Unapologetically Sensitive

TITLE I Felt Like I Finally Belonged Somewhere, and I Wasn’t Alone—2 Participants From The HSP Online Course Share Their Experience GUEST Shelly Aaron & Melissa EPISODE OVERVIEW Shelly and Melissa speak candidly about their experience taking the Online HSP Course. They talk about the relief of seeing others who also have strong reactions to things, and how normalizing this was. They talk about the wound of feeling like they are too much, and what it felt like to be in a group with other HSPs.  They talk about how they have changed and how their relationships with their families and partners have changed because of the Course. GUEST BIOS Shelly Aaron As a current yoga teacher, health coach & bodyworker, I’ve spent the last 15 years of my careers, passionately coaching individuals to exceed their goals…which has ultimately led me to this amazing work of video and audio production. If you’re a yoga teacher, trainer, or entrepreneur thinking about creating your own audio or video productions, but need some assistance in getting started, we should talk.  I offer services from just getting started to getting ready to launch. From podcasts to teaching videos, I’ll show you how to produce your own or we can bring your production to life together. Melissa Intuitive listening, Reiki, and IET Looking for help doing your emotional work? I listen openly and non-judgmentally. I often get intuitive cues that can help you over obstacles. I also use IET to help you over your emotional hurdles. Have physical challenges?  Between Reiki and IET I can help you to heal emotional and physical blockages.  Together, we can help you live your best life. ...or for technical help: I install, repair, optimize tech, and teach you how to use and love technology at a reasonable price.  I am also happy to build your website to your tastes and needs.  Think of me as your technical counselor. PODCAST HOST Patricia Young works with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) helping them to understand their HSP traits, and turning their perceived shortcomings into superpowers. Patricia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Coach, who is passionate about providing education to help HSPs and non-HSPs understand and truly appreciate the amazing gifts they have to offer. Patricia works globally online with HSPs providing coaching. Patricia also facilitates online groups for HSPs that focus on building community and developing skills (identifying your superpowers, boundaries, perfectionism, dealing with conflict, mindfulness, embracing emotions, creating a lifestyle that supports the HSP, communication and more). LINKS Shelly’s Links Shelly Aaron Productions—https://www.shellyaaron.com/ Melissa’s Links HelpfulHealing@gmail.com https://HelpfulHealingPA.wixsite.com/home HelpfulTechPA@gmail.com https://HelpfulTechPA.wixsite.com/home   Patricia’s Links HSP Online Course--https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/hsp-online-groups/ To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select “listen on Apple Podcasts” chose “open in itunes” choose “ratings and reviews” click to rate the number of starts click “write a review” Website-- https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/ Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Closed/Private Facebook group for therapists and healers—Unapologetically Sensitive Therapist’s Group-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/208565440423641/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE Best of the Podcast 20+ Ways to Practically Manage Change & Loss  GUEST  Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW EPISODE OVERVIEW  Loss & change encompasses jobs, education, career, moving, illness, disability, relationships, pets, birth, adoption, coming out, learning you didn’t have an ideal childhood, and the obvious, death. Jill provides concrete examples of how we can set boundaries, create new traditions, and so much more! Jill talks about the importance of keeping memories alive and ways we can honor those we’ve lost (included our 4-legged family members), and she gives examples of how to help a partner talk about their losses. HIGHLIGHTS During times of grief, stress, loss, change, etc. it is very likely that we will become MORE sensitive, and possibly reactive, and we may have a harder time managing.  This is very normal, and it is to be expected. We need to have even more gentleness and self-compassion during these times Grief includes losses, disenfranchised losses, hopes, dreams, change—it is so much more than just death How to manage those losses: awareness of them at the holidays, and finally  wrap up with a death-related loss  WHAT OTHER LOSSES ARE THERE AT THE HOLIDAYS? THESE WERE MENTIONED: ‘I think that the holidays bring out a lot of grief for everyone…’  SUBSTANCE ABUSE AT THE TABLE OR THE TREE  The drunk relative that nobody wants to be around,  The opioid epidemic Folks drinking to cope with the anxiety of functions or the stress of holidays FAMILY ISSUES THAT SHOW UP RATHER THAN HALLMARK: when we feel more like we belong in the land of the lost toys, not by a fireplace waiting for Santa with our dog named Spot A dysfunctional family  Grief when your family isn’t large like everybody else’s   Grief because you’ve chosen not to be a part of your immediate family because of the toxicity in it  Grieving the family you THOUGHT you had...  and about how to connect with them despite awareness of emotional neglect due to your high sensitivity.  Feeling concerned with the upcoming holidays with the new awareness of how your family relates emotionally... it all suddenly feels so superficial. FINANCIAL STRESS AMPLIFIED BY THE HOLIDAYS:  Grief because you don’t have enough money for presents  Grief because you don’t have enough food,  Those issues can cause some of us to avoid holiday get-togethers because we can’t afford them that might include employee events DISENFRANCHISED LOSSES: Those that have experienced recent breakups and this is their first Thanksgiving or Holiday without their partner.  Pets Moving Retiring Lost friendships Marriage Divorce  Illness Disability especially recently A partner who is disabled or have cognitive issues ONE THING I DO FOR GRIEVERS PRIOR TO THE HOLIDAYS IS PREPARE THEM FOR THE IMPACT: EXPECTATIONS- FALSE OR REAL OR SELF IMPOSED, INCLUDING NEEDING TO RECREATE WHAT WAS BEFORE A LOSS grief when everybody else posts the holiday party pictures, or you are looking at old social media posts- when things were different  Shopping, advertising, holiday mailers - the temptation to overspend to make up for what is missing The belief that if you focus on the holidays and what it should provide, you will have some type of relief, but most of the time it doesn’t work  The belief that others don’t experience grief and you feel loneliness EXPECTATIONS THAT YOU WILL FEEL HAPPY OR LIGHTER You might at times, but if you have had a recent loss or have an unresolved loss it will travel with you to holiday events The mix of joy and sadness is normal, but hard to manage unless you are ready for it, and you can balance your energy, and give yourself permission to not participate or to limit time spent out Practicing using the positive to create balance- plans for the year coming, remembering the good moments of past holidays or this season If you can hold the opposite of both emotions, it affects how your brain reacts to it so a lot of times when we feel sad as a family then we try to balance it out by looking at what’s great or what we’re happy for… We find that helpful during the holidays. For HSP folks, one person suggested that being able to feel grief and joy at the same time neutralizes some of the woundings that have happened in the past. DEATH RELATED LOSS AND HOLIDAYS Fear of death infringing on happy moments because we are aware of the potential of someone dying  Managing grief from deaths at the holiday, deaths associated with that time of season by proximity  deaths that happened recently.  