Creative Mind Audio

Empaths and highly sensitive people "aren't just open to trauma. They're open to everything, and it can feel traumatic when you're young and don't have any guidance." - Dr. Judith Orloff"Our nervous system is picking up more information, receiving information that others don't, feeling things that others don't, which means sometimes having an uncontrollable body response to imperceptible changes in the environment." - Dr Aimie ApigianTherapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT: “While this sensitivity can feel overwhelming, it’s important to recognize it as a natural part of how your brain works—not a flaw.”~~~~This audio is an excerpt from the biology of trauma podcast (episode #102 Strategies for Empaths: How to Navigate Sensory Overload, Shame & Trauma), with trauma recovery physician Aimie Apigian talking with empathic psychiatrist Judith Orloff about some of the many aspects of being exceptionally responsive to emotions and sensory information for those of us who have a highly sensitive nervous system.Dr. Aimie Apigian, MD, MS, MPH, is an author, speaker and founder of Trauma Healing Accelerated.» Trauma recovery program by Dr Apigian: TheFoundational Journey for addressing stored trauma in the body. More of her resources:📖 The Essential Sequence - How to Release Stored Trauma - free guide.📖 Attachment Pain Guide for Healing - free guide. ~~~~Dr Judith Orloff says "I love being an empath. Yes, it has its challenges but so what? Everything has its different challenges."She adds that being highly sensitive, "You get to feel everything. I get to feel the flowers, feel nature, I get to feel deep love and connection with people. “I get to be in touch with the mystery and you know the the gorgeousness of Life on such a deep level."Escaping an angry, bullying, bossy personIn the podcast excerpt above, Dr Orloff recalls she was "in a situation recently with a group and this woman was trying to make a point and she got very authoritarian and loud and bullying and bossy. "It was on a zoom call and I was supposed to be part of this meeting and I'm feeling, This isn't acceptable to me, and so I just told everyone have to leave."[The image at lower right is a reference to a movie character like this: Miranda (Meryl Streep) in The Devil Wears Prada (2006).]Self care and setting boundariesDr Orloff refers to self-care and emotional safety strategies, including setting boundaries. "You want to find the triggers for your trauma and gently and sensitively deal with them, so you can take care of yourself. Self-care is so essential."~~~Dr. Orloff notes: "As a psychiatrist, I've worked with many empaths and sensitive people over the years. “What I've seen is that they are especially vulnerable to becoming burned out from toxic relationships." She adds, "These relationships can make you feel anxious, depressed, tired, and ill.” ⏩ Free webinar Being an Empath Today - Surviving and thriving with the gifts of sensitivity. ⏩ Understanding Narcissism Summit: "A Program to Empower Yourself in Relationships, Heal the Trauma of Narcissistic Abuse, and Shift Our Culture from “Me” to “We”... Dr Orloff's presentation: "The Toxic Attraction Between Empaths and Narcissists."⏩ The Empath’s Survival Guide Online Course: Life Strategies for Sensitive People.Psychiatrist and empath Judith Orloff, MD "shares an overview of the total experience of being an empath, both the blessings and the struggles. She then offers solutions to address the most common challenges so that empaths can become empowered in an often-hostile world."~~~~Therapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT: “While this sensitivity can feel overwhelming, it’s important to recognize it as a natural part of how your brain works—not a flaw.”But she cautions, "Watching news visually can cause a lot more anxiety than reading it for most highly sensitive people. Take breaks from reading or watching the news."Follow link above to post with audio excerpt from one of her free classes: Sensory Overload & Sensitivity.~~~~More related posts/podcastsDr Orloff also refers to a spectrum of abuse and childhood experiences impacting empaths and highly sensitive people. One of my posts on adverse childhood experiences:As Dr Orloff relates, being an adult and having to deal with a bully can be emotionally challenging.Here is a related post:Actor Millie Bobby Brown of Stranger Things: Writer Emily Zemler comments: “Over the years, Millie has struggled to understand why being herself generates so much vitriol.“It’s really hard to be hated on when you don’t know who you are yet,” she says.Psychotherapist Mihaela Ivan Holtz helps creative people in TV/Film, performing and fine arts. She notes in an article of hers: “Many highly creative people have been bullied as kids... Perhaps you loved singing, writing poems, dancing, making fashion, or being innovative in other ways as a child."Though these aspirations brought you joy, they also made you the target of bullies who made fun of, mocked, or ridiculed you."See more in the post, including comments by Robert Pattinson, Jameela Jamil, Donna Jackson Nakazawa.