This episode dives into the concept of the “sensitive autistic phenotype,” highlighting how many highly sensitive adults are discovering they are autistic later in life. The discussion emphasizes the need to view autism holistically, recognizing the intersection with gender, race, and other identities, and focuses on strength-based approaches and self-advocacy for better well-being. Emerging Perspective on Autism: Understanding why highly sensitive individuals may not have fit the classic autism stereotypes. Defining the Sensitive Autistic Phenotype: Emotional, sensory, and social sensitivity as core traits. Why This Matters: The importance of accurate identification for adults who’ve felt misunderstood, and the new approaches practitioners can take. Myths About Empathy: Correcting the misconception that autistic people lack empathy; in fact, many experience heightened empathy. Masking and Burnout: Exploring how camouflaging natural behaviors leads to exhaustion and long-term health impacts. The Double Empathy Problem: Shifting from ‘deficit’ to ‘difference’ in communication styles between autistic and non-autistic people. Self-Advocacy and Support: Practical tips on recognizing internal cues, using accommodations, balancing stimulation, and thriving within a society not set up for sensitive needs. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Video Autism Assessments Global Consultations: Available via video, phone, or live text chat. Autism Resources: research, education, articles, podcast episodes, and more. Online Courses: Explore six courses designed for sensitive and neurodivergent individuals. Autism Group within the Sensitive Empowerment Community: A supportive space for connection and thriving. Julie Bjelland, LMFT A consultant and specialist in high-sensitivity and late-discovered autism. A neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment, Julie is passionate about guiding sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to reduce challenges, improve their mental and physical health, flourish to their fullest potential, and embrace their authentic selves. Through her global support hub, Julie provides online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars—all thoughtfully designed to reduce overwhelm, balance the sensitive nervous system, and foster resilience. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Julie is devoted to creating safe, inclusive spaces where differences are celebrated and strengths are fully embraced. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

In today’s episode, we’re diving into the powerful topic of sensory sensitivity and sensory overload, exploring how these experiences shape our lives and impact our wellness. Episode Highlights: What is sensory sensitivity, and why do neurodivergent individuals experience it? The challenges of sensory overwhelm and its physical and emotional effects. Examples of sensory overload in everyday life, from coffee shops to social events. The long-term health impacts of repeated sensory overwhelm. Practical tools and strategies to manage sensory challenges. Embracing sensory joy and reframing sensitivity as a strength. Listener questions, including topics like sensory overload with age and how sensitivities vary among individuals. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Free Autism Quiz Video Autism Assessments Global Consultations: Available via video, phone, or live text chat. Online Courses: Explore six courses designed for sensitive and neurodivergent individuals. Sensitive Empowerment Community: A supportive space for connection and thriving. Free Webinars, including Sensory Overload and How to Set Healthy Boundaries. Support the Podcast:If you enjoyed today’s episode, please take a moment to review and share it. Your support helps us reach listeners in over 188 countries and continue to spread awareness and empowerment. Connect with Me:Website: JulieBjelland.comJoin the conversation in our Sensitive Empowerment Community! Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a consultant and specialist in high-sensitivity and late-discovered autism. A neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment, Julie is passionate about guiding sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to reduce challenges, improve their mental and physical health, flourish to their fullest potential, and embrace their authentic selves. Through her global support hub, Julie provides online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars—all thoughtfully designed to reduce overwhelm, balance the sensitive nervous system, and foster resilience. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Julie is devoted to creating safe, inclusive spaces where differences are celebrated and strengths are fully embraced. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

