In this episode, I dive into the challenges of meeting your emotional needs as a sensitive or neurodivergent woman. If you’ve ever felt unseen, misunderstood, or emotionally drained from constantly giving without receiving, this conversation is for you. I share my own journey with masking, people-pleasing, and emotional exhaustion—and why so many of us struggle to get our needs met. You’ll learn how to recognize, advocate for, and meet your own emotional needs in a way that fosters emotional empowerment rather than resentment. This episode is about stepping into self-acceptance, setting boundaries, and creating the emotional safety you deserve.
If you're ready for deeper support, join my Love Yourself No Matter What membership for weekly coaching, a private daily podcast, and community support at Amanda-Hess.myKajabi.com/loveyourself . And if you need personalized coaching, book a free consult at amandahess.ca/bookacall.
Detailed Episode Breakdown:
[0:00 - 2:30] Introduction & Why This Matters
- Why so many sensitive and neurodivergent women struggle to have their emotional needs met.
- If you feel like you’re constantly giving without receiving, you are not alone.
[2:30 - 7:45] Why Emotional Needs Often Go Unmet
- The impact of masking and people-pleasing.
- How ignoring your needs leads to exhaustion, resentment, and disconnection.
- My personal experiences with discovering my own emotional needs and the consequences of suppressing them.
[7:45 - 12:30] The Root Causes of Emotional Struggles
- Masking & People-Pleasing: Why saying yes when you mean no makes it harder for people to meet your needs.
- Emotional Intensity & Deep Processing: The stress response cycle (fight, flight, freeze, fawn) and how it impacts emotional regulation.
- Sensory Overload: How our modern world bombards us with too much information, leading to burnout.
[12:30 - 16:45] Identifying Your Core Emotional Needs
- The difference between emotional wants and emotional needs (and why understanding this is so important).
- The four core emotional needs:
- Feeling seen and understood (not just tolerated).
- Deep and meaningful connections.
- Emotional safety and acceptance.
- Balancing predictability with freedom and spontaneity.
- Reflection prompts to help you identify where your emotional needs are not being met.
[16:45 - 22:00] How to Start Meeting Your Own Emotional Needs
- The first step: Grounding yourself and regulating your nervous system.
- Sensory-friendly self-care strategies to help you reset and feel safe in your body.
- How I plan to create emotional safety for myself while on my upcoming family trip to Hawaii.
[22:00 - 27:15] The Importance of Finding the Right Community
- If you feel misunderstood, it may be time to expand your social circle rather than expecting others to change.
- How to find like-minded people online and in-person.
- Why deep conversations are essential for emotional fulfillment.
[27:15 - 31:00] Asking for Help & Setting Boundaries Without Guilt
- Overcoming the fear of being a burden.
- How to approach conversations about your needs without resentment.
- Scripts for clearly communicating your needs in a way that invites support rather than resistance.
[31:00 - 34:00] How to Set Healthy Boundaries & Accept Support
- Boundaries aren’t about controlling others—they’re about protecting yourself.
- Learning to accept support from the right people instead of assuming no one wants to help.
- How to tolerate the discomfort of disappointing others when necessary.
[34:00 - 36:00] Final Thoughts & Next Steps
- Journaling prompt: What emotional needs have I been neglecting, and what’s one small way I can meet them this week?
- CTA #1: Join the Love Yourself No Matter What membership for weekly coaching, daily written coaching, and access to my private podcast at Amanda-Hess.myKajabi.com/loveyourself
- CTA #2: If you need personalized support, book a free consult at amandahess.ca/bookacall so we can create a plan to help you feel more emotionally fulfilled.
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