Experiencing grief because you’ve lost someone in the past, especially if it is not a relationship you have finished  Anticipating someone close to you dying—even if they are in good health The fear that you will be overwhelmed with their death The fear that you won’t be able to cope The fear that you will become so depressed, that you can’t get out of it We talk about carrying that person in our heart moving forward, and if possible having these conversations NOW while the person is still alive (if appropriate) We have all managed loss We have more tools than we remember we do We will feel sad, and we will manage We can get extra support, counseling, therapy, coaching, join groups We all need death and dying education. It is necessary so we can know what we see, and that we can manage it when that time comes. We will all lose people we love to death-- that leaves only the option of being ready. That, in and of itself, helps ward off being caught unaware and thrown into depression. We know those who are ready and have reorganized before death is the ones who will thrive afterward in their new life. Those who live fear of death and will not prepare are the ones who do not farewell.  SO WHAT DO WE DO TO GET READY? Plan ahead Don’t overspend Avoid stores if the input is too much, or too much of a reminder with a recent loss.  You can order everything, including groceries, online. Don’t plan on every little activity.  Limit them Limit time there Take your own car Look for an exit Don’t feel a need to explain GRIEF CARD TIME SET BOUNDARIES. ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GRIEVING, YOU GET TO SET THEM.  PRACTICE WHAT YOU WILL SAY TO THOSE CROSSING BOUNDARIES GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO CHANGE IT UP!  Take a vacation instead of doing what you traditionally do Invite new friends over Choose to celebrate on a different day, or someone new DON’T INCLUDE THOSE WHO DO NOT FEEL GOOD IN YOUR SPACE DO INCLUDE THOSE YOU HAVE LOST- PEOPLE, PETS IF THERE IS AN ANNIVERSARY AT THE HOLIDAYS?  MARK IT PLAN AHEAD REMEMBER THERE IS MORE THAN THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS/HANUKKAH/KWANZA-  NEW YEAR’S IS EVEN WORSE TV COVERAGE OF THOSE WHO DIED- BUT OUR SPECIAL PEOPLE AND PETS ARE NOT ON THAT LIST, ARE THEY? WRITE DOWN WHAT WORKS WHAT FELT GOOD WHAT YOU MIGHT WANT TO DO DIFFERENTLY. THAT MEANS JOURNAL DAILY. YOU WILL NOT REMEMBER GRATITUDE JOURNAL TO SET YOUR MINDFRAME  EXERCISE AS YOU ARE ABLE SUNSHINE POSITIVE INPUT- EXAMPLE: MT RUBIDIOUX, NOT THE FESTIVAL IF YOU DO NOT WANT CROWDS, OR THE FESTIVAL LATE AT NIGHT WITH A FRIEND TO SEE THE LIGHTS, BUT NOT THE CROWDS.  Wolfenoot - It’s pronounced Wolf-a-noot according to Buzzfeed, and takes place on November 23rd. (If you wish to celebrate, you should be prepared for the Spirit of the Wolf to visit your home. This Spirit will hide and leave behind gifts for you, your children, and of course, dogs. The people who treat canines kindly get better presents than those who don’t, but this gift-giver doesn’t seem to penalize people who are just kind of indifferent to animals. We aren’t sure if the Spirit of the Wolf leaves presents for cats. On Wolfenoot, you will celebrate by eating roasted meats, because meat is a dog’s favorite food, and a cake decorated like a full moon because dogs like to howl sometimes.) (If you’re a vegetarian or a vegan, you obviously adjust so that this fits with your values and beliefs) It feels like a nice way to change the tone-- to be grateful and thank our furry friends in any way you choose. It was created by a child in New Zealand, around the concept of kindness.  For the holidays, coping with grief is about being Gumby. Bend, Flex, Change it up. Make it work for you.  WAYS TO GENERATE CONVERSATION Is there someone you’ve had in your world that has died that you want to include in our blessing, or holiday tradition(s) Tell me about your pets? Tell me who they were What part of that person is always going to be a part of you? What lessons did you learn? Who were they for you? How did they impact your life? GUEST BIO Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging speaker who loves teaching both professional and community groups about dementia, death and dying, and grief and loss. She is the CEO of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California, where she is also a clinical therapist. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator after spending more than a decade with hospice as a medical social worker and as a director of social workers, chaplains and grief staff. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida. Jill has authored three children’s grief books and an adult grief workbook with more in process, and created Your Path Through Grief, a year-long, comprehensive grief support program which includes resources for therapists.  PODCAST HOST Patricia Young hosts the podcast Unapologetically Sensitive, and works with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) helping them to understand their HSP traits, and turning their perceived shortcomings into superpowers. Patricia is passionate about providing education to help HSPs and non-HSPs understand and truly appreciate the amazing gifts they have to offer. Patricia works globally online with HSPs providing coaching. Patricia also facilitates online groups for HSPs that focus on building community and developing skills (identifying your superpowers, boundaries, perfectionism, dealing with conflict, mindfulness, embracing emotions, creating a lifestyle that supports the HSP, communication, and more). LINKS Jill’s Links: Website-- www.yourpaththroughgrief.com, https://www.facebook.com/grieftalker/ Facebook--https://www.facebook.com/Riversidedementiasupport/, LinkedIn--https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilljohnsonyoung/.  My pet is sick: It’s time to say goodbye by Jill Johnson-Young Someone is sick: How do I say Goodbye? By Jill Johnson-Young Someone I love just died: What happens now? By Jill Johnson-Young Your own path through grief; A workbook for your journey to recovery by Jill Johnson-Young Amazon link for Jill’s books-- https://www.amazon.com/Jill-A.-Johnson-Young-LCSW/e/B07NPT5NYQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Leo Buscaglia-- http://www.buscaglia.com/biography Leo Buscaglia YouTube—How to Love and be Loved-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8tw9ontdc0 Wolfenoot-- https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12136886 Patricia’s Links: Bonus Episode 21: I lost my sh*t, and it’s not about the gravy https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/unapologetically-sensitive-bonus-episode-21/ Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE Best of the Podcast - What is an Emotionally Immature Parent, & How to Identify a Healthy Relationship GUEST Lindsay Gibson, PsyD. EPISODE OVERVIEW Dr. Lindsay Gibson, author of Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents, & Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents explains what an emotionally immature parent is, and how this impacts their adult children.  I talk about crying when I got overwhelmed when my kids were young, and Lindsay comments on this. We talk about how to establish good emotional ties with our children, and what constitutes good enough parenting, Lindsay provides nineteen qualities to identify what a healthy relationship looks like.  