How to reverse the anxiety spiral
How can you reverse the anxiety spiral? Understanding the power of the maelstrom can help you find your way back to calmer waters. I was not cut out to be a deep-sea diver. As a child I was unnerved by the mere sight of my bathwater going down the drain. The idea of... Read more
“I have strong fear reactions to things that aren’t in themselves traumatic”
If you have strong fear reactions to small stimuli, you may be experiencing subtle trauma. When you recognize the signs of subtle trauma, you move a step towards healing it. A reader, who I’ll call Sarah, sent me a thoughtful email addressing a topic that closely... Read more
Feeling anxious? Check who’s “behind the wheel” of your mind
Why do you get anxious? We think the cause of our anxiety is external. But the true cause—and the path to relief—nearly always lies within. Imagine you are six years old. You are behind the wheel of a car. You desperately need to get somewhere, and driving is the only... Read more
Sometimes “selfishness” is a really good thing
Are you selfish to think of yourself first? I don’t think so. In fact, if you are sensitive, your health and happiness depend on your answer to this question. On Saturday mornings, my partner and I eat eggs and toast for breakfast. Then we drink tea, plan our... Read more
“How much should I share?”
If you have a much going on in your mind all the time as I do, you too may have asked yourself, “How much should I share?” Here are some (not all!) of my thoughts on this important topic… I think about things. A lot. Being a sensitive person means... Read more
“I’m overwhelmed”: 6 steps to restore your sanity
For sensitive people, getting overwhelmed is a familiar experience, though we each have our different ways of dealing with it. I habitually kick into overdrive. My invisible contract says, “When the going gets tough, put your head down and work harder.” I’m aware I’m... Read more
How to access your unstoppability
I’ve always been fascinated by stories describing feats of seemingly impossible strength, such as a mother lifting a car off her child. There’s even a name for this phenomenon. It’s called hysterical strength, and many cases are convincingly documented. But it bothers... Read more
3 stages of self-responsibility: which stage are you in?
We have six inches of snow on the ground. It’s lovely in a Currier and Ives sort of way, but the knowledge that this winter weather could carry on for another two months led me to pull out this photo, taken last spring in Highland Park here in Rochester. This scene is... Read more
“I don’t like to label myself sensitive!”
In a recent exchange with Alex, who was inquiring about Focusing, I sent along information about high sensitivity (HSP). Alex mentioned that he had come across Elaine Aron’s book, The Highly Sensitive Person. He commented, “Very interesting. I don’t like labeling... Read moreGet your FREE guide to sensitive anxiety
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