In this episode, Julie Bjelland explores the life-changing experience of discovering you're autistic as an adult. She shares personal insights and stories from others who have embarked on this journey, highlighting the emotional and physical costs of masking, the unique traits of late-discovered autism, and the power of finally understanding yourself. Julie discusses common challenges faced by autistic individuals, including sensory sensitivities, chronic health issues, and societal misconceptions. She also provides strategies for unmasking, embracing your authentic self, and finding supportive communities. Julie encourages listeners to embrace neurodiversity, honor their needs, and connect with others on the same path. Resources like the Sensitive Empowerment Community and the Autistic Women’s Group are available to support listeners on their journey. What You’ll Learn: Key traits and experiences of late-discovered autistic adults The emotional and physical toll of masking Why autistic individuals are often misdiagnosed The importance of sensory accommodations and honoring your needs Strategies to embrace authenticity and build genuine connections Resources Mentioned: Autism Assessments and Consultations⁠ with Julie Bjelland Course: Discovering You’re Autistic as an Adult helps you process the experience and provides scripts to help you talk about it with people and share it with mental health and medical practitioners. (self-paced) Sensitive Empowerment Community – A safe space for sensitive and neurodivergent people Autistic Women’s Group – Connect with others on this journey Connect with Julie:Visit JulieBjelland.com for resources, courses, and support. Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a consultant and specialist in high-sensitivity and late-discovered autism. A neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment, Julie is passionate about guiding sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to reduce challenges, improve their mental and physical health, flourish to their fullest potential, and embrace their authentic selves. Through her global support hub, Julie provides online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars—all thoughtfully designed to reduce overwhelm, balance the sensitive nervous system, and foster resilience. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Julie is devoted to creating safe, inclusive spaces where differences are celebrated and strengths are fully embraced. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

In this episode, Julie Bjelland explores the powerful parallels between biodiversity in nature and neurodiversity in humanity. Discover how every unique mind contributes to the resilience, innovation, and balance of our world, much like every species plays a vital role in thriving ecosystems. Julie dives into: The lessons biodiversity teaches us about neurodiversity. How rigid societal norms stifle creativity and harm neurodivergent individuals. Why embracing and supporting neurodivergent people is essential for a resilient society. Practical ways to create inclusive environments where everyone can thrive. Learn how we can collectively create a world that celebrates and supports neurodiversity as a vital strength. Resources Mentioned: Consultations: Individual, practitioner, and business support. Visit https://www.juliebjelland.com/consultations-with-julie The Sensitive Empowerment Community: A global space for sensitive and neurodivergent individuals, offering events, discussions, and a sense of belonging. https://www.juliebjelland.com/sensitive-empowerment-community Courses: Discovering Your Autistic Identity as an Adult. https://www.juliebjelland.com/discovering-youre-autistic-as-an-adult All Courses: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-online-courses Guide to Understanding Autism in Women https://www.juliebjelland.com/understanding-autism-in-women-online-guide All Autism Resources: https://www.juliebjelland.com/autistichsp Free Resources: Blogs, articles, podcasts, and research at JulieBjelland.com. Take Action:If you enjoyed this episode, please like, review, subscribe, and share it to help spread awareness and create a world where neurodiversity is celebrated. Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a consultant and specialist in high-sensitivity and late-discovered autism. A neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment, Julie is passionate about guiding sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to reduce challenges, improve their mental and physical health, flourish to their fullest potential, and embrace their authentic selves. Through her global support hub, Julie provides online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars—all thoughtfully designed to reduce overwhelm, balance the sensitive nervous system, and foster resilience. As a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, Julie is devoted to creating safe, inclusive spaces where differences are celebrated and strengths are fully embraced. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