HIGHLIGHTS What is emotionally immaturity? Why is it important to understand it? What are the main characteristics of an emotionally immature parent? How do relationships with emotionally immature parents affect their children’s lives? What are the main things to remember when dealing with emotionally immature parents? If you’re dating, how do you pick a person who is emotionally mature? How do you identify what a healthy relationship looks like? What is our human Bill of Rights? We talk about repair work with parenting I share that I’d get really frustrated with my boys when they were young, and I’d cry because I didn’t know what else to do Lindsay talks about how she views this  We talk about the pressures of parenting Lindsay explains what good enough parenting is—which should be very reassuring to parents! I share about having a tantrum when my son had a tantrum and how it felt lousy afterward We’d do good repair work, but I eventually learned to stay calm I would also let my boys know when I was edgy and close to loosing it. I would let them know what they could do to help me. They’ve told me as young adults how helpful this was to them We talk about emotional intimacy with our children How do we let ourselves be known by our children when we are having difficult feelings How to establish good emotional ties with our kids in a good way Winnicut talks about good enough parenting Research shows that it just takes 30% of being a good enough parent in order to have a favorable outcome Lindsay gives an example of how an adult child could set a limit with their emotionally immature parent if they decided not to spend Thanksgiving with the family When adult children set limits with their emotionally immature parents, the parent feels rejected; unloved or they have a strong defensive reaction When setting a boundary, you want to stay present to your own heart You want to be able to have empathy and acknowledge what it is like for the other person You want to remember what your goal is for the interaction, so your intention is clear for yourself You also have an opportunity to observe how the other person is reacting, and the defenses that they use Emotionally Healthy Relationships Is the person generally realistic and reliable? Do they work with reality rather than fighting it? Are they finding ways to solve problems or are they complaining about how they’ve been victimized? Do they have a consistent and reliable nature about them? Do they take things personally? When they get upset, can they still think? Do they lose the ability to be rational? Signs of temper, impatience or impulsivity should be a red flag—those are cardinal signs of immaturity Another red flag is when a person gets very upset, then tells you it’s just because they love you You want your partner to be reciprocal; you do something for them and they do something for you You set a boundary, and they say OK If you set a boundary, and your partner tries to talk you out of it, or walk you out of it, that is two red flags Boundaries at the beginning of the relationship will tell you almost everything you want to know about that person Being flexible and able to compromise is a sign of maturity You want someone who is basically truthful; that you can trust who they are Does the person respond to you in a manner that you feel safe, and seen and heard? Do they reflect on their mistakes and try and change, or do they make excuses? Do they reflect when you tell them you’re mad at them, or do they say, “Why do you keep bringing that up? What’s wrong with you?” If they can’t accept when you’re angry and they get defensive, that’s about having a major lack of empathy Your partner is thin skinned meaning they do not allow other’s reactions to happen, because that person gets so reactive Nobody is more intrinsically important as an adult than anybody else They way that emotionally immature people react with guilt, shame, fear and self-doubt, can make the other person start to doubt their reality This is where you have to remember that “There’s good stuff in me!” GUEST BIO Lindsay Gibson, PsyD. has been a licensed clinical psychologist for over thirty years and specializes in individual adult psychotherapy with adult children of emotionally immature parents. She is the author of three books, the most recent being Adult Children of Emotionally Immature Parents and just out in May of this year, Recovering from Emotionally Immature Parents. In the past Dr. Gibson has served as an adjunct assistant professor teaching doctoral psychology students, and she writes a monthly Well-Being column for Tidewater Women magazine in Virginia Beach, VA. PODCAST HOST Patricia Young hosts the podcast Unapologetically Sensitive, and works with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) helping them to understand their HSP traits, and turning their perceived shortcomings into superpowers. Patricia is passionate about providing education to help HSPs and non-HSPs understand and truly appreciate the amazing gifts they have to offer. Patricia works globally online with HSPs providing coaching. Patricia also facilitates online groups for HSPs that focus on building community and developing skills (identifying your superpowers, boundaries, perfectionism, dealing with conflict, mindfulness, embracing emotions, creating a lifestyle that supports the HSP, communication and more). LINKS Website— http://www.drlindsaygibson.com/ Dr. Elaine Aron’s website—HSP self-test https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/ Dr. Gibson’s book was translated from English to Russian by Elena Tereshchnkova  You can find the actual translator here--https://www.facebook.com/elena.tereshchenkova Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE Are You An Emotional Chameleon? The Importance of Identity For the Highly Sensitive Person GUEST Jeannette Folan EPISODE OVERVIEW HSPs can be emotional chameleons.  Jeannette talks about why she believes identity plays such an important role in the well-being of the Highly Sensitive Person.  She explains how we begin to understand our true identity, and how it benefits us to identify as spiritual beings having a human experience.  Jeannette provides practices we can use in our everyday lives to see through our spiritual lens, and ways we can stay in the present moment.  She also provides a powerful tool to gain perspective when things feel really big.  HIGHLIGHTS Why do you believe identity plays such an important role in the HSP’s well-being? How can we begin to understand our true identity? How does it benefit us to identify as a spiritual being having a human experience versus being a human being having a spiritual experience? What practices or activities can we incorporate into our everyday life to see through our spiritual lens? Grounding with the earth Using google world Zoom into your house and imagine yourself at home with your problems Zoom out to see your block, and think about your neighbors Zoom out more to see your community (where you shop, get gas, walk around) Continue to zoom out until your house is a spec to gain perspective Jeannette learned she was an HSP in the last 7 years She was deeply affected by the feelings and emotions of her parents and siblings There was no sense of where she ended and where they began She felt like an emotional chameleon Who am I as an individual? Half of the HSP population grew up in an insecure environment per Dr. Aron’s research Who am I? How does your energy change when you’re with others? How do I feel as a whole person? Body work—what’s happening inside (mind/body connection) Do 1 thing I can control