Podcast 174: Tips for highly sensitive people & parents with Dr. Elaine Aron

I've always known that I was super sensitive, I can feel other people's pain and emotions. Empathy and exhortation are my top Spiritual Gifts. To be honest sometimes it can feel like a curse rather than a gift and I don't mean to diminish it in any way. I grew up in a turbulent household and when I was around 16 I was having a heart to heart with my Mom because I so desperately wanted to find a way to help make things better for her and to make her happy. I was crying and she asked me why do I always cry when we talk. She then proceeded to tell me that I have a flaw in my personality. That statement stuck with me my entire life and affected me in a negative way as I always thought there was something wrong with me for feeling so deeply. I cry when others cry, I feel physically ill when others are hurt. I finally learned a few short years ago that this is not a flaw in my personality but a part of who I was created to be. My tears for someone hurting, my heart for wanting to help someone and my ability to try to lift someone up is not a flaw, but a gift. Sometimes it's embarrassing when you can't stop the tears from coming and sometimes it's hard not to react when someone is hurting, because not everyone is receptive. Even then being highly sensitive you learn to approach things gently, trying not to make the situation worse. On a daily basis I just have to accept that this is who I am.

sensitive children in an abusive environment , they become philosophers , they heal themselves by their observations to the world , and they raise themselves, and take care of themselves , and try to help their siblings , they might take bad decisions due to bad parenting , but can be patient to change especially if they become parents themselves. Once a friend told me , while talking about our families , every family there's a special child who is sensitive and not understood by his environment , even so he or she can be very empath to love and help every one as much as he or she can , I liked her idea back then , and think that HSP s are needed , because they are parented before their creation by the universe , and sent to mend humanity .

Highly sensitive extrovert here! (ENFJ) Both of my parents are highly sensitive, dad is a highly sensitive extrovert (ESFJ) Mom is a highly sensitive introvert (ISFJ) Growing up, no one had words for the household overwhelm and exhaustion that we all felt deeply. Between the 2008 recession, me coming of age, and Mom going back to work, a huge energetic shift was created, and melancholy throughout the entire home atmosphere was the norm. Wish we could have understood this then. God bless you and thank you! Please more HSP content! 😍💗 This was wonderful, thank you!

Kind of surprised that only 20% of people are sensitive people? I know SO MANY sensitive and highly sensitive people.....but I think we all gravitate toward each other.

I am a highly sensitive person and grew up in alcoholism and abuse. I used to say to God, "Why would you make me like this and then put me in this family and this world???" My sensitivity made things much harder. Thankfully life is peaceful now, but it took a long time to get here. Thank you for this video.

Wow so happy to find this. Her book changed my life 20 years ago and made me feel less isolated in a very chaotic family.

INFJ gifted, creative, emotional, 9 siblings, alcoholic NPD father...been called "the sensitive one" all my family life.

Feeling what your children are feeling wow that is so spot on.. You know when your children are unhappy or sad etc..

This interview answered a lot of questions I had about myself. Thank you, Dr. Aron.

Wow! People used to always say to me “you’re so sensitive” which wasn’t necessarily a compliment on their end. The affirmation is appreciated!❤️

Great interview! Elaine's research and writing has helped so many.

I am actually very happy how often India is mentioned. Thank you for representing us. And thanks for writing this book..it is wonderful ❤️

This was sooooo sooooo good. Thank you especially for the affirmation that HSP's tend to work differently and the empowerment that it may take some time to find a therapist who understands or is at least willing to do research on sensitivities and that's okay.

Very interesting research on high-awareness individuals; a processing gift in the soul akin to the spiritual gift of discernment. Blessings for sharing; Jana, Colleyville

I am highly sensitive and I am a high sensation seeker. I like spicy food with lots of flavor because bland food is boring and under stimulating

I am so thankful for discovering you through getting self help With Lisa Romano her topic about when your narcissistic parent dies.Finding this was very important because I am a sensitive person and so is my youngest son.God told me to tell my son one emotional day that h made us this way and it is ok to cry because you’re heart is not hardened.It was a great moment in parenting my young man.

Thank you so much for this useful insightful talk 🌷 Helped me a lot in my parenting coach graduation project and with my sensitive child

Yay! Dr. Aron!

Dr Leaf, I hear you say often "I will put that information in the show notes" but I never see them on Utube where I listen to your podcasts. Where can I find the information you speak of? Thank you so much for your insightful encouraging podcasts. I thoroughly enjoy and glean from every podcast I have listened too. You are one of my favorites to listen to.

as a highly sensitive mom, I highly recommend parenting with understanding (in Germany, we call it Bindungs-und Beziehungsorientiert). It is about considering the needs of all family members and finding constructive ways to deal with conflicts.