Episode 20: Are You A Highly Sensitive Person?

Sandra Rea’s Fiercely Spiritual Podcast Episode 20: Are You A Highly Sensitive Person?

When I was younger people used to say I was shy. Part of me agreed with them but another part knew that there was more to me than that – much more! Over the years I realised that I wasn’t shy, I was an introvert. The difference is that an introvert enjoys being alone in their own company and can become drained being around others. A shy person is one who acts out of fear, they may spend more time alone, not because they want to but because they are afraid to interact with others.

Then a further layer of understanding was revealed to me when I read about highly sensitive people. I resonated so much with the description of a highly sensitive person and I understood myself on a much deeper level. I was able to nurture the highly sensitive parts of me and to recognise the strengths within what otherwise could be seen as a weaknesses. I was able to use my empathic abilities to serve my clients in a better way, to feel their pain and to better understand their suffering. I was able to schedule time to myself and not feel guilty but to know that I would feel recharged afterwards and able to give MORE back to my family and clients. I was able to look after myself and serve my own needs first in order to better serve others.

If you’re a highly sensitive person but you don’t know it, you may be suffering unnecessarily. You may think that you are different or stressed or broken in some way when the truth is you just need to nurture yourself and recognise your unique needs.

So what does it mean to be a highly sensitive person? What are the traits? Is this something you are born with or does this develop over time? And how can you manage your sensitivity at home, at work and when out in public?

These are all questions I ask my good friend Donna Bacon in this episode of the Fiercely Spiritual Podcast. Donna is an accredited psychotherapist working in Dublin and is the founder of Trua Counselling and Psychotherapy. Her passion is to work with those who are highly sensitive, supporting them to understand themselves and the highly sensitive trait to reduce overwhelm, and to live more peacefully and with greater self-acceptance.

I loved hearing her insights, especially her tips for helping highly sensitive children.