Breathwork Making the shift to feeling power and strength and having more compassion as a helper instead of needing help When big events happen in the world, we begin to act as one The Butterfly Effect Grounding—using the energy of the earth Who am I to God/Universe? Who is God/Universe to me? What effect does God/Universe have on my relationship to myself? What effect does God/Universe have on my relationship with others? God/spirituality the Collective is bigger than I am Change from being reaction to creative and proactive Change from being unsure and uncertain and a victim to knowing I am a valuable part of humanity Claim my body as one thing I can control This is happening for me instead of because of me When you wake up, name things you see in the room—this puts you in the present moment Accept that what we did was for survival; the taming was for survival It may not serve us anymore GUEST BIO Jeannette Folan discovered she was a Highly Sensitive Person in 2014. At the time, she was dealing with depression and some addictive behavior. Committed to learning how to heal and break free from her mental health struggles, she immersed herself in the world of sensitivity and spirituality.  Within two years, she closed her marketing business and published her first novel, Diary of a Teenage Empath: The Awakening.  Since then, she has authored and co-authored several books and workbooks for children, teens and adults. In 2017, she became an Integrative Health Coach and began leading a support group for HSPs in her community of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Along with her mentor, Dr. Wendy Nickerson, she developed the first-ever accredited HSP Certification Training Program for mental health professionals, which, to date, has been completed by professionals in seven countries. Jeannette is an active member of the Association for Comprehensive Energy Psychology, where she presents workshops for mental health professionals and school teachers and administrators to gain a better understanding of the unique challenges and therapeutic approaches for highly sensitives. She is a dedicated advocate, working to support the professionals who are supporting the valuable HSP population. PODCAST HOST Patricia Young works with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) helping them to understand their HSP traits, and turning their perceived shortcomings into superpowers. Patricia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Coach, who is passionate about providing education to help HSPs and non-HSPs understand and truly appreciate the amazing gifts they have to offer. Patricia works globally online with HSPs providing coaching. Patricia also facilitates online groups for HSPs that focus on building community and developing skills (identifying your superpowers, boundaries, perfectionism, dealing with conflict, mindfulness, embracing emotions, creating a lifestyle that supports the HSP, communication and more). LINKS Jeannette’s Links empathdiary.com www.facebook.com/AuthorJeannetteFolan Patricia’s Links HSP Online Course--https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/hsp-online-groups/ To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select “listen on Apple Podcasts” chose “open in itunes” choose “ratings and reviews” click to rate the number of starts click “write a review” Website-- https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/ Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Closed/Private Facebook group for therapists and healers—Unapologetically Sensitive Therapist’s Group-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/208565440423641/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE When Your Fur Person Dies GUEST Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW EPISODE OVERVIEW We talk about why pet loss is so significant and why it’s important to talk about it as well as HOW to talk about it.  If you are a single pet parent and you lose your pet, it is the same as losing a spouse. Jill talks about things we can do when we’re in the grief process, or anticipating death. She talks about how to handle when others don’t recognize the significance of the loss;the symptoms of grief; how to talk with kids about death; how to prepare them, and involve them. HIGHLIGHTS If you are a single parent and you lose your pet, it is the same as losing a spouse. Your pet is a part of your family, and your pet is related to as a member of the family. If someone is a single pet parent, and that's the only primary relationship they have in their house, that's as big a loss as losing a spouse. And there's research that supports that. For the person losing the pet, they go through all of the anticipatory grief if they realize the pet is sick, which is something that happens with a lot of pet death. They get older; they get sick, or even when they're young and they're diagnosed with something. You go through the same process, as you do with a human person in your house. The date of the diagnosis is devastating. The deciding what to do for treatment or not to treat is devastating. The taking care of them toward the end is something you do out of love and devotion and dedication. The being with them and the dying process is something you do just as you do with a person. There's a significant difference in that with pets, we can choose euthanasia, if it's needed, or if it's the kind thing to do. With humans, there's no ability to choose one's death, except for in a handful of states. And that's still very controversial, but it's not controversial for pets. Then the afterward-- you are literally leaving (if you've gone to euthanasia) the vet's office with empty arms. It is just as devastating as leaving a funeral and walking away from the casket going into the ground. It needs to have a memorial. It needs to have a process. There needs to be grace because you've just lost an integral part of your family. We get unconditional love from our animals. This is the one place of our life where our dogs don't get resentful. They don't say unkind things. They don't shut us out. It's pure, unconditional love. I think it's that unconditional love that we get. And it is so pure. And I think so many people have such giving loving hearts that we get so much out of caring for our pets, and the relationship that we have with our pets and to lose that. It's huge. It's a huge loss. But I don't think that we talk about it enough and so people don't understand why it can be so hard, or other people don't understand why we're having such a hard time. We know when you lose a spouse, for instance, and you walk in the door to the house at the end of the day, and they're not there, it's a huge loss. Spouses don't usually meet us at the door with their tails wagging and their tongues out and jumping on us and wanting to kiss us all over. It'd be nice if they wanted to kiss all over us. It’s the cat who insists on sitting on our laptops as we're working at home right now. They integrate themselves into all aspects of our lives. They sleep with us. I haven't had a moment in a bathroom in years without a dog, either in the bathroom or trying to be in the bathroom and sometimes there's three of them. Pets give us those eyes we can look into. And those ears we can stroke. children when they have a pet, it becomes a primary attachment. Similar to a parent, sorry, parents true. And they can tell their pet anything. So you've got that girl in fifth grade and she's got mean girl stuff going on; she goes home and she cries to her cat, or her guinea pig, or her hamster. Maybe her Snake, I'm not super fun to snakes, but I'll go with snakes. You know, that's, that's the attachment. And