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How to navigate sensory overload and trauma as a highly sensitive person
Empaths and highly sensitive people "aren't just open to trauma. They're open to everything, and it can feel traumatic when you're young and don't have any guidance." - Dr. Judith Orloff
"Our nervous system is picking up more information, receiving information that others don't, feeling things that others don't, which means sometimes having an uncontrollable body response to imperceptible changes in the environment." - Dr Aimie Apigian
Therapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT: “While this sensitivity can feel overwhelming, it’s important to recognize it as a natural part of how your brain works—not a flaw.”
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This audio is an excerpt from the biology of trauma podcast (episode #102 Strategies for Empaths: How to Navigate Sensory Overload, Shame & Trauma), with trauma recovery physician Aimie Apigian talking with empathic psychiatrist Judith Orloff about some of the many aspects of being exceptionally responsive to emotions and sensory information for those of us who have a highly sensitive nervous system.
Dr. Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH, is an author, speaker and founder of Trauma Healing Accelerated.
» Trauma recovery program by Dr Apigian: TheFoundational Journey for addressing stored trauma in the body.
More of her resources:
📖 The Essential Sequence - How to Release Stored Trauma - free guide.
📖 Attachment Pain Guide for Healing - free guide.
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Dr Judith Orloff says "I love being an empath. Yes, it has its challenges but so what? Everything has its different challenges."
She adds that being highly sensitive, "You get to feel everything. I get to feel the flowers, feel nature, I get to feel deep love and connection with people.
“I get to be in touch with the mystery and you know the the gorgeousness of Life on such a deep level."
Escaping an angry, bullying, bossy person
In the podcast excerpt above, Dr Orloff recalls she was "in a situation recently with a group and this woman was trying to make a point and she got very authoritarian and loud and bullying and bossy.
"It was on a zoom call and I was supposed to be part of this meeting and I'm feeling, This isn't acceptable to me, and so I just told everyone have to leave."
[The image at lower right is a reference to a movie character like this: Miranda (Meryl Streep) in The Devil Wears Prada (2006).]
Self care and setting boundaries
Dr Orloff refers to self-care and emotional safety strategies, including setting boundaries.
"You want to find the triggers for your trauma and gently and sensitively deal with them, so you can take care of yourself. Self-care is so essential."
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Dr. Orloff notes: "As a psychiatrist, I've worked with many empaths and sensitive people over the years.
“What I've seen is that they are especially vulnerable to becoming burned out from toxic relationships."
She adds, "These relationships can make you feel anxious, depressed, tired, and ill.”
⏩ Free webinar Being an Empath Today - Surviving and thriving with the gifts of sensitivity.
⏩ Understanding Narcissism Summit: "A Program to Empower Yourself in Relationships, Heal the Trauma of Narcissistic Abuse, and Shift Our Culture from “Me” to “We”... Dr Orloff's presentation: "The Toxic Attraction Between Empaths and Narcissists."
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Published on 1 month, 2 weeks ago