. A mutation on CYP21A2 may essentially result in relatively higher androgens impacting the amygdala — the brain's fear and emotional center. Studies have found that hypermobile individuals (who often carry TNXB mutations) have a larger-than-normal amygdala.Second — because of this mutation, the body may not be able to keep up with the body's need for cortisol (especially when under stress). This deficit causes the brain to release corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH) to signal the adrenal glands to produce more cortisol. CRH binds to mast cells and activates the immune system — leading to secondary brain inflammation. This is the inflammatory pathway that can result in a number of secondary health issues including MCAS, CIRS, POTS, CFS and more.(3) C4 is involved in immune response and autoimmunity, and has been linked to schizophrenia. This gene variant is not as common as the first two referenced, though I do see a number of families who also have autoimmunity impacting multiple family members.The CAPS Psychological ProfileDr. Meglathery uses the term CAPS — CYP21A2 Mutation Associated Neuropsychiatric Spectrum — to describe the psychological profile she has observed in people with this genetic vulnerability. These traits can exist long before any formal psychiatric diagnosis, and they are not inherently pathological. - Anxiety and over-arousal during times of stress — high adrenaline, insomnia, sometimes manic-like characteristics- Under-arousal during low-stress periods — leading to ADD presentations, compulsive behaviors, or thrill-seeking to raise arousal- High emotionality, sensitivity, and reactivity to environmental stimuli- Sensory processing difficulties — typically over-stimulation in loud or chaotic environments- A strong ability to read emotions in others, paired with social awkwardness in response- Easily affected by events others would consider minor — an offhand comment, a disturbing movie- A tendency toward nonconformity- Special abilities: gifted musicians, scientists, creatives, systems thinkers- Hyper-focus and obsession with areas of deep interest, often leading to remarkable accomplishments- High tenacity and determination, when not derailed by overstimulation or past trauma- Strong emotions — positive or negative — that can manifest as obsessional worrying, harm avoidance, OCD tendencies, or very high standards for self and othersDr. Meglathery also notes — and I have observed this clinically — that people with this profile tend to find each other through friendships, partnerships and marriage. They are drawn together by shared sensitivities, emotional depth, and intellectual gifts. This means children are likely to receive a tendency towards CAPS from both sides.Women who are appear to have CYP21A2 mutations often have a male-pattern finger length ratio — the ring finger longer than the index finger — a possible marker of androgen exposure during development.What RCCX OffersRCCX theory offers the broadest biological framework we have for understanding why sensitivity, psychiatric vulnerability, and complex chronic illness so often travel together in the same people and families. It connects the nervous system, the immune system, the hormonal system, and connective tissue under one genetic umbrella.It also points toward specific interventions: nervous system regulation (limbic retraining, vagal work), mast cell management, and addressing the downstream biochemical consequences of cortisol dysregulation.The limitation is that genetic testing for variants on the gene for 21-hydroxylase is not yet widely available, which is why this isn't a gene that you'll see referenced when it comes to HSP, though I would argue it is likely the most prevalent. RCCX remains a clinical theory — but one that explains the constellation of traits and symptoms of most of the people that I in my practiceIV. WHERE THESE MODELS INTERSECTWhere Might Pyrrole Disorder and RCCX Theory Meet?The symptom overlap is almost complete: poor stress tolerance, sensory sensitivities, anxiety, inner tension, connective tissue symptoms, frequent infections, autoimmune tendencies. Relatively low zinc would impact most of these shared symptoms, but there may be a potentially deeper connection.21-hydroxylase contains a pyrrole-like structure — heme — within it. Could a mutation resulting in abnormal 21-hydroxylase lead to a buildup of abnormal heme-like compounds, contributing directly to pyrrole disorder? This is not proven, but in an exchange about this with Dr. Meglathery, she indicated that she also believes there is a strong association, and the biochemical logic is compelling.This matters, because we know what helps pyrrole disorder. We have a treatment — treatment that can complement what RCCX theory makes evident — that the stress response has to be addressed.Stress (again from any cause - physiologic or emotional) is the great amplifier across all three models. Stress worsens the HSP experience, and tips the CYP21A2 mutation from manageable to destabilizing (through the hormonal consequences and the inflammatory cascade) and yes, it even causes pyrroles to increase.BRINGING IT TOGETHERFor someone who is highly sensitive, and struggling with brain related or physical symptoms or conditions, pyrrole disorder and even RCCX theory are worth considering because they offer tools and start to answer, “What Can We Do About It?”The three frameworks work together:The HSP model offers validation and language. It shifts the frame from deficit to difference. It reminds us that sensitivity is not pathology — it is a trait with evolutionary value, and it comes with great strengths.The Pyrrole model offers a treatable nutrient imbalance. It explains, at the neurotransmitter level, why stress hits harder for these individuals. Treatment doesn't take away the sensitivity; it lifts the weight that has accumulated on top of it.The RCCX model offers the broadest systems view. It connects the dots between what the body is doing — the immune activation, the hormonal dysregulation, the connective tissue involvement — and the psychiatric and psychological profile that tends to accompany it. It also provides additional tools: nervous system regulation, mast cell support, hormonal awareness.If any of this resonates — the sensitivity, the inner tension, the feeling of always being at the edge of overwhelm — please know that there are roots to explore and meaningful paths forward.If you are looking for someone trained by the Walsh Research Institute knowledgeable in assessing for and treating pyrrole disorder (and other common nutrient imbalances impacting brain health), or learning more about Dr. Aron's work on HSP and Dr. Meglathery's RCCX theory, I am providing those links below.And as always, I welcome your thoughts, experience and questions.Until next time,CourtneyAbout the AuthorDr. Courtney Snyder MD is a Holistic and Functional Child and Adult Psychiatrist who offers non-patient consultations to individuals and practitioners nationally and internationally in addition to her treatment practice serving FL, IN, KY, OH. Her educational content, shared through her website, Substack Newsletter, the Holistic Psychiatry Podcast and YouTube Channel reaches readers and listeners in over 160 countries.ResourcesWalsh Research Institute: walshinstitute.orgRCCX Theory — Dr. Sharon Meglathery: rccxandillness.comDr. Elaine Aron — The Highly Sensitive Person: hsperson.comOther Sources: Acevedo et al. 2014, “The Highly Sensitive Brain,” Brain & Behavior | Matsuzawa et al. 2026, Psychiatry & Clinical Neurosciences ReportsMedical Disclaimer:This newsletter is for educational purposes and not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment for either yourself or others, including but not limited to patients that you are treating (if you are a practitioner). Consult your physician for any medical issues that you may be having. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit courtneysnydermd.substack.com/subscribe