that's who looks at them. How incredibly loud the absence of a pet can be. Whether it's a cat, who when you come home, meows, or if you have hardwood floors, the sound of nails, clicking on the floor. All of those little things that we don't even think about. Little rituals-- when you go to the bathroom, or when you go to feed them. The absence is incredibly loud. And if they've been sick, and you've been caretaking them. All of those pieces go away too. So you lose that caregiver role, and you lose that additional relationship that builds over the caregiving. As you know, I just lost my Adele. We have in our house poodles because we have oodles of poodles, and if if you read my kid’s books, you will see there's a poodle on every page. Poodles go to funerals in the books that I write, as they should. They to doctor visits. So we had Adele and Walter, who is blind, and we've just added Gracie who's 20 and was living on the streets and weighs about four pounds, and we have Fred who's all the trouble and likes to take himself swimming. And then we have an extra one who is not a poodle. Adele was a rescue. We got her when she was maybe 10. And she chose us at at the pound, she had been a captive breeder. She could never walk normally because she'd been locked in the cage for so long, so her elbows and her knees never bent. until just before her death, she could never bend them. Because they were so stiff Shin PTSD, we could see from her dreams when we first got her. But she shows us and she was ours and she became a primary For me, she was my dog. And as she got sicker in the last six months or so, she needed to be fed. I had to take her out and hold her while she went to the bathroom. I did all the things that you do for a human, which I've done with spouses who have died. And now coming home, it's only been a few weeks. I come in and I've just stopped really searching for her to make sure she's okay, and not splattered on the floor somewhere. And I've just started to learn to sleep and not look for her in the covers to make sure she's okay. Because she had congestive heart failure. So it was hard, and she was hard to move. So positioning was important for her. All those roles went away when she died. And that's a big loss. That’s something that happens with pet people when they lose a pet. People who are not pet owners say, “Well, isn't that a relief?” Just like they say when someone human has died, “Oh, look, it's a relief. They're not in pain. They're not.” Oh, no! It's not a relief, because I'd really rather have her back here. Yeah, yeah, but I don't want her back in the condition she was in. It becomes our responsibility to honor and to let go. We want that attachment. We want that connection. And I think that can be really hard. I really believe that the ultimate form of love is really putting another animal and other human’s needs before own, even if it means that we're going to feel grief and sadness and loss. We want the people that we love, the animals that we love to have the best in life even if that means it's time to go. What are some things that people can do when they're in that grief process? Oftentimes we don't know what to do. We don't know how to talk about it. I think that people feel that it's different than losing a person, so we need to do the same things that we do when we lose a human that we love. We need to do anticipatory loss with them. As they are dying, getting sick and dying, we need to be preparing to say goodbye. We need to tell them the things we want to tell them. Love on them the way we want them to go out of this world, so that as they're leaving this world, they are still feeling those hands and hearing those sounds in their ears. When we are losing a pet who's had connections with other people, and because our dogs go to the office, they had lots of connections. I put it out publicly, even though it was a private loss. And we had some people come by who needed to come and snuggle with each of those critters before they died. I'd say goodbye, cry for them and do some sort of public memorials. And then when we are grieving ourselves, we need to honor that. And if other people are not, we need to call them on it. If you lost your spouse and someone's acting like you should be having just any other day, you're allowed to throw that grief card down and say, I'm grieving. Back it up, I need you to be more understanding. The same goes with pet loss. When you've lost a pet, you've lost a member of your family. And that needs to be honored. Yeah. I've had clients who've had ministers come out and actually do funerals in backyards for them. When you have a pet who's like a cat about town, (my sister had one), or now that we're in COVID, they may be the primary visitor for a couple of your neighbors who live alone. If that cat dies, that entire community needs to know that the cat is gone and needs to be able to come together and grieve together, because they all have a different relationship. But they all had a relationship with that pet. Just like a person. When you are the one who's had the pet loss, and you've got people around you who are not pet people, that's sometimes an issue because they tend to minimize it. They don't understand the depth of the loss, and they may expect you to continue to do just the way you were doing yesterday. And you have sort of an auspicious task of explaining to some extent, just how big a loss it is, with what energy you might have to give to them because when we're grieving, we lose energy. And we lose the ability sometimes to be kind to people because we're putting our energy into just getting through the day, and not crying over our little friend who didn't wake up with us that morning. Because when you lose a pet, you do the same thing. You wake up in the morning and realize all over again that they're dead for probably a month is normal for humans and pets. But you also are faced with having to tell someone this was a major for you, and this really counted. If you can't be kind, I need you to back it up or take your requests somewhere else because I don't have that much left in me right now. And you also need to monitor yourself because you may think you've got all the energy you normally do. And you don't. People need to have ceremonies and rituals. I'm a big believer in those. I'm not someone who goes along with humans saying that they shouldn't have funerals. And I don't think we should say that about pets either. We're going to be getting Adele's ashes back this week, and we'll be having a little service for her. And then her ashes will go with the ashes of the rest of them. We have a spot where we keep everybody together. And that's our Memorial spot for the folks in our family who have died four footed at two footed. I do advocate talking about the moments when you're missing your pets. If I wake up and I'm having that moment, I will say to whoever's around, “I just can't believe she's not here right now. This has really been a hard morning right now. And I need to take a little bit of a break.” And when I knew that We were putting her to sleep. I backed up my schedule some, so that I didn't have to start the week all over again at the same level of exuberance I normally do. I’m usually very high energy, and I do a lot throughout the week. The two weeks after her death I backed up a lot, because I needed that time. How do you manage grief? I use a lot of coping skills. I have another doodle on my lap. I'm stroking. I'm feeling the heartbeat. I've got a cold drink in my hand, which changes the way your hypothalamus is functioning. I can press hard on my leg which also activates a different part of your brain. I do all the