~~~Setting boundariesThe image at lower left (woman behind cloth) is from my post (on the Highly Sensitive site) How Can We Set Healthy Boundaries as a Highly Sensitive Person? It includes podcast episode by Sensitivity expert Julie Bjelland, LMFT. Also see her related class “How to Set Healthy Boundaries and Why it’s Essential for Wellness as an HSP" in list of Free Classes for Highly Sensitive People.~~~The image at upper right (young woman feeling stressed from noise - AI image - DALL*E/Bing) is from my Substack post/podcast:~~~~Thanks for reading/listening. As with most of my posts here, the topics are of deep personal interest, and I will probably, over time, add more content.~~~Do you enjoy and benefit from my posts, podcast episodes, videos and more?As a writer and content entrepreneur, I love researching, creating and publishing material here, and on other Creative Mind Sites, that can help creative people learn more and thrive more.But creating and publishing is only free in some ways.Consider supporting my work with a donation to help with costs.One key tool is my desktop computer. (The image is for illustration, it is not mine and that is not me.) Your donation would help pay for a recent upgrade to a newer (still old, from 2017, but refurbished) iMac, which enables my ongoing work.Other costs include hosting fees (over $120/mo) of my 7 personal sites, and other expenses including a podcast platform, video editor, digital production apps, and more.I want to keep my sites uncluttered with ads. One of my sources of income is occasional commissions from promoting programs by therapists and teachers, but that income has dropped drastically.Thanks for considering a donation to help. Much appreciated. author Douglas Eby* GoFundMe ~~~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe

"Autism informs everything that I do - it's you know my processing unit so it's how the information goes in and out. So it's always informed me. Since being diagnosed, it's helped me understand that I'm not a rubbish person - I just think about things differently." Hannah Gadsby"Autism doesn't define me." Kayla Cromer"In the 60s doctors recommended to my mom to put me on some medications and institutionalize me, and I'm so thankful that she didn't." Daryl Hannah"I was groomed from such a young age, to hide all of the strange peculiarities of even my autism." Sue Ann Pien"Diagnostic criteria are developed using white boys and men, failing to serve many neurodivergent girls and women." Zhara Astra"Past diagnostic criteria were inaccurate, particularly when it came to recognizing Autism in women, and estimates suggest that up to 80% of Autistic women may be undiagnosed..." Julie Bjelland, LMFT ~~~~~~~~See page The Sensitive Autistic Neurotype: Autism Resources Page by Julie Bjelland, LMFT, specializing in Highly Sensitive People, Neurodiversity, and Autism in Women:* Free Guide: Embracing Neurodiversity in the Workplace* Autistic Energy Crash Recovery Guide (Free) * Adult-Discovered Autism Group (inside community)* Course: Discovering You’re Autistic As an Adult* Autism in Women - information and research.* Free Autism Quiz* Autism Podcast Episodes * Research: HSPs & Autism Similarities & Differences … and more ~~~"When somebody tells me to "stop being so sensitive", I feel a little bit like a nose being lectured by a fart. I am not the problem.”- Hannah Gadsby (from her special Nanette, on Netflix, 2018; meme by ifunny)Ten Steps to Nanette: A Memoir Situation by Hannah Gadsby.Her audio in this podcast episode is from this video: Hannah Gadsby Explains How Her Autism Informs Her Comedy | The View Mar 30, 2022.Excerpt video:Image of Hannah Gadsby (top left in collage) is from Vox podcast ep. Hannah Gadsby on comedy, free speech, and living with autism. Kayla Cromer"Autism doesn't define me. I want to be a part of different genres in film and bring light to different characters." From People article Kayla Cromer Opens Up About Breaking Boundaries on TV: 'Autism Doesn't Define Me'. Audio is from video: Actress' leading role is a 1st for people on the autism spectrum, Good Morning America, May 2021.Daryl Hannah Audio is from this video: Autism and Women - Actor Daryl Hannah from interview with Dan RatherSue Ann PienAudio is from podcast: Cast Of "As We See It" Discusses Autism in Adulthood.Image of Sue Ann Pien in collage (lower left) is from her imdb page.Zhara Astraarticle: We Need Better Diagnostic Tests for Autism in Women By Zhara Astra, Scientific American.Her LinkedIn page.My related podcast episode: Julie BjellandTherapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT identifies as autistic, and writes: "In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of Highly Sensitive women seeking and receiving Autism diagnoses in adulthood. "Past diagnostic criteria were inaccurate, particularly when it came to recognizing Autism in women, and estimates suggest that up to 80% of Autistic women may be undiagnosed...""Learn more about my research in understanding traits that overlap in high sensitivity and Autism in women, join my Autistic Women’s Support Group, or learn more about getting an Autism Assessment with the updated criteria!"See her posts "Navigating the Challenges of Autism Diagnosis as an Adult Woman" and "Unmasking Autistic Traits in Women: Could You Be Autistic?" in her HSP Blog. Also see her page Resources for Autistic HSPs - includes Autism Education, Support Group for Autistic Women, Autism Quiz, Research: HSPs & Autism Similarities & Differences, and more.~~~Related resource page:~~~~… This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe

This audio is from the video version of an episode of the podcast ("Why Isn't Everyone Doing This?") by Emily Fletcher - the episode is titled "Embracing Your Emotions with Travis Van Winkle."Host Emily Fletcher: "I am so delighted to share this conversation with you - today's guest is one of my new favorite people. He and I met at a friend's birthday party and we were stunned with how much we had in common - we both practiced the same style of meditation, we both studied in Rishikesh, India, we both used to be actors."He is still an actor, and happens to be a star of the Netflix series FUBAR with Arnold Schwarzenegger."Today we're gonna go deep into why isn't everyone training their emotions - something Travis Van Winkle has been doing for the past 20 years."Emotional training does not just have to be for actors it's actually something that all of us can do."Fletcher says she is striving to "take these sacred potent ancient tools and make them more attractive and accessible to a mainstream audience."~~~~"Ancient wisdom with modern science to help you get better at life." Founded by Emily Fletcher, The Ziva Technique provides "mindfulness, meditation and manifesting. We believe that practicing these 3 M’s makes us better partners, colleagues, friends and citizens. Our 50,000+ students agree." Emily Fletcher has taught at Apple, Google, Harvard, and more. She says "We meditate to get good at life, not to get good at meditation."Mark Hyman, MD notes "Meditation is widely recognized as providing powerful health benefits... I am addicted to Ziva Meditation. I love how rejuvenated I feel afterwards. My recovery time is faster and I feel more grounded. Anxiousness I didn’t even know was there, is gone.”Dr. Hyman is a New York Times bestselling author, and Director of The Cleveland Clinic for Functional Medicine.~~~~~~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe

"Have you heard the statistic that neurodiverse employees are 90 to 140% more productive than non-neurodiverse? Isn't that amazing?" Therapist Julie Bjelland, LMFT from "Episode 192- Embracing Neurodiversity with Julie and Willow" of her HSP and Neurodivergent Podcast. (Follow link to her site & find her Downloadable Guide for Organizations and Individuals under the autism tab. She is probably referring to a case study by JPMorgan Chase in its Autism at Work initiative; see article below.Short clip from the video version of her podcast episode:The second section of this Creative Mind Audio is an excerpt from the Neurodiversity Podcast by Emily Kircher-Morris, Episode 122: Attorney, Author, Artist, Autistic.From the show notes: "A three-year-old with an autism diagnosis is looking at a completely different future than someone who has masked their neurodivergence for years. "We talk with Haley Moss, an attorney, author, and consultant, who helps companies create a neurodiversity-friendly atmosphere. She was diagnosed at age 3, and now has strong opinions about what it takes to move the world in the right direction..."Haley Moss comments "I think self-diagnosis is extremely valid and a very powerful tool for a lot of people to discover something about themselves especially if they knew that they seemed different but didn't really know why."[Photo at top: Astrid Nielsen, left, is a consultant to a Paris police department in the French tv series "Astrid et Raphaëlle" in which she teams with Raphaëlle Coste, a neurotypical police detective. See more below.]