Dive into the topic of burnout recovery and prevention, particularly for sensitive and autistic individuals. Burnout is a pervasive challenge for many neurodivergent people, and Julie provides practical tools, strategies, and insights to help listeners identify, manage, and prevent burnout. Topics Covered: Understanding Burnout: Emotional, physical, behavioral, and sensory signs of burnout, including chronic fatigue, irritability, and decision-making struggles. Why Sensitive and Autistic People Are More Prone to Burnout: The impact of sensory overload, emotional exhaustion, chronic masking, and societal pressures. Consequences of Chronic Burnout: Links to chronic illness, autoimmune conditions, and the differences between autistic burnout and depression. Early Signs of Burnout: How to recognize creeping burnout and respond before it worsens. Burnout Prevention Strategies: Sensory Care: Building a sensory toolkit with items like noise-canceling headphones, sunglasses, and fidget tools. Scheduling regular sensory breaks and creating sensory-friendly environments. Setting Emotional Boundaries: Why boundaries matter for energy preservation and emotional safety. Tips for communicating boundaries effectively and overcoming guilt. Restorative Routines: Incorporating daily practices such as morning rituals, nature walks, and evening wind-downs. Proactively planning downtime around high-energy days to maintain balance. Burnout Recovery Tools: Permission to Rest: Rest as a necessary and productive part of long-term health. Physical Recovery: The importance of prioritizing sleep, nourishment, hydration, and gentle movement like yoga or stretching. Mental and Emotional Recovery: Grounding exercises, journaling prompts, and engaging in passions or special interests. Long-Term Resilience: Designing a burnout-resistant life by honoring sensory and emotional needs, reducing masking, and celebrating authentic self-expression. The importance of treating self-care as a daily practice and adjusting plans as needs evolve. Takeaways: Burnout is not a personal failure but a sign that your body and mind need care. Recovery and prevention require intentional self-care, boundary-setting, and creating routines that align with your unique needs as a sensitive or autistic individual. Explore More: Book a session with Julie for personalized support: https://www.juliebjelland.com/consultations-with-julie Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community for daily connection and resources. https://www.juliebjelland.com/sensitive-empowerment-community Watch my free boundaries webinar: https://www.juliebjelland.com/free-masterclasses-with-julie#masterclasses-healthy-boundaries Take my popular self-paced courses to learn practical tools to support your well-being: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-online-courses Read more about chronic health conditions common in the sensitive and autistic: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-blog/why-chronic-health-conditions-are-higher-in-sensitive-and-autistic-individuals-by-julie-bjelland-lmft Learn 5 Steps to better sleep: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-improve-sleep Favorite Products, including the electrolytes and earplugs I talked about: https://www.juliebjelland.com/sensory-friendly Explore everything on my website: https://www.juliebjelland.com/ Your well-being matters, and small steps can make a big difference. Take time to care for your beautiful, sensitive self. 🌟 I’m Julie Bjelland, LMFT, Consultant and Specialist in Late-Discovered Autism in Sensitive Women (AFAB), a neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I empower sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to embrace their authentic selves, improve their well-being, and thrive. Through my global support hub, I offer online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars to reduce overwhelm and balance the sensitive nervous system. As a proud LGBTQ+ member, I am dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all.

The discussion highlights why sensitive individuals, especially women, discover their autism later in life. It debunks the harmful myth that autism is a trend, emphasizing that many experience heightened empathy. The podcast addresses the concept of masking, which can lead to anxiety and burnout. Listeners learn about 14 common traits of autistic adults, and the conversation promotes self-compassion and understanding of the spectrum of autism. Ultimately, it advocates for better awareness and acceptance of neurodiversity.

Description:In this episode of The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast, Julie Bjelland explores how injustice can deeply affect sensitive and neurodivergent individuals. With heightened empathy and a strong sense of fairness, many of us feel overwhelmed by the injustices we witness in the world. Julie shares 10 actionable strategies to help you manage these emotions, find empowerment, and prepare for meaningful action. What You’ll Learn in This Episode: How to acknowledge your feelings without judgment. Tips for focusing on what’s within your control. The importance of self-care and stepping into your light. Building confidence and empowerment to take action. Practical grounding techniques for when emotions feel overwhelming. How to reframe injustice to align with your values and purpose. The power of community and connecting with like-minded individuals. Links and Resources: Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community Explore More Resources From Julie Bjelland Bio I'm Julie Bjelland, LMFT, Consultant and Specialist in Late-Discovered Autism in Sensitive Women (AFAB), I am a neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I empower sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to embrace their authentic selves, improve their well-being, and thrive. Through my global support hub, I offer online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars to reduce overwhelm and balance the sensitive nervous system. As a proud LGBTQ+ member, I am dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

Life can feel overwhelming and distressing in uncertain times, especially for sensitive and neurodivergent people. That’s why it’s even more important to turn inward, ground ourselves, and find a sense of stability within. By nurturing our inner world, we can create a safe, steady space amidst the external chaos, allowing us to respond with greater calm and resilience. Welcome, everyone, to The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast. I’m Julie Bjelland, a psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, late-discovered autism in women, and neurodivergence. This podcast is a space for you to find comfort, connection, and tools to navigate the unique challenges we experience. In today’s episode, we will engage in a grounding meditation to help sensitive and neurodivergent individuals find calm during uncertain times. When life feels overwhelming and distressing, it’s a signal to turn inward. For those of us who are sensitive, these feelings can be magnified, making it essential to ground ourselves and cultivate a sense of stability within. By focusing on our breath, reconnecting with our bodies, and practicing mindfulness, we can nurture a steady anchor amidst external chaos. It’s not about ignoring the world but about creating a sanctuary within ourselves. This meditation is a gift to yourself—a way to reconnect with your inner strength, to feel rooted, and to find comfort and safety within your own body. I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s take this time together to pause, breathe, and ground ourselves in a moment of peace. You are welcome to show up just as you are, without any pressure to feel or be a certain way. This is your space to simply be. If you’re seeking further support, visit my website at www.SensitiveConnection.com, where you’ll find additional free meditations, resources, and a loving Sensitive Empowerment Community for deeper connection and mutual support. Thank you for being here, and take extra good care of your beautiful, sensitive self. I’m Julie Bjelland, LMFT, a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I specialize in high sensitivity and adult-discovered autism. My passion is helping you live with more self-love and self-compassion and flourish more fully in the world. I’ve developed tools to balance the sensitive nervous system and reduce challenges so you can reach your fullest potential. My global support hub includes online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. I’m a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, and my mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. I look forward to supporting your journey. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

