Unapologetically Sensitiv‪e‬ Patricia Young

Susan is a therapist who specializes in relationships, and she works with the Highly Sensitive Person. She decided to take the Online HSP Course because she didn’t have many friends who were also Highly Sensitive. We had a rupture during one of the groups, and we talk about this. Susan has some astute observations.  We both talk about some common wounds we both have, and the conversation goes deep and is very vulnerable.

Dr. Catherine Zeisner describes what she calls competencies of good leadership.  We talk about thriving, resiliency, authenticity, self-advocacy and the value of sharing one’s feelings. We relate these competencies back to how the Highly Sensitive Person is innately wired, and how these skills show up in relationships with our partner, co-workers, friendships, families and in parenting in addition to leadership roles.

We underestimate the healing properties of touch, and the limitations of talk therapy. Keeley talks about the professional training to be a cuddle therapist. She rocks at communication, and setting clear expectations. We talk about awkward situations and how Keeley creates safety for her clients.  Keeley provides 2 exercises where we can use touch with ourselves or our partners to stimulate our touch receptors and the release of oxytocin.

If the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is neutral, is it incorrect to call being an HSP or sensitivity a superpower?  This is something I’ve been thinking about for some time.  Dr. Elaine Aron, who coined the trait Highly Sensitive Person, and has written extensively about HSPs, sees the trait as neutral—not positive or negative.  Is it a disservice to claim that we have superpowers?

Jill talks about the impetus for writing her newest book, "The Rebellious Widow: Reclaiming Life and Love after Loss," which came from the blogs she wrote through the deaths of both of her wives. Jill's book is a guide to successfully navigate and grow through terminal illness, death, and recovery from being widowed. She wants readers to use it to be prepared for what's coming, from organizing and business that has to get done to set boundaries, so the process is their own, not driven by the Widow Rules.

Victoria defines anxiety, and we talk about social and anticipatory anxiety—especially as they related to the Highly Sensitive Person (HSP). Victoria talks about de-armoring, perfectionism, people-pleasing, and codependency. Victoria gives an abundance of things we can do to ground ourselves, and we explore common reactions when someone says, “We need to talk.” Victoria ends with talking about polyvagal theory.