Hi, Jenn, and welcome to The Awaken Your wise woman podcast. Thank you for having me. So nice to have you on board here, for the listeners who don't know who you are, could you share a little bit about yourself and the work that you do?“What I would say to deep, profound feelers, is that we are capable of doing hard and impossible things, and we are capable of sitting with hard and impossible feelings.”  — Jenn RapkinEmotions are called feelings for a reason. Frequent deep or strong emotions can seem overwhelming. When they do, our first reaction is often to turn to our mind, to try to think our way out of those uncomfortable feelings. In doing so, we may be overlooking a powerful tool that can help us ride the waves of strong emotions: our bodies. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul support for highly sensitive women, welcomes Dr. Jenn Rapkin, ND, author of The Feeling Muscle, for a discussion of frequent feelers, high sensitivity, big emotions and our bodies. They talk about how body work can complement the other work we are doing and what physical practices and sensations can teach us. You can find the full show notes and resources for every episode here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show!You can also follow me here:InstagramYouTubeFacebook

In this episode, Kristin sits down with cohost Julie Raines (enjoy her gorgeous writing at https://substack.com/@julesraines) and guest Jeff Thompson for a raw, unfiltered conversation about late-diagnosed autism, identity collapse, and what happens after the mask falls off. Jeff shares his powerful story—from being labeled with multiple diagnoses and told something was “wrong” with him, to discovering autism later in life and finally understanding himself. That single word reframed everything: not broken, just different—and wired for something specific. Together, they explore:The fallout of late diagnosis on relationshipsThe “mask collapse” moment and why there's no going backSuicidal ideation, burnout, and rebuilding from zeroWhy helping others became Jeff's form of medicineHow neurodivergent traits can become real-world strengthsThis isn't theory—it's lived experience. And if you've ever felt like you were the only one… this conversation will hit.About Jeff Thompson:Jeff is an entrepreneur, autism advocate, and founder of a clinic for children with autism in Missouri. After decades of misdiagnosis and internalized shame, a late autism diagnosis transformed his life and purpose. He now focuses on helping neurodivergent individuals build businesses, understand their wiring, and create lives that actually work for them.Websites: jeffthinksdifferently.com and genesisstpeters.comBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/mental-health-news-radio--3082057/support.

[NL volgt ENG] What is High Sensitivity? An estimated 1 in 5 people identify as highly sensitive. Is there an increase? What happens in the brain of a highly sensitive person? How does high sensitivity affect mental health? And if there's an increase, what does that say about our society? Learn from psychologist Corina Greven and neuroscientist Judith Homberg, and learn more about high sensitivity, the brain and society. High Sensitivity: Brain, Mental Health and Society | Lecture and conversation with psychologist Corina Greven and neuroscientist Judith Homberg | Thursday, 16 April 2026 | 20.00 - 21.30 hrs | Lecture Hall Complex, Radboud University | Radboud Reflects and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour Have a look at the recap: https://www.ru.nl/en/services/sport-culture-and-recreation/radboud-reflects/news/high-sensitivity-brain-mental-health-and-society-lecture-and-conversation-with-psychologist-corina-greven-and-neuroscientist-judith-homberg Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq6HT2dfoqw&t=1s Never want to miss a podcast again? Subscribe to this channel! Also don't forget to like this podcast. Radboud Reflects organizes public lectures and courses about current affairs. Check our website for upcoming in-depth lectures: www.ru.nl/radboudreflects Do you want to stay up to date about our activities? Please sign in for the newsletter: www.ru.nl//rr/nieuwsbrief NEDERLANDS: Wat is hoogsensitiviteit? Naar schatting identificeert één op de vijf mensen zich als hoogsensitief. Neemt dat aantal toe? Wat gebeurt er in het brein van een hoogsensitief persoon? Hoe beïnvloedt hoogsensitiviteit de mentale gezondheid? En als er inderdaad een toename is, wat zegt dat dan over onze samenleving? Leer van psycholoog Corina Greven en neurowetenschapper Judith Homberg en ontdek meer over hoogsensitiviteit, het brein en de maatschappij. High Sensitivity: Brain, Mental Health and Society | Lezing en gesprek met psycholoog Corina Greven en neurowetenschapper Judith Homberg | Donderdag 16 april 2026 | 20.00 - 21.30 uur | Collegezalencomplex, Radboud Universiteit | Radboud Reflects en Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour. Bekijk de terugblik: https://www.ru.nl/diensten/sport-cultuur-en-ontspanning/radboud-reflects/nieuws/high-sensitivity-brain-mental-health-and-society-lezing-en-gesprek-met-psycholoog-corina-greven-en-neurowetenschapper-judith-homberg Bekijk de video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq6HT2dfoqw&t=1s Like deze podcast en abonneer je op dit kanaal. Bekijk ook de agenda voor nog meer verdiepende lezingen: www.ru.nl/radboudreflects Wil je geen enkele verdiepende lezing missen? Schrijf je dan in voor de nieuwsbrief: www.ru.nl/rr/nieuwsbrief

As a highly sensitive woman, if you find yourself hiding from painful feelings, listen in on this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast. as host Elizabeth Cush and counselor Alyssa Scarano talk about integrating the body and mind to manage your emotions.“If we're numbing one emotion or suppressing one emotion, or bearing down, or whatever reaction we're having to one emotion, it starts to affect all the other ones.”  — Alyssa ScaranoBeing highly sensitive means feeling deeply. Too often, though, we minimize or even bury some of those feelings. Maybe they're painful. Maybe we believe the message that we're overreacting. Maybe we think we're weak. Whatever the reason, we do ourselves a disservice by not feeling our whole range of feelings. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul support for highly sensitive women, welcomes Alyssa Scarano, LPC, NCC, founder and clinical director of The Collective Therapy & Wellness. They talk about a holistic approach to mental health that integrates therapy with wellness practices like yoga and mindfulness to help manage emotions and strengthen compassion for your sensitive self.You can find the full show notes and resources here- https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show!You can also follow me here:InstagramYouTubeFacebook