We are all too often bombarded by disturbing and distressing media and this can be extremely overwhelming for sensitive people. We can find it extremely challenging to manage the intensity of emotions that are often felt from over-witnessing suffering and violence in our media. As a result, we can spend a great deal of energy intentionally avoiding being exposed. Some things are, however, simply can't be avoided. In this insightful interview, Dr Melanie Joy shares the psychology of why we turn away from the things we desire to change the most and shines a light on common misconceptions around what is required to instigate change. Melanie discusses how easy it is for our nervous systems to become dysregulated without adequate self-care to build resilience around challenging issues and gives practical suggestions for self-regulation strategies. Throughout the interview, the topic is discussed in general terms with particular reference to animal welfare, reflective of Melanie's expertise in this area. The Podcast is Founded by: Julie Bjelland, LMFT, a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I specialize in high sensitivity and adult-discovered autism. My passion is helping you live with more self-love and self-compassion and flourish more fully in the world. I’ve developed tools to balance the sensitive nervous system and reduce challenges so you can reach your fullest potential. My global support hub includes online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. I’m a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, and my mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. I look forward to supporting your journey. Learn more at JulieBjelland.com

Episode Highlights: Feeling Misunderstood: Julie and Willow explore the emotional impact of being misunderstood as sensitive and neurodivergent individuals, and how these experiences shape self-image and relationships. From Misunderstanding to Belonging: Julie shares contrasting experiences of recently feeling misunderstood in one situation and deeply connected in another. The Power of Belonging: Both hosts discuss the healing power of finding spaces where you are understood and valued, with Julie reflecting on her bonding experience in the Autistic Women’s Group. Self-Acceptance and Boundaries: They highlight the importance of setting boundaries and embracing self-acceptance, especially with those who may not fully understand or accept you. Grief and Emotional Processing: Julie opens up about her grief journey after her mother’s passing, emphasizing the need to create space for emotional healing. Community and Connection: The hosts stress the value of community for fostering a sense of belonging, particularly within the Sensitive Empowerment Community. Self-Care Tips: Practical advice on self-care practices that can help improve emotional well-being, especially during difficult times. Autism and Health Awareness: Julie encourages listeners with chronic health issues to explore the possibility of neurodivergence by taking her free autism quiz. Julie’s Resources & Links Explore all of Julie’s resources at https://www.SensitiveConnection.com Join the Sensitive Empowerment Community for live events, meet and greets, and niche support groups.: https://www.juliebjelland.com/sensitive-empowerment-community One-on-one with Julie: Therapy, Coaching, Consultations for the sensitive and neurodivergent and Autism Assessments: https://www.juliebjelland.com/consultations-with-julie Free Autism Quiz, Research, and Resources for the Sensitive: https://www.juliebjelland.com/autistichsp Explore Julie’s Courses for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent: https://www.juliebjelland.com/hsp-online-courses Explore Julie’s Resources for the Sensitive and Neurodivergent at https://www.juliebjelland.com/ Willow’s Resources & Links Book a free discovery call with Willow: https://training.inluminance.com/20-minute-session Interested in training to become an HSP Specialist? Visit: https://inluminance.com/the-coaching-program/ Find out more at https://inluminance.com Bios Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. She specializes in supporting high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism. Julie has developed tools to help balance the sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help individuals reach their fullest potential. Through her global support hub, she offers online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. As a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, Julie’s mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/ Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and has been working in purpose alignment and lightworker facilitation for 17 years. He specialises in initiating people with High Sensory Intelligence to experience their reality as a gift that can be implemented into valuable products and services. https://inluminance.com/