øøøHaley Moss is "a lawyer, neurodiversity expert, and the author of four books that guide neurodivergent individuals through professional and personal challenges. She is a consultant to top corporations and nonprofits that seek her guidance in creating a diverse workplace..." Haley Moss website haleymoss.combook: Great Minds Think Differently: Neurodiversity for Lawyers and Other Professionals by Haley Moss. See more titles in my Amazon book collection Highly Sensitive / Neurodivergent People. ~~~TV Series ‘Astrid’Photo at top of this article: Astrid Nielsen, left, is a criminal records archivist and consultant to a Paris police department in the Frech tv series "Astrid et Raphaëlle" in which she teams with Raphaëlle Coste, a neurotypical (and often impulsive) police detective. They not only work together, but value each other as friends.At the beginning of the series (one of my favorite shows), Raphaëlle - along with her other police officers - are wary, even dismissive, of this 'weird' person, Astrid, but come to respect her encyclopedic knowledge and intuitive insights for solving complex crimes.The show and its characters may be fictional, but also acclaimed for its portrayal and respect for neurodivergent people: Astrid and other characters.My query on on search engine Perplexity for "is astrid french series a good depiction of autism" shows this summary, with links to articles:"Yes, the French crime drama series "Astrid et Raphaëlle" (known as "Astrid: Murder in Paris" in English) is widely praised for its authentic and thoughtful depiction of autism through the character of Astrid Nielsen, played by Sara Mortensen.Astrid is openly identified as being on the autism spectrum from the very beginning. Her autism is treated as an integral part of her character rather than just a quirk or plot device.Mortensen's performance as Astrid is lauded for capturing the nuances of autism, such as stimming behaviors, difficulty with eye contact, need for routine, and challenges with social interactions.The show doesn't sensationalize or mock Astrid's autism. Instead, it highlights her exceptional memory, pattern recognition skills, and different way of perceiving the world as assets for solving crimes."~~~Benefits of neurodiversity in the workplaceFrom article by employee experience platform Culture Amp; see article for links to related articles.“Neurodivergent employees aren’t just positive additions to the workplace but a proven competitive advantage. Neurodivergent individuals have been found to possess some of the most sought skills in today’s world of work, including:Greater than normal ability to process information. Research has found that autistic employees “have a greater than normal capacity for processing information even from rapid presentations and are better able to detect information defined as ‘critical.’”Creative thinking. Many of the symptoms of ADHD – creativity, risk-seeking, high energy, and the desire to multitask – can become key strengths when leveraged the right way, in the right job, and in the right organization. Meanwhile, individuals with dyslexia are “often capable of seeing connections that others cannot and create narrations which can simplify complex tasks or products.”Elevated productivity. A case study by JPMorgan Chase found that professionals in its Autism at Work initiative made fewer errors and were 90% to 140% more productive than neurotypical employees.Ability to take a different perspective. Because neurodiverse people are “wired” differently from neurotypical people, they often bring innovative ways of thinking and problem-solving to their teams and organizations.Reminder: The list above is far from exhaustive, and not every neurodivergent individual will exhibit all or any of those specific qualities. Every person is unique, neurodivergent or not. Organizations must avoid hiring neurodiverse employees expecting them to, for example, fit the stereotype of an “autistic savant” who exhibits exceptional, genius-level abilities in one or more domains.Moreover, prioritizing neurodiversity in the workplace also significantly benefits key business metrics like:Team productivity and performance. According to a Deloitte report, “research suggests that teams with neurodivergent professionals in some roles can be 30% more productive than those without them.” This is likely because of neurodiverse employees’ unique skills and cognitive abilities, allowing them to solve problems and approach tasks differently than their team members.”From article Neurodiversity in the workplace: Why it matters, By CultureAmp.~~~A note on labels - 'neurodiverse' and 'neurodivergent'A search on perplexity for query 'is neurodivergent different than neurodiverse' shows this summary, with links to articles:“Yes, neurodivergent and neurodiverse are different terms with distinct meanings.Neurodivergent refers to an individual whose brain functions differently from what is considered "typical" or "neurotypical". It describes someone whose neurological development and cognitive functioning diverge from the norm, such as individuals with conditions like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, or Tourette's syndrome.Neurodiverse, on the other hand, refers to the diversity found among all people in terms of how their brains function and process information. It encompasses both neurodivergent individuals as well as neurotypical individuals.”