Today, I interview Rachel Radway who spent years in corporate leadership, showing up, performing, and doing what was expected, while quietly carrying the sense that something about it did not fully fit. Like many who struggle with confidence and speaking up, she learned how to adapt, even when it meant holding parts of herself back.As she was growing up, she was creative and expressive, using her voice freely. But after moving frequently and being teased for being different, she began to feel that she did not quite belong. Even as she continued to show up, there was an inner tension between wanting to be accepted and knowing she experienced the world in her own way.Over time, she reached a point where she could not continue in the same way. She could not take another job, and that led her to make a bold decision to quit her work, sell her home, and move to Peru without a plan. Living in different places gave her the space to step back and listen more closely to herself.Since then, she has come to understand her neurodivergence and the patterns of masking she lived with for years. Today, she supports others who think and feel differently to build confidence, speak more authentically, and express what is true for them.__________________Rachel Radway is a certified leadership & executive coach, mentor, speaker, and award-winning author with more than 25 years' experience in corporate leadership roles at startups, national nonprofits, Fortune 100s, and global enterprises.With compassion and a deep understanding of all the disconnects between the corporate world and brains that are wired differently, Rachel helps high-achieving, highly perceptive, and neurodivergent clients lead with confidence, clarity, and authenticity—and without burning out.Her book, Perceptive: Insights for leaders who feel more, process deeply, and think differently, reframes misunderstood and stigmatized neurotypes, including HSP and AuDHD, as a set of strengths—and leadership assets—accompanied by challenges, the other side of the coin.__________________Find Rachel here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/reradway/https://www.rercoaching.com/Support the showI'm Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

If you're highly sensitive, chances are you are no stranger to feeling overwhelmed. If so, listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast as host Elizabeth Cush offers tips for dealing with big emotions. “I want to talk about holding space for when you're feeling overwhelmed, because as highly sensitive beings, we do get overwhelmed.” — Biz CushDo bright lights make you cringe a little? Do you shrink from loud music or other noise? Do events or memories trigger powerful feelings? If so, how does your system react? In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul support for highly sensitive women, talks about the kinds of situations that can feel overwhelming, shares insights based on her own personal experiences, and offers several strategies for feeling big feelings without becoming emotionally overloaded. Find the full show notes and resources here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show!You can also follow me here:InstagramYouTubeFacebook

Dr. Adam Dorsay introduces SuperPsyched and interviews ADHD coach and author Dr. Tamara Rosier about ADHD, emotions, and daily strategies for healthier functioning. They discuss how people with ADHD are criticized far more than peers, may feel “broken,” and often have impulse-control challenges, heightened emotional intensity, high sensitivity, and sensory issues tied to a sensitive nervous system, making environmental fit and nervous-system regulation important. Rosier argues ADHD isn't inherently a “gift,” but benefits can emerge when energy and emotions are managed, including choosing where attention goes and treating feelings as informants rather than facts. They emphasize sleep as foundational, covering difficulties with sleep onset, maintenance, and desire, the importance of deep sleep for the brain's glymphatic “cleaning” system, and how time blindness and “rabbit holes” interfere with routines. Rosier closes with a wish that people understand human interconnectedness and accept themselves without constant proving.00:00 Welcome to SuperPsyched00:26 ADHD and Emotional Bruises01:11 Meet Dr Tamara Rosier02:48 Why ADHD People Click04:21 Not a Gift Managing Energy05:45 High Sensitivity and Nervous System08:12 Sensory Overload and Regulation08:41 Behavioral Basics Beyond Meds09:50 Sleep Struggles with ADHD11:47 Glymphatic System Brain Cleaning12:19 Beliefs About Sleep Drive14:50 Reframing Sleep with Clients15:01 Sleep as Necessary Evil15:26 Bedtime Sabotage Habits16:19 Time Blind Rabbit Holes17:55 Why Sleep Runs Everything18:33 ADHD Emotional Engine20:34 Feelings Aren't Facts24:04 Curious Not Furious24:41 Default Mode Network Explained26:16 One Skill for Humanity27:31 Connection Story and FarewellHelpful Links:Tamara Rosier, PhDTamara Rosier, PhD LinkedInTamara Rosier, PhD Books

Whether you're perimenopausal, menopausal or postmenopausal, listen in on this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast. as host Elizabeth Cush and Dr. Betsy Greenleaf, a premier women's health expert, talk about high sensitivity, hormones and pelvic health at mid-life.“I do believe that the women who tend to be highly sensitive tend to also feel things a lot more. I've seen this not just with hormone changes, but also with aches and pains.”  — Dr. Betsy GreenleafAre hot flashes burning you up? Do frequent bladder leaks leave you too embarrassed to leave the house? Oh, and how's your sex life? For too long, women didn't talk about menopause and other issues they experience at mid-life. Instead, we suffered in silence. Fortunately, we don't have to. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul-support for highly sensitive women, welcomes Dr. Betsy A.B. Greenleaf, founder of the International Pause Institute and CEO of the Pelvic Floor Store. They talk about pelvic health, perimenopause and menopause, hormones and other therapies, vaginal prolapse, incontinence, and other health and wellness issues of importance to mid-life women.You can find the full show notes and resources here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show!You can also follow me here:InstagramYouTubeFacebook