things that you do for coping, to try and bring yourself out of the deep emotion and to stay focused and present. So kind of the same things you do with panic attack you breathe deep, breathe slow, you bring yourself totally so you are in control of your brain, and it's not in control of you. What might it look like if someone is grieving the loss of a pet, but they just may not be aware of it. My guess is that this the signs are similar or the same to when we lose somebody that we love when we're in grief and we don't even realize it. If I'm seeing someone who's not recognizing that they're grieving their pet, I will point out some of the somatic signs that they are the not sleeping well, craving carbohydrates, confused, short tempered, lack of concentration, fatigue. It's not being tired when you are grieving, you are fatigued, you just want that blanket fort and a blankie and a pillow to lay across, and probably a Hershey bar or something right? Or it's hot now. So maybe an ice cream bar. That would be where I would go Ben and Jerry's, right. So I bring those to the forefront and say now let's talk about how that relates to grief. Because what I'm seeing and hearing, is you saying that you're not feeling yourself. What I'm seeing is you're feeling grief. And I know you just lost your beloved friend. Can you tell me how these things might tie together? And I leave that sort of as an open ended and let them see if they can tie it together. Typically they do, and then they say I Didn't want it. I didn't want to know it hurt that much. Yeah, I didn't want it to have to hurt. I'm feeling guilty because I made the decision. I'm feeling guilty because I made the decision. And then my vet wouldn't let me go in with my pet. Which is something if you've got a sick pet, my strongest suggestion is that you check with your vet to make sure they will allow you to, if you have to make that decision, and if they don't find someone who will. Because that's an important part of saying goodbye. Being able to be the last loving arms that your pet is in. When somebody’s pet dies in our family we send flowers and cards because that pet is a part of the family. When I know that there's a child losing a pet, I will try to get a small stuffed animal sent to them so they have something to cuddle up with. Immediately after, I like I get stuffed animals for kids going to funerals, because they need something soft to hold on to and focus on. And now there's these wonderful ones that heat up and they smell they have like menthol, and they're just so snuggly and so soft. And I like those for that reason. I think we need to really be aware that this is a loss. And I think for those who are having the loss or have had a loss, they need to be able to let themselves grieve in the way that they need to. If it brings up past losses, they need to also let those come forward. Frequently we adopt just one pet, but lots of us take sibling sets, just like human adoption. I've had clients who've had siblings and they lose one and then they know that the other one is at some point also going to die. So they're kind of grieving, but they're also holding out hope that the other one is going to last a little longer. And then whammo, they've got a double loss, so then we prepare for things as we would for any other kind of loss--the anniversaries and the holidays. If you're a single pet parent, your pets are part of your holidays. I like to have people put, an ornament on the tree for someone who's died if they do Christmas, or a special candle on the menorah, if it's Hanukkah, or whatever holiday it is for you honor those who have died. The church I attend has All Souls Day. I think pets belong up there just along with people. Because that's a significant loss in that year and it needs to be marked and talked about. All the rituals are important; all the talking, all the acknowledging, and then all the happy remembering. We don't want to sit just in the grief; we want to also move into it. We were very lucky to have them in our lives. We need to let go of any guilt or holding on for whatever decisions we made. Because certainly making decisions about a pet who is sick is different than humans—especially for older pets. WAYS TO COMMUNICATE YOUR LOSS; YOUR NEEDS; YOUR CONDOLENCES If you can't be kind, I need you to back it up or take your requests somewhere else because I don't have that much left in me right now. And you also need to monitor yourself because you may think you've got all the energy you normally do. And you don't. What are some specific things that people can say when they don't know what to say? They're signing a card. They're on social media. Can you give people some phrases, when I'm sending a condolence card, I always reference something-- a memory of that person or that pet. So for Waldo, you know, I’m so missing his little face, and it was just amazing to see how much he loved you. He was so blessed to be in your family and to be that loved. That's an important message to hear when you are missing someone And you may be feeling guilty. I gave my creature the best home possible. I will say things like-- some people may not understand, but I know you lost a family member. I can only imagine how much it hurts to wake up in the morning with them not there. Just know that I'm thinking about you. I wish I could come over and be with you. Freaking COVID! just know that I'm there with you. Yeah, if you want to call, or if it's a good time, I will call but we're all missing your friend. GUEST BIO Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW is a dynamic and engaging speaker who loves teaching both professional and community groups about dementia, death and dying, and grief and loss. She is the CEO of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California, where she is also a clinical therapist. She is a certified Grief Recovery Facilitator after spending more than a decade with hospice as a medical social worker and as a director of social workers, chaplains and grief staff. She holds a BA from UC Riverside and her MSW from the University of South Florida. Jill has authored three children’s grief books and an adult grief workbook with more in process, and created Your Path Through Grief, a year-long, comprehensive grief support program which includes resources for therapists. PODCAST HOST Patricia Young hosts the podcast Unapologetically Sensitive, and works with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) helping them to understand their HSP traits, and turning their perceived shortcomings into superpowers. Patricia is passionate about providing education to help HSPs and non-HSPs understand and truly appreciate the amazing gifts they have to offer. Patricia works globally online with HSPs providing coaching. Patricia also facilitates online groups for HSPs that focus on building community and developing skills (identifying your superpowers, boundaries, perfectionism, dealing with conflict, mindfulness, embracing emotions, creating a lifestyle that supports the HSP, communication and more). LINKS Jill’ Links Website-- www.yourpaththroughgrief.com, https://www.facebook.com/grieftalker/ Facebook--https://www.facebook.com/Riversidedementiasupport/, LinkedIn--https://www.linkedin.com/in/jilljohnsonyoung/. My pet is sick: It’s time to say goodbye by Jill Johnson-Young Someone is sick: How do I say Goodbye? By Jill Johnson-Young Someone I love just died: What happens now? By Jill Johnson-Young Your own path through grief; A workbook for your journey to recovery by Jill Johnson-Young Amazon link for Jill’s books-- https://www.amazon.com/Jill-A.