Key Takeaways:
- Sensitivity can be both innate and shaped by trauma; both can coexist.
- Highly sensitive people absorb their environment more deeply, making trauma and gaslighting more impactful.
- Gaslighting creates a destabilizing feeling; overthinking, while mentally exhausting, feels different and more internalized.
- Intermittent rewards and euphoric recall explain why we sometimes miss people who hurt us.
- HSPs and neurodivergent individuals may unintentionally attract narcissists due to their deep empathy and adaptability.
- Masking your sensitivity over time can lead to disconnection from your authentic self—Dr. Kelley shares how to reconnect.
- Healing from gaslighting starts with reconnecting to your voice through rest, play, and safe relationships.
- Sensitivity is not fragility—it’s a heightened awareness that can be a superpower when properly understood.
- Therapists should learn to differentiate between mental health diagnoses and sensitivity or neurodivergence for better treatment outcomes.
EPISODE LINKS
Dr. Amelia Kelley: About | Dr. Kelley's Books | Instagram