Elaine Aron is a clinical and research psychologist who received her advanced training at Pacific Graduate Institute and the Jung Institute in San Francisco. Her research on sensory processing sensitivity and, along with her husband, Arthur Aron, the study of close relationships, is widely published in academic journals. She is best known as the world's leading expert on the “Highly Sensitive Person” or HSP, a term she ascribed to a significant minority of people she discovered had the innate trait of high sensitivity. Her book , The Highly Sensitive Person, became an international bestseller, translated into 32 languages, and has been in print for nearly thirty years. She followed that up with other books based on her research on the subject: The Highly Sensitive Parent, The Highly Sensitive Person Workbook, The Highly Sensitive Person in Love, The Highly Sensitive Child, and Psychotherapy and the Highly Sensitive Person. She maintains a newsletter and other resources at her website. Her latest book, which we discuss (among other things) in this interview, is Spirituality Through a Highly Sensitive Lens: An Objective Look at Meditation Methods and Enlightenment. The conversation ranges widely; you don't have to be a Highly Sensitive Person to benefit from hearing it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're trying to make progress but don't feel like you're getting anywhere, don't be discouraged. Listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast as host Elizabeth Cush talks about the role of awareness in changing our behavior and our lives. “Building awareness is like building muscle. As your awareness muscle grows, you'll be able to handle more, you'll be able to make different choices, and you'll begin to grow those new neural pathways.” — Biz CushWhere are you in your journey? Do you get discouraged when you find yourself falling into the same old traps over and over? Do you beat yourself up for what seems like a lack of progress? Do you get frustrated by living in your own personal Groundhog Day? Don't give up. You might be better off than you realize. In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul support for highly sensitive women, talks about awareness as the first step in any healing journey. She explains how awareness opens the door for change and provides some tools to help you enhance your awareness. She also offers a simple breath awareness exercise to help you be more present and in touch with the way your feelings show up in your body. You can find the full show notes and resources here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

Our latest episode of QuidelOrtho Science Bytes features Dr. Lindy Carlstrom, Global Medical Affairs Manager for Acute Care, unpacking how high-sensitivity troponin is reshaping early cardiac diagnosis, where seconds matter most. From detecting heart injury earlier and reducing emergency department bottlenecks to improving equity in cardiac care with sex-specific cutoffs, this episode highlights how precision diagnostics are accelerating decision-making and improving patient outcomes. Dr. Carlstrom explains the power of serial testing, the importance of assay precision and why today's emergency teams rely on high-sensitivity troponin to confidently rule in, or rule out, acute coronary events. High sensitivity troponin is more than a test, it's a critical link in a faster, safer, more informed cardiac care pathway. Tune in to learn how this powerful tool is helping clinicians deliver timely insight when it matters most.   About Our Speaker:  Dr. Lindy Carlstrom, Global Medical Affairs Manager for QuidelOrtho Lindy's clinical experience spans from emergency medicine to critical care and primary care. Currently, she's responsible for providing medical support for the QuidelOrtho acute care menu throughout the product life cycle. Lindy is passionate about clinical education, testing guideline updates and assay utilization to drive improved patient-centered outcomes.    

You've accomplished a lot in your life, but you still feel like you're not keeping up. If that sounds familiar, listen in on this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast. as host Elizabeth Cush and Kristen Carder, host of the I Have ADHD podcast, talk about high-achieving women, sensitivity, ADHD and shame.“Those messages we start receiving at a really young age can be really debilitating by the time that we're adults.”  — Kristen CarderYou're bright. You're educated. You're good at what you do, but despite all that, what you've achieved doesn't seem to reflect your effort. Maybe it's always been that way. As a kid, you heard, “You're smart. Why can't you do this? All you had to do was turn in your homework.” And you've carried the shame of that blame with you. Today, you beat yourself up for forgetting friends' birthdays or manage life the way others seem to. Chances are, it's not your fault. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul-support for highly sensitive women, welcomes multi-certified coach and educator Kristen Carder for a discussion about how attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can show up in high-achieving women in subtle and surprising ways that are often overlooked or dismissed. They'll talk about the emotional impact of living with ADHD, its impact on our self-esteem and our relationships, tips for managing ADHD, and the importance of community in healing. You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

If you've been diagnosed with ADHD, or you suspect you might have it, listen in on this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast as host Elizabeth Cush and Dr. Jennifer Dall talk about unmasking neurodivergence and managing it holistically.Are you often forgetful? Do you pile lots on your plate, but have a tough time following through with all of it? Do you have a hard time getting organized? Do you beat yourself up about all of it or do you put your nose to the grindstone and work twice as diligently to be who you think you're supposed to be? If any of that sounds familiar, go easy on yourself. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a soul guide for highly sensitive women, welcomes Jennifer Dall, EdD, a grief-informed neurodivergence specialist and founder of ADHD Holistically, for a discussion of women and ADHD (attention deficient hyperactivity disorder). They'll talk about myths and misconceptions, diagnosing ADHD later in life, management strategies and more. “A lot of people think ADHD is the 8-year-old boy who is impulsive and hyperactive and not the good girl who is focusing and smart and working really, really hard.”  — Jennifer DallFind all full show notes and resources for every episode here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

Last year was a lot, especially if you have a sensitive soul. As we enter 2026, listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast as host Elizabeth Cush shares tips for slowing down and savoring the good in this new year. "I want to make 2026 the year of savoring, of really enjoying what is. And as sensitive beings, those of you who are highly sensitive, savoring often comes naturally. But you might need to be more intentionally mindful about your everyday experiences to truly savor the present moment."—Biz CushFor so many of us, the year we've just left behind was filled with intense energy, conflict, bullying and complicity. If you're tired of feeling exhausted by your news feed and the stress of living in the world today, you're not alone. The good news is that you don't have to feel that way. In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a life coach for highly sensitive women, talks about the importance of balancing sensory input with quiet time and mindfulness, and the benefits of finding appreciation and gratitude in daily life. Listen in as she shares some tips that you can use to slow down and enjoy what each day of this new year brings.You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned for this and every episode here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

The negative emotions that can accompany motherhood take many women by surprise. In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Elizabeth Cush and Jess Althoff talk about how highly sensitive women can manage the overwhelm. “We are breathing all the time, but most of us aren't breathing correctly, and most of us aren't using our breath in ways that are beneficial to us.”  — Jess AlthoffExhaustion. Frustration. Overwhelm. Self-doubt. Anxiety. Guilt. Irritability. Even rage. No matter how much you wanted to be a mother, you may have been blindsided by the negative emotions that nobody warned you about. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul guide for highly sensitive women, welcomes Jess Althoff, author of the blog “Raising Slow,” for a talk about postpartum anxiety and rage, and the importance of self-care techniques like meditation and breathwork in managing mental health. They also share their own experiences, as well as practical tips and techniques that can help mothers and other highly sensitive women get in touch with their bodies, reduce irritability, You can find the full show notes and resources here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

