Rewind: What It Means to be a Highly Sensitive Person

ShrinkChicks

Jennifer Chaiken, LMFT and Emmalee Bierly, LMFT

Mental Health, Education, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Self-improvement, Relationships

5 • 717 Ratings

🗓️ 1 September 2025

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

On this week’s rewind episode of ShrinkChicks, we’re revisiting one of our most-loved conversations: what does it really mean to be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)? Em and Jen unpack the difference between HSPs and empaths, why sensitivity can sometimes feel like social anxiety, and how to move through a world that often labels sensitivity as a weakness. They explore what overstimulation looks like—shutting down in crowds, feeling drained after social events, or absorbing the energy around you—and why understanding your sensitivity is the first step to managing it. You’ll hear how to set internal boundaries, embrace your emotions (yes, even the crying), and find empowerment in what used to feel like “too much.” Tune in to gain insight, awareness, and action! PS: Fast forward to around 4:40 to skip the intro and get straight to today’s content. Get Matched With One of Our Therapists at The Therapy Group! ShrinkChicks on Instagram Our Know Yourself Grow Yourself Journal!! Check out ShrinkChicks on YouTube by subscribing here! https://youtube.com/channel/UCrxuhDqoL4ML3UE8b2J2BBg A special thank you to this week's sponsors for supporting ShrinkChicks! We have these exclusive offers for our listeners: Wildgrain: Get $30 off your first box - PLUS free croissants in every box - when you go to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Wildgrain.com/SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to start your subscription or use code SHRINKCHICKS at checkout Quince: Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠quince.com/shrinkchicks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping and 365-day returns on your next order Greenlight: Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠greenlight.com/shrinkchicks Skims: Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at SKIMS.com. After you place your order, be sure to let them know we sent you! Select "podcast" in thesurvey, and be sure to select our show in the dropdown menu that follows. Mabē: Visit ⁠mabeproducts.com⁠ and use code: SHRINKCHICKS for an automatic $10 discount on your first purchase Green Chef: Head to⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Greenchef.com/50SHRINKCHICKS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and use code 50SHRINKCHICKS to get 50% off your first month, then 20% off for two months with free shipping goPure: For a limited time, our listeners get 25% off at ⁠gopurebeauty.com⁠ with code SHRINKCHICKS at checkout

Transcript

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0:00.0	This podcast is brought to you by Podcast Nation. Welcome back to Shrink Chicks. We're taking the
0:08.2	week off from a new episode to practice what we preach and allow ourselves a break to recharge
0:12.3	over this holiday weekend. We wanted to re-release the episode, what it means to be a highly
0:17.7	sensitive person, as this topic is something we often get questions about.
0:22.9	Being highly sensitive can present itself in so many different ways. And we hope the episode
0:28.0	makes you feel less alone and helps you to understand more about yourself. If you're an original
0:32.9	listener, thank you so much for continuing to be here with us week after week. And if you're new, welcome.
0:38.7	We're so happy to have you. We hope you all have a wonderful long weekend and that you're also
0:43.6	resting and recharging just like us. We love you and we're so grateful for each and every one of you.
0:49.3	We'll see you back here next week for a brand new episode of shrink chicks.
0:55.1	Hi, Jen.
0:56.3	I am.
0:57.8	We have a good intro today.
0:59.4	We do.
1:01.6	Sasha asked, do you listen to other podcasts?
1:04.2	And if so, what's your favorite one?
1:05.4	If not, what do you like to listen to?
1:07.8	I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts. I would say both of us don't listen to like
1:13.7	ongoing podcast like this. We listen to like, I feel like a series, right? Like a one topic.
1:22.0	Yeah. I like like a story. Yes. Podcast. Yes. Sometimes sometimes like friends, I think they, I think, like, if we have friends and they, like, don't listen to our podcast, they sometimes feel bad. And they'll be like, they'll say, oh, I didn't hear that. Like, I don't really listen to a podcast. I was like, it's fine. I don't either. You don't have to feel bad. If you're a friend, I mean, they're not going to hear this because they're not listening to it.
1:48.2	But we are not upset at all.
1:52.1	It doesn't matter.
	...

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