-Johnson-Young-LCSW/e/B07NPT5NYQ%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share Episode 47: 20+ ways to manage change and loss through the holidays with Jill Johnson-Young https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/episode-47/ Pet Loss and Grief Resources--https://resources.bestfriends.org/article/pet-loss-and-grief-resources  Pet Loss at Home—https://petlossathome.com/about/    Losing a Pet--https://www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-losing-a-pet.htm Pet Loss Support Hotline—https://vet.tufts.edu/petloss/pet-loss-support-hotline-support-group-link/  Resources--https://www.petloss.com/   Patricia’s Links Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE I Can Do Hard Things: Friendships Woes, Attachment and Healing GUEST Solo episode EPISODE OVERVIEW We CAN navigate through difficult times.  HSPs often have challenges in relationships. I talk about friendship wounds and how my attachment injuries show up in relationships and how I do my own healing work in and out of the relationship.  I give 10 touch points for relationships, and ways to evaluate your relationships.  I talk about how we respond to stress and how we’re being impacted by COVID right now. HIGHLIGHTS When we have attachment wounds or attachment injuries, they will come up in relationships COVID is going to pull for more attachment injuries  Compassion for ourselves and others Honor your feelings Identify what you want Can the relationship tolerate feedback or conflict? Get curious about what might be going on for the other person (instead of making up a story in your head) Own your part What are you wanting the other person to tell you? That’s what you need to tell yourself Notices tendencies in relationships. Is it reciprocal? You don’t have to abandon the relationship. Can you step back and give it some time? Are you being clear and making your wants and needs clear to the other person? PODCAST HOST Patricia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Coach.  She knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truth-teller.  Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation and a sense of self-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 understanding what it means to be an HSP, self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors us LINKS HSP Online Course--https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/hsp-online-groups/ To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select “listen on Apple Podcasts” chose “open in itunes” choose “ratings and reviews” click to rate the number of starts click “write a review” Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Meetup-- https://www.meetup.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-Meetup/ Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Closed/Private Facebook group for therapists and healers-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/208565440423641/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE When Your Kid Doesn’t Want to Let You Down GUEST Daniel Young EPISODE OVERVIEW As a follow up to Bonus Episode 78, my son Daniel shares his perspective about how we as a family handled him doing things we didn’t agree with, and the rules we set when he moved back home. Daniel talks about the rush he would get sneaking around, and how that changed when we knew what was going on.  He talks about how it felt to hear we were disappointed in his behavior. I also learned something while we were recording this.  Daniel shares what changed and where he’s at now. GUEST BIO Daniel Young is a creative, quirky and tattoo-loving student who is working on his Associate’s degree in Studio Arts and Design.  He writes his own music and his music can be found on Spotify and iTunes under the name Yung Dan.  In his free time, Daniel can be found hanging out with his friends, creating music or tormenting (in a loving way), his dog Gracie. PODCAST HOST Patricia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Coach.  She knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truthteller.  Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation and a sense of self-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 understanding what it means to be an HSP, self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors us LINKS Daniel’s links Instagram--https://www.instagram.com/_yungdan_/?hl=en Spotify—https://open.spotify.com/artist/6fa1ZmkIDPwViwS4OLO2Oc?si=7B7Aqo2WSWCVDNS2X1DNGw iTunes--https://music.apple.com/us/artist/yung-dan/1418632509 Bonus episode 78—When Your Kid (or Anyone) Doesn’t Behave the Way You Want Them To  https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/bonus-episode-78/ Patricia’s links HSP Online Course--https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/hsp-online-groups/ To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select “listen on Apple Podcasts” chose “open in itunes” choose “ratings and reviews” click to rate the number of starts click “write a review” Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Meetup-- https://www.meetup.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-Meetup/ Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Closed/Private Facebook group for therapists and healers-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/208565440423641/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE When Your Kid (or anyone) Doesn’t Behave They Way You Want Them To GUEST Solo episode EPISODE OVERVIEW Our son engaged in behavior that didn’t align with our values.  How did we navigate this? When our son moved back home, we were specific about what we expected from him (and we put it in writing). It’s been almost 2 years since this started.  Where are we at now?  My son shares his perspective. How do we evaluate if we’re overstepping in relationships, or if we’re over invested in what the other person does? What does love and support look like?  PODCAST HOST Patricia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and Coach.  She knows what it’s like to feel like an outcast, misfit, and truth-teller.  Learning about the trait of being a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), helped Patricia rewrite her history with a deeper understanding, appreciation and a sense of self-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 understanding what it means to be an HSP, self-care, self-compassion, boundaries, perfectionism, mindfulness, communication, and creating a lifestyle that honors us LINKS HSP Online Course--https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/hsp-online-groups/ To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select “listen on Apple Podcasts” chose “open in itunes” choose “ratings and reviews” click to rate the number of starts click “write a review” Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Meetup-- https://www.meetup.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-Meetup/ Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Closed/Private Facebook group for therapists and healers-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/208565440423641/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com