Highly sensitive persons—adults and children alike—care deeply about people, about nature, about the world. Host Elizabeth Cush and Judith Orloff, MD, talk about the extraordinary gift of empathy in this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast.“So many of us were shamed for being who we were and being highly sensitive or empathic and not given education about it.”  — Judith Orloff, M.D.What can a bunny teach us about empathy? A lot, it turns out, when the highly sensitive rabbit is modeled after a highly sensitive person who was called a crybaby, left alone by her brothers and sisters, and felt like she didn't belong in the world. That is, until she begins to make like-minded friends who taught her how to embrace her sensitivity and care deeply for others without being swallowed up by her caring. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and soul support for highly sensitive women, welcomes Judith Orloff, MD, a psychiatrist, an empath, and author of the children's book The Highly Sensitive Rabbit as well as The Genius of Empathy, The Empath's Survival Guide and other titles. They talk about finding your place and your people, achieving balance, celebrating the gifts of sensitivity, end encouraging empathy in the next generation.You can find the full show notes and resources for all the episodes here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

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If you often feel anxious, overwhelmed or alone, if you frequently find yourself in relationships that cause you pain, listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast as host Elizabeth Cush shares her experiences with finding safety within. “I can be the person who meets me where I need to be met, and I can do that with kindness and care.” — Biz CushHave childhood neglect, trauma, chronic illness affected your internal sense of well-being? Does the state of the world leave you feeling overwhelmed? If you're a highly sensitive woman, chances are you have felt an outsized impact—and it's equally likely that you've been told “you're over-reacting” so often that you no longer trust yourself. That's a hard place to be. The good news is, no matter where you are on your journey, you can heal, and keep healing. In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a life coach for highly sensitive women, talks about safety and community, shares some of her own journey, and offers insight into the tools she used to settle the noise inside , reconnect with her inner wisdom and intuition, and really learn to trust herself. You can find the show notes and resources for all episode here.Join the Circle of Sacred Sensitivity here.Support the showI hope you enjoyed the show! You can also follow me here: Instagram YouTube Facebook

Navigating female friendships at midlife can be challenging, especially for highly sensitive women. Host Elizabeth Cush and author Susan Shapiro Barash tackle the topic in this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast.“Seventy-five percent of the women with whom I spoke said that it's harder to leave a best or closest female friend than it is to leave a romantic relationship or a marriage.”  — Susan Shapiro BarashAre you close with your sister, or do you have friends who feel like sisters to you? Do you have a female friendship that feels like it's not working any more, but you're not sure how to heal it or end it? As a highly sensitive woman, you may feel these friendships—and any conflicts—more deeply than others do. And have you ever stopped to wonder how our culture affects it all? In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a mid-life women's coach, welcomes Susan Shapiro Barash, author of Estranged: How strained female friendships can be mended or ended, 13 other non-fiction titles, and four novels. Listen in on their conversation about friendships, the importance of community for women and how the patriarchy and capitalism have impacted our sense of how our relationships should be and how we interact with other women. You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned here.Join the Circle of Sacred Sensitivity here.Support the show

What are the challenges when it comes to objectively measuring high sensitivity in people? In this week's episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast , I speak with researcher and lecturer Andrew May from Queen Mary University of London. Andrew has worked closely with Michael Pluess on studies exploring sensory processing sensitivity, genetics, and the measurement of sensitivity across different populations. His work explores the question, What does it mean to be highly sensitive in the modern world? https://youtu.be/rf1U1wxck_w The Challenge of Measuring Sensitivity The Highly Sensitive Person Scale, originally developed by Elaine and Arthur Aron in 1997, has shaped the study of sensitivity for nearly three decades. It opened an important new field of research. Yet, like all self-report tools, it relies on honest reporting of how people see themselves. And as Andrew points out, psychological measurement is never fully objective. It reflects cultural ideas about what counts as “normal,” “ideal,” or “acceptable.” Someone raised to view sensitivity as weakness might understate their responses. Meanwhile, another who finds identity or comfort in the HSP label might amplify them. In both cases, results are shaped as much by social context as by biology. This is why researchers continue refining how sensitivity is assessed. Gender expectations add another layer. Men often report lower sensitivity due to norms surrounding masculinity. Likewise, cultural attitudes influence which traits, such as empathy, gentleness, and conscientiousness, are valued and how safe people feel to acknowledge them. This reveals how psychology and culture continually shape one another. What we measure as “inner traits” also carries the imprint of the social stories we live. Sensitivity and the Limits of Objectivity As new scales and tools emerge, supported by neuroimaging, physiological studies, and genetics, it's worth asking what kind of knowledge we're actually seeking. If sensitivity arises through both biology and relationship, how much can we truly understand it outside the contexts that shape and reflect it? Sensitivity is reflected not only in biological patterns such as brain activity and cortisol levels, but also in how we interpret and respond to life. The Social Context of Self-Reporting As research on sensitivity evolves, one essential question remains: how do we speak about it without creating a hierarchy? The aim is not to prove that highly sensitive people are deeper, kinder, or more moral than others. Instead, we aim to understand how different nervous systems and psychological dispositions engage with the world. Sensitivity is not a fixed identity. It's a way of perceiving and participating in life. It reminds us that human variation is not a flaw to be corrected. Instead, it’s a source of creativity, empathy, and adaptability for individuals and communities. Related Considerations When I share about high sensitivity, people sometimes respond that I'm describing traits linked to autism or ADHD. Andrew helped clarify why this confusion arises and how Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) differs. High Sensitivity and Autism High sensitivity and autism can coexist, and some traits overlap, especially under stress. Both may involve strong reactions to sensory input. However, they differ in specific areas such as theory of mind (the ability to intuit others' perspectives). This tends to remain intact in highly sensitive individuals and may present differently for those on the autism spectrum. High Sensitivity and ADHD ADHD and sensitivity can also overlap. People with ADHD may act impulsively or struggle to sustain focus. In contrast, highly sensitive individuals are more likely to pause before responding. Recognising this distinction helps shape appropriate support for each profile, as well as those with both traits. High Sensitivity and Giftedness “Giftedness” is a loosely defined concept that is sometimes mistaken for sensitivity. While highly sensitive people may thrive creatively or intellectually in supportive environments, giftedness refers to broader capacities. Sensitivity alone cannot account for these capacities. Keeping these distinctions clear prevents unnecessary pressure and misunderstanding. Ultimately, exploring sensitivity invites us to hold complexity rather than resolve it. It asks us to look beyond labels and measurements, to see how biology, experience, and culture weave together in the fabric of being human. When we approach sensitivity not as a category to define but as a way of relating to ourselves, to others, and to the world, we make space for a richer, more honest understanding. This understanding of what it means to feel deeply and live attentively is invaluable. More About Andrew Andrew is a lecturer in medical genetics at Kingston University London, and a former UK Research and Innovation-funded postdoctoral researcher based at the University of Surrey, under the mentorship of Professor Michael Pluess. He is also affiliated with the Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience and the Neuropsychology Research Laboratory at the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa. Andrew has a Master of Science (Medicine) in human genetics and a PhD in research psychology. His research interests include individual differences in environmental sensitivity, personality, mental health, minority stress, and early childhood development, examined from both psychological and genetic perspectives. In true highly sensitive person style, Andrew enjoys reading, board games, meditation, yoga, piano, spending time with animals (cats!), and other quiet pursuits.

