Episode #65: Should I Tell Others That I’m a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)? - Patricia Young

TITLE

Should I Tell Others That I’m a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?

GUEST

Arianna Smith, LPC, EMDR

EPISODE OVERVIEW

Arianna talks about the grief and joy she felt when she learned she was an HSP (she wanted to be told she wasn’t one). She talks about being strategic about her day and using pacing in order to honor her HS needs. We talk about using food/substances to self-soothe and to manage being sensitive. Arianna talks about her hacks for travel as well as having snacks on hand, so she doesn’t get hangry. We explore if we feel pain (sadness) as a result of having HS gifts, but not being able to express those gifts.

HIGHLIGHTS

Misconceptions and misperceptions that happen with HSPs
What happens when HSPs are not in our optimal environment
The joy and grief that can happen when we learn about being an HSP
How to be strategic in the workplace, or in day-to-day activities
How to be mindful of pacing when going through the day
Arianna talks about hating feeling like she was flaky, but she later learned it’s more about knowing her capacity as a highly sensitive extrovert and high sensation seeker
Arianna talks about being in a work environment that didn’t work for her, and needing to advocate for her needs
We sometimes experience grief and sadness about our limitations and what we need to do in order to function optimally
Arianna said she experienced grief, bargaining, frustration, and finally acceptance
When there are big transitions in our lives, we often need to ground into the trait and be strategic in what we do in order to support our HS needs
Arianna gives tips for travelling as an HSP, and what she does to make it easier
We talk about being hangry and being an HSP
Keeping snacks on us can be really helpful
Our ability to compartmentalize can be used as a strength when we need to push through things in a way that doesn’t violate our needs
Do we experience pain as HSPs when we have gifts that we don’t get to express?
In order to thrive as HSPs, we need to find community and someone who really gets us
Being called worst case scenario Ari was really a compliment about projecting possible outcomes, strategic planning, depth of processing and forecasting what preventions need to be put in place

GUEST BIO

Arianna Smith, LPC (she/her) is a therapist and business coach for Highly Sensitive People. Raised in rural Alaska, Arianna learned early on the beauty and challenges of being highly sensitive. Today, she guides HSPs to release the stigma of being sensitive to craft a vibrant, soulful life and business. Based in Denver, Colorado, she provides trauma-informed psychotherapy to HSPs and the LGBTQ community, while offering business coaching and writing services to sensitive entrepreneurs across the globe. Outside of the office, she can be found exploring trails with her puppy or searching for the perfect Earl Grey blend.

PODCAST HOST

Patricia knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, truthteller and blacksheep. Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation and compassion. She created the podcast Unapologetically Sensitive to help other HSPs know that they aren’t alone, and that being an HSP has amazing gifts, and some challenges. Patricia works online globally working individually with people, and she teaches Online Courses for HSPs that focus on self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, and creating a lifestyle that honors us