Has anyone ever told you that you’re “too sensitive” or to “stop overthinking everything,” particularly by people who strike you as a little bit too insensitive or who you believe might benefit from some more thinking?

Well, you may be what is known as a “highly sensitive person,” or HSP.

Being HSP doesn’t mean you have a diagnosable condition, it’s a personality trait shared by just 20% of the population that involves increased responsiveness to both positive and negative influences. HSPs process experiences, thoughts, and feelings more deeply than non-HSPs — and with all that processing, overwhelm can happen more easily.

We can all feel overstimulated from time to time, but for HSPs it's a way of life. And sometimes that can feel lonely, frustrating, and full of shame.

... But it doesn't have to!

In this episode Brooke Nielsen, therapist, writer, speaker and founder of the Therapeutic Center for Highly Sensitive People, discusses what it means to be a HSP and how to appreciate the unique strengths that come along with this trait.

In this episode you’ll hear:

• What is an “HSP” and how many people are born with this genetic trait [3:58 ]

• How Brooke is destigmatizing the negativity around being an HSP, and why it’s feels so liberating for her to do this [10:11 ]

• The way she coped with her emotions at a younger age and what was the impact of trying to do this [11:16 ]

• Her thoughts on male ESPs and how each society views them differently [14:12 ]

• What trauma really is, and the role that it plays in the lives of HSPs [22:01 ]
• 
 Why just focusing on your mindset and positive thinking isn’t enough to overcome trauma [35:44 ]

• What research shows about people having compassion for others [41:01 ]
• Best practices for setting energetic boundaries as an HSP [49:43 ]
• What to be aware of an HSP in a relationship, and how to educate your partner in the right way [59:16 ]
• Tips for running a business as an HSP [64:15 ]

Whether you’re a Highly Sensitive Person or think you might know someone who is, you’ll leave this episode with a deeper understanding of your emotions, empathy and the power that comes from understanding yourself. It's a really good one!

Read the show notes:

Brooke’s Website: https://intuitivewarriorway.com/

Brooke’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intuitivewarriorway/ 

Visit Melyssa’s Website: www.melyssagriffin.com

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