If you're the kind of person who walks into a room and picks up the subtle vibes immediately, and that energy sometimes drains you, listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Lauren Sapala, an author, teacher and creative guide, on honoring your intuition.  “The basic strategy I teach is that most writing methods are achievement oriented. They really hold a lot of masculine energy.”  — Lauren SapalaIf you're highly sensitive, chances are you experience the world differently. You might see and feel things that others just don't. You've probably always seen that as a detriment, but it doesn't have to be. Your perceptions are actually a gift that can help you better understand yourself and others. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a mid-life women's coach, welcomes Lauren Sapala, author of several non-fiction books for intuitive creatives, including The INFJ Writer, The INFJ Revolution and Writing on the Intuitive Side of the Brain. In their discussion on living a more creative, empowered life as a sensitive intuitive, they'll talk about boundaries, overcoming overwhelm, and finding a community where your creative process can unfold safely and help move you toward healing. You can find the full show notes and resources mentioned here- https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcastSupport the show

Send us a textThis episodes guest is Dr. Katie T. Larson, Ph.D. she is a Hypnotherapist, Growth Coach and Somatic Practitioner who works with Highly Sensitive People, Empaths, and Intuitives. She has helped initiate meaningful personal Growth in thousands of individuals, but she is best-known for guiding clients through “Quests”—inner journeys—that offer opportunities to explore your life from deeper perspectives, bringing more purpose, meaning and joy. She is also a Wild Sensitive, and we had an amazing conversation on how our sensitive bodies have already so much knowledge, how we can go on a quest to explore what is important to us. She explains why High Sensitivity is not a burden or wound in an amazing way. Find out more about her on het website: https://www.growthquests.com/Or follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drkatiegrowthquests/Support the show

If it seems like discussions about the state of the world seem to turn ugly lately, listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast! Host Elizabeth Cush talks about what's behind the divisiveness and how to start healing.“I don't have to be friends with someone who I disagree with, but I can see them as a person with their own struggles, with their own fears, with their own beliefs.” — Biz CushWhat happened to the “good old days” when we could just agree to disagree? Instead, it seems, people today divide the world into “us” versus “them”—whether it's by race, religion, political party or even lifestyle choices. So many of us tend to lump anyone who experiences the world in a way that we don't into the category of “other.” It's easy to dismiss “others as less moral, less informed, less than…. In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a life coach for highly sensitive women, talks about some of the roots of conflict in today's world, how sensitive women can navigate a fraught political climate with integrity, and how to take steps toward finding the peace and compassion that can help heal community. Circle of Sacred Sensitivity MembershipFind the full show notes and resources here.Support the show

Xbox outrages with price of Game Pass, State of Play shows off Wolverine and Sauros in 2026. We have an Xbox Tokyo Game Show with Forza 6 reveal, and Xbox Ally prices. We played Ghost of Yotei, Silent Hill F, Death Stranding 2, and Final Fantasy Tactics. We watched Demon Slayer Infinity Castle Part 1, I know what you did last Summer, and Caught Stealing. Have a Great week everyone!

Welcome back to the new season of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast! This week, host Elizabeth Cush shares personal insights into sensitivity, shares what's in store for the coming season and invites you to join a unique community. “We need more compassion and kindness and love out there in the universe, for sure.” — Biz CushListen and learn:·      Why you don't have to be highly sensitive yourself to benefit from listening to the Awaken your Wise Woman podcast·      How doing Internal Family Systems (IFS), or “parts” work has enabled Biz to grow ·      The one major theme that consistently comes up as a challenge for clients from all works of life·      Why self-compassion is such a challenge, especially for highly sensitive women·      The ways in which self-compassion—or the lack of it—can affect our relationships with others·      The lies our inner critic tells us in an attempt to protect us from painful feelings ·      The advantage of feeling compassion for, instead of judging, our younger selves·      The simple practice that Biz uses to recenter herself when that ultra-critical voice tries to sneak in and be heard·      How to find a community of women who understand what it is like to be highly sensitiveYou can find the full show notes and resources mentioned here.Support the show