TITLE A Research Scientist Shares How HSPs can Regulate Their Depression, Anxiety, and Negative Thinking GUEST  Jadzia Jagiellowicz, Ph.D. EPISODE OVERVIEW  Dr. Jadzia Jagiellowicz has been a scientific researcher for over 15 years, and she conducts research on HSPs. She has studied the biological basis of temperament. She talks about the relationship between depression and HSPs; why HSPs may ruminate about negative things, and what to do when we imagine the worst-case-scenario. Dr. Jagiellowicz talks about being socially awkward and being a deep thinker. We also break down what happens with COVID-19, when people don’t honor our need for social distancing. HIGHLIGHTS Dr. Jagiellowicz has studied the biological basis of temperament She also helps people learn how to regulate bodily sensations and emotions Researchers found 2 types of genes Serotonin transporter 8 different types of dopamine genes (10 genetic polymorphisms) It is rarely that just one gene is tied to one function—instead it is a constellation of genes The candidate gene— serotonin transporter—is related to depression Children that had poor childhoods (the parents/caregivers did not know what the Highly Sensitive Children needed to thrive) show higher rates of depression for HSPs As HSPs learn about the trait, they feel better The Default Mode Network which can be seen in brain scans—this is what happens when you’re not consciously thinking about things—you are just aware in the present moment Research suggests that the default mode network is on when we are not thinking about anything in particular i.e. daydreaming; it is suppressed when we are working on a particular task HSPs are constantly taking in details from their environment (we process more) This is often linked to past history of negative things We can do 2 things about this— Talk back to the negative thoughts Write down (in a few sentences) the facts of the situation that caused your negative thoughts and feelings Write down your thoughts and feelings Talk back That was then, this is now Don’t make your own predictions Look at possibilities not probabilities Calm down bodily sensations—just stay with it EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques or tapping) EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) Tai Chi Meditation Working with a specialist If you look at a Highly Sensitive Baby who is exposed to a Jack-in-the-Box, and it scares them, the infant stores the fear in their body Our bodies have stored fears (tenseness of muscles, neck, visceral organs, stomach, etc.) When something reminds you of something fearful, your brain/body has stored past fearful memories If your boss calls you in If you don’t have past negative experiences, you won’t have a reaction If you have past negative experiences, you might start worrying about why you are being called in We store things more intensely in memory because we have more intense emotions than less-sensitive people (the negative interpretations are stored as a package of bodily sensations and the thoughts that go with them Research shows : Depressed people when they given a negative word, they will retrieve other negative words from their memory Non-depressed people when given a negative word, will retrieve positive AND negative words from memory HSPs are more affected by environment, but we can control our reaction to our environment Research into temperament looked at infants who were 6 months old—inhibited babies and highly reactive babies Highly Sensitive infants reacted differently than NON-Highly Sensitive infants Highly Sensitive Parents may be more in-tune with their HS children Your level of sensitivity will change your ability to get along in the environment  3 types of Sensitive People (and no HSP is exactly the same) Low sensitive Medium sensitive High sensitive Being detail oriented, having deeper processing and empathy can cause problems if one is not able to figure out what part of these traits are helpful—especially in the workplace Imagine we’re in a foreign country, so we’re learning a whole new way of being HSPs can benefit when we “remember our audience”  COVID-19 We can slow down Use our analysis and judgement We are taking in a lot of information, and we’re looking for signs of danger—this can lead to overwhelm If we can remember to use our gift of compassion it will help Most people are attuned to the negative but HSPs are born with a heightened sense of vigilance Every HSP is different How much they can deal with and where to draw boundaries How important is it for you to fit in (and to accept the consequences) Jagiellowicz believes HSPs are more different from each other than non-HSPs, since each HSP is more affected by whatever environment they were exposed to This is where the intersection of being an HSP and environment come into play In a study using the Parental Bonding Inventory, which measures/assesses how people think they were parented, the key things that parents did which harmed their HSP children Overintrusiveness Neglect GUEST BIO BA in Psychology and Business Administration Bed in Education Phd in Psychology Jadzia Jagiellowicz worked as a management consultant and as an educator. As an educator she taught and coached intellectually gifted students and provided consulting services to other teachers Later in life Dr. Jagiellowicz completed her Ph.D. in Psychology at Stony Brook University in Long Island, NY under the supervision of Elaine Aron.  Dr. Jagiellowicz has spent the past 15 years as a scientific researcher investigating high sensitivity (called sensory processing sensitivity in the scientific literature). She also studied molecular biology (genetics) at Smith University in Massachusetts. She provides individual coaching for HSPs through web-based and phone consultations to clients world-wide and also conducts scientific research on HSPs, including the first-ever research scanning HSPs’ brains. One of her specialty areas is how the biological part of being an HSP interacts with an HSP’s childhood and how that affects HSPs as adults.   PODCAST HOST Patricia Young works with Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) helping them to understand their HSP traits, and turning their perceived shortcomings into superpowers. Patricia is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, who is passionate about providing education to help HSPs and non-HSPs understand and truly appreciate the amazing gifts they have to offer. Patricia works globally online with HSPs providing coaching. Patricia also facilitates online groups for HSPs that focus on building community and developing skills (identifying your superpowers, boundaries, perfectionism, dealing with conflict, mindfulness, embracing emotions, creating a lifestyle that supports the HSP, communication and more). LINKS Temperament Advisor: Highly Sensitive People www.highlysensitivesociety.com book a free consultation: calendly.com/jdyjaj36 Twitter: hsperson_hsp FB: Highly Sensitive The Emotional Brain by Lisa Feldman Barrett YouTube—Lisa Feldman Barrett https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=lisa+feldman+barrett The Highly Sensitive Brain: Research, Assessment, and Treatment of Sensory Processing Sensitivity edited by Bianca Acevedo, Ph.D.  Patricia’s Links HSP Online Course--https://unapologeticallysensitive.com/hsp-online-groups/ To write a review in itunes: click on this link https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/unapologetically-sensitive/id1440433481?mt=2 select “listen on Apple Podcasts” chose “open in itunes” choose “ratings and reviews” click to rate the number of starts click “write a review” Website--www.unapologeticallysensitive.com Meetup-- https://www.meetup.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-Meetup/ Facebook-- https://www.facebook.com/Unapologetically-Sensitive-2296688923985657/ Closed/Private Facebook group Unapologetically Sensitive-- https://www.facebook.com/groups/2099705880047619/ Instagram-- https://www.instagram.com/unapologeticallysensitive/ Youtube-- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOE6fodj7RBdO3Iw0NrAllg/videos?view_as=subscriber e-mail-- unapologeticallysensitive@gmail.com Show hashtag--#unapologeticallysensitive Music-- Gravel Dance by Andy Robinson www.andyrobinson.com