In this week's episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, we look at the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and hypervigilance. As we finish our journey through the first HSP Owner's Guide, we turn our attention to hypervigilance. that feeling of being permanently “switched on,” unable to stop scanning for danger, even when we're safe. For highly sensitive people, vigilance is a natural part of sensory processing sensitivity. It helps us read the room, pick up subtle cues, and stay attuned to what is happening beneath the surface. But when vigilance tips into hypervigilance, it can leave us in a state of chronic over-arousal, disconnection, and exhaustion. In the episode, we explore why hypervigilance is such a common experience for HSPs, how it shows up in everyday life, and ways we might support our nervous systems in returning to a sense of safety and connection. I examine hypervigilance within a social and cultural context for HSPs, rather than from a clinical or individual psychological perspective. https://youtu.be/RCvrgSJH73I Vigilance vs. Hypervigilance Vigilance is an intrinsic feature of sensory intelligence. It anchors us in the awareness to notice and predict useful information to help us survive and thrive together. Hypervigilance is what happens when vigilance overspills, and we get stuck in a state of alertness with limited capability to move our nervous system into a state of connection. This can have roots in early life (especially for HSPs who are more impacted by their formative environments). But it can also develop over time because of the pressures and rhythms of the modern world, with constant notifications, cultural glorification of busyness, and a never-ending expectation to perform and prove our worth. Possible Signs of Hypervigilance Hypervigilance is not always dramatic. Often it shows up quietly and gradually, for example you might notice: Feeling flat or detached, as if life is happening behind glass Difficulty taking action, even on small plans Unusual tearfulness Brain fog and trouble focusing Ruminating thoughts on repeat Disrupted sleep cycles Anxiety or panic attacks seemingly “out of nowhere” Harsh self-criticism or low self-esteem If these feel familiar, they may be signs that your nervous system has been in “stay safe” mode for a long time. Why Hypervigilance Happens Hypervigilance is the nervous system's over-lean into the message, “stay safe by staying alert.” This is obviously appropriate in certain contexts, but when we carry this story everywhere, it takes its toll and can be a difficult pattern to get out of. Some common contributing factors include: Early Environments: Growing up in conflict or unpredictability can train the nervous system to always be on guard, especially in volatile environments where safety could be torn away at a moment's notice. Past Experiences: The nervous system may overlearn from painful experiences, remaining alert to avoid “ever letting that happen again.” Cultural Pressures: Hustle culture, social media outrage cycles, and global crises all create a background hum of threat. Worldview and Meaning-Making: Certain belief systems (political, religious, ideological) can divide the world into “us vs. them,” keeping us in a state of perpetual alertness to nefarious outside actors. Physiological Factors: Poor sleep, hormone shifts, or nutritional deficiencies can lower our threshold for perceiving danger. These are rarely isolated and often overlap in ways that reinforce one another. Meeting Hypervigilance with Creative Gentleness A helpful (though, not easy) way to meet everyday hypervigilance is to slow things down. Not necessarily by stopping altogether, but by letting engagement become gentler and more deliberate. Rather than rushing to solve, fix, or control, we can allow space to notice small sensory glimmers,

This week we do a catch up on the news Borderlands 4, Direct, State of Play of 007, Silksong, and so much more

This post elaborates on the ‘overstimulation' section of The HSP Owner's Guide. In this week's episode of The Gentle Rebel Podcast, we look at the relationship between sensory processing sensitivity and overstimulation. Overstimulation is a term we often hear when people talk about high sensitivity. It's the second word in the DOES acronym after Deep Processing and before Emotional Responsiveness or Empathy, and Sensing Subtleties as a description of core characteristics of the trait. But what do we actually mean by overstimulated? What does it look like? And is there anything we can do about it other than avoiding stimulating environments and situations? At the get-go, I want to answer that question with a resounding yes. We don't have to write ourselves out of the situations, environments, and experiences that really matter to us. We have the capacity to build sustainable approaches to this stuff. https://youtu.be/qy8XxQe7_iU Responsiveness and Stimulation Because highly sensitive people are all different, it's important to remember that sensitivity isn't who we are. It's more like the rails our nervous system runs on. It is often described as a spectrum of sensory responsiveness. Those on the high end take in a huge amount of sensory data and process it deeply. Those on the low end take in less, and most people are somewhere in the middle. As a species, we have evolved and benefit from individuals existing along this continuum. Environmental Sensitivity researchers describe this variation through the concept of differential susceptibility. Some individuals are more profoundly influenced by their environment, for better or worse. It's not about weakness or fragility. It's about responsiveness and depth of processing. Studies show that highly sensitive individuals flourish in supportive settings but face greater challenges in chaotic ones. I like to visualise this difference using microphones. A sensitive condenser mic is uniquely effective in quiet, controlled spaces. It picks up every subtle detail. But in a loud environment, it can get overwhelmed by noise. A dynamic mic has a narrower field of responsiveness and can work in almost any environment because it picks up less background noise. Both are useful, but for different purposes. This helps us remember that high sensitivity isn't a flaw or superpower, it's just a variation in human temperament, useful in some contexts and less so in others. What Overstimulation Looks Like Overstimulation can look different from individual to individual. It is caused by an overload of the nervous system with environmental, emotional, social, or cognitive information. It's not always evident to others when a highly sensitive person is overstimulated. Despite appearing calm or composed, HSPs may be grappling with intense physical discomfort or emotional distress due to nervous system overload. Rising levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol exacerbate this heightened sensitivity, leading to strong reactions to excitement, tension, temperature changes, or sensory stimuli in the environment. What looks like calmness in a person might be a kind of shutting down. This happens to me when I've had too much stimulation - I can look really chilled out, but in actual fact I'm unable to function properly. You might experience: Physical symptoms of overstimulation Lightheadedness or dizziness Internal tremors (feeling shaky inside without visible shaking) Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat sensations Nausea or digestive discomfort Temperature sensitivity Cognitive effects of overstimulation Difficulty concentrating or focusing on tasks Short-term memory lapses Mental fog or feeling disconnected from surroundings Racing thoughts Emotional responses Irritability disproportionate to the situation Sudden emotional surges, such as tears or outbursts of frustration

REBROADCASTIn this essential encore episode, Bill Eddy and Megan Hunter delve deep into understanding high conflict borderline personalities, often called the "Love You Hate You" types. They explore the complex world of these challenging relationships, where charm can rapidly transform into rage. The discussion illuminates the defining characteristics of high conflict borderline personalities, including their emotional regulation struggles and tendency toward all-or-nothing thinking. Bill and Megan examine the prevalence of borderline personality disorder, the overlap with high conflict personalities, and offer practical strategies for managing these challenging dynamics while maintaining hope for recovery.Additional ResourcesExpert PublicationsSplitting: Protecting Yourself While Divorcing Someone with BPD/NPDCalming Upset People with EARDating RadarHigh Conflict People in Legal DisputesProfessional DevelopmentStrategies for Helping Clients with Borderline Personalities in DivorceConflict Influencer™ ClassConnect With UsVisit High Conflict Institute: highconflictinstitute.com Submit questions for Bill and MeganBrowse our complete collection of books and resources in our online storeFind these show notes and all past episode notes on our websiteImportant NoticeOur discussions focus on behavioral patterns rather than diagnoses. For specific legal or therapeutic guidance, please consult qualified professionals in your area. (00:00) - Welcome to It's All Your Fault (00:37) - 5 Types of People Who Can Ruin Your Life Part 3 (01:10) - Borderline Personality (07:39) - What does the term mean? (08:50) - Looking for Connection (10:42) - Statistics (14:03) - High Sensitivity (16:26) - Splitting (18:22) - Lying (22:01) - Apologizing (24:47) - Why Vindictive? (27:44) - Finding Success (31:50) - Empathy (34:06) - Reminders & Coming Next Week: Domestic Violence

✨ In this soul-nourishing solo journey of Awaken Your Wise Woman, Elizabeth Cush invites us to step into the sacred space within, where our wounded inner child still longs to be seen and held. With the gentle guidance of Internal Family Systems (IFS) and the powerful magic of parts work, Biz illuminates how the echoes of unmet emotional needs from childhood give rise to protective parts—like the inner critic, people pleaser, and perfectionist. These parts, though forged in pain, carry ancient wisdom and deep longing. With tenderness and compassion, we're reminded that healing begins when we listen to these parts with love and curiosity, honoring the divine intelligence they bring.

An underwhelming pokemon presents, sony lawsuit, and Xbox reduces price of The Outer Worlds 2 This week is more Death Stranding 2, Donkey Kong Bananza, and Wu Chang Fallen Feathers. Craig watches Happy Gilmore 2

We talk about Xbox layoffs and all the other games news this week. This weeks game consist of Death Stranding 2, Tony Hawk, and College Football 26.

Have you ever wished there were Australian-based resources, trainings and person gatherings created by highly sensitive people, for highly sensitive people? In episode 307 of SelfKind, I'm joined by counsellor, nature-therapy practitioner (and long-time friend) Matt Glover to unveil ourr joint project High Sensitivity Australia. Together we discuss:⭐️ the brand new resource and website: High Sensitivity Australia

If you crave authentic connections with other highly sensitive women, listen to this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast as host Elizabeth Cush talks about building and sustaining a supportive community.   “It's amazing to me that the space can hold women who have never met before, and they come away from it feeling as if deep connections were made.” — Biz Cush Few things in life feel as wonderful as connecting with someone who really gets you. It can feel comforting, validating and exhilarating all at once. But for highly sensitive women, it can be difficult to find those people who understand us and cherish our gifts of sensitivity. In this episode of the Awaken Your Wise Woman podcast, host Biz Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a soul support for highly sensitive women, talks about making those connections and building a community of like-minded women—and how you can be a part of it. Find the full show notes and resources for the highly senstive meet-ups for women here- https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast 

Have you fallen out of touch with the Earth? Listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes Corinna Wood, a visionary teacher of women's wisdom and a trailblazer in the holistic healing community, for a talk about sensitive, women-centered tools for inner growth and healing. “Grounding into our needs is such a rooted way of being, and I think it is really important, especially today, and especially with highly sensitive women.” — Corinna Wood We live inside. We work inside. We spend our time on computers, phones and other devices. All that may seem to be convenient and comfortable, but it can also serve to cut us off from the natural world—and an important source of women's wisdom. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a mid-life women's coach, welcomes Corrina Wood, founder of Red Moon Herbs and the Southeast Wise Women Herbal Conference. They talk about her Wise Woman Needs Wheel, a tool that maps human needs to natural cycles, how it can help inner growth and healing, and why it may be a particularly useful framework for highly sensitive persons. You can find the full show notes and all the resources mentioned here- https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast  

What can you do if your family relationships are toxic? Listen in on this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, as host Elizabeth Cush welcomes psychotherapist Sharon Martin for a discussion on sensitive women cutting family ties so you can heal. “Being angry is very both natural and helpful in a situation. When you have been mistreated, you should feel angry about that.” — Sharon Martin Highly sensitive persons can have a hard time letting go of harmful relationships. When those toxic relationships involve parents or other family members, cutting ties can be especially painful. Between our empathy for others and the pressure that others put on us to preserve family ties, stepping away can be incredibly difficult—but it can be so necessary for our self-care. In this episode of Awaken Your Wise Woman, host Elizabeth “Biz” Cush, LCPC, a licensed professional therapist, founder of Progression Counseling in Maryland and Delaware, and a soul guide for highly sensitive women, welcomes psychotherapist and author Sharon Martin, DSW, LCSW, back to the podcast to talk about the issues that can make setting hard boundaries with toxic family members so challenging, options for navigating those boundaries and what it can feel like to heal and move on.    You can find the full show notes and resources of this and every episode here- https://www.elizabethcushcoaching.com/awaken-your-wise-woman-podcast

Do you know your cognitive profile? Amber Hanna, a cognitive design consultant who's helped me personally in ways I'm really grateful for. Amber specializes in using neuro regulation techniques—like meditation, exercise, and creating personalized environments—to help people manage ADHD, high sensitivity, and other neurodivergent conditions. In this episode, we talk about the importance of creating a supportive environment tailored to your needs, the significance of setting boundaries, and how to use sensory cues to minimize stress and maximize comfort.Amber also dives into the value of understanding neurodiversity, and we discuss how these techniques help people find better mental well-being, productivity, and balance. I share a few takeaways from my work with Amber—like reframing periods of boredom, diving into those “boring” tasks with a new perspective, and going all-in on recovery strategies. If you're looking for ways to improve your self-care, create a more mindful environment, or manage your mental well-being, this episode is full of great insights.Enjoy the conversation, and check out Amber's website, cocoonedliving.com, for more resources and consultative services!- - - - - - - - - - -A big thanks to our sponsors:RELEVATE by NeuroReserve: Go to www.neuroreserve.com/travismacy and code TRAVISMACY for 15% off RELEVATE by NeuroReserve: Core Dietary Nutrients for Lifelong Brain HealthHagan Ski Mountaineering- - - - - - - - - - -Purchase A Mile at A Time: A Father and Son's Inspiring Alzheimer's Journey of Love, Adventure, and HopeSubscribe: Apple Podcast | SpotifyCheck us out: Instagram | Twitter | Website | YouTubeThe show is produced and edited by Palm Tree Pod Co