...But there seems to be an evolving conception of these terms.For example, another sources note “Neurodiversity” is a word used to explain the unique ways people's brains work. While everyone's brain develops similarly, no two brains function just alike. Being neurodivergent means having a brain that works differently from the average or “neurotypical” person." From article: Neurodivergent: What It Is, Symptoms & Types - Cleveland Clinic.~~~» post - People with Autism Turn to ChatGPT for Advice on Workplace Issues - "A new Carnegie Mellon University study explores how people with autism interact with ChatGPT and similar artificial intelligence tools for help and advice as they confront problems in their workplaces."~~~Related posts / episodes:……~~~~Do you enjoy and benefit from my posts, podcast episodes, videos and more?As a writer and content entrepreneur, I love researching, creating and publishing material here, and on other Creative Mind Sites, that can help creative people learn more and thrive more.But creating and publishing is only free in some ways.Consider supporting my work with a donation.One key tool is my desktop computer. (The image is for illustration, it is not mine and that is not me.) Your donation would help pay for a recent upgrade to a newer (still old, from 2017, but refurbished) iMac, which enables my ongoing work.Other costs include hosting fees (over $120/mo) of my 7 personal sites, and there are other expenses including a podcast platform, video editor, and digital production apps.Thanks for considering a donation to help. Much appreciated. DouglasGoFundMe ~~~~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe

Therapist Emma McAdam: "If emotions are getting in the way of you living your life, you can learn how to slow down, think clearly..."Psychologist Melanie Joy notes "this is an incredibly dysregulating time for everyone, especially those of us who are highly sensitive."Dr Cathleen King: “That is another form of nervous system dysregulation when you can't shut off your idea switch and just be in the present moment." Therapist Julie Bjelland: "The brain has a negativity bias..."~~~~~~~~"When you don't know how to process emotions, you might blow up, shut down, or avoid your emotions through things like food, alcohol, TV, or gaming."Therapist Emma McAdam, LMFT continues about emotional dysregulation:"If emotions are getting in the way of you living your life, you can learn how to slow down, think clearly, and make choices that make your life better. "Instead of getting overwhelmed, blowing up, or trying to control or merely cope with your emotions, learn to actually resolve them."Her comments are from a description for her course How to Process Your Emotions. (The image above of two hikers is from a video for the course, and indicates how our relationships, and access to joy and pleasure in life, can be improved by using tools to regulate our nervous system.)» See her course How to Process Your Emotions, plus other courses, articles, videos and membership, at her Therapy in a Nutshell site.Emma McAdam notes she loves helping people change, and provides many programs to support emotional and mental health. Follow link above to her site.This Creative Mind Audio includes clips from two of her videos about nervous system regulation. Here are related videos:~~~~….McAdams comments: "There are at least three reasons why you’re having a hard time regulating your nervous system, despite your best efforts. So let’s explore them and their antidotes.”"Number Two: You’re not safe. And what I mean by that is that some action needs to be taken. "Our nervous system is super smart and super good at bypassing the logical part of our brain to alert us to dangers. “Sometimes anxiety isn’t a disorder; it’s just a message that something needs to change."She explains, "Emotions aren’t just bad things that happen to us; they’re meant to motivate us to take action. Sometimes they lie and we need to calm ourselves down, just regulate our bodies, but sometimes they’re truthful and we need to take action."~~~~“That is another form of nervous system dysregulation when you can't shut off your idea switch and just be in the present moment." Cathleen King, DPTSee more in post:~~~~This topic of dysregulation has many aspects; here are some additional posts and podcasts with therapists:~~~Psychologist Melanie Joy notes "this is an incredibly dysregulating time for everyone, especially those of us who are highly sensitive. We're especially affected by violence, chaos, and unpredictability."……Dr Cathleen King, DPT: "A dysregulated nervous system can turn routine experiences into sources of stress. If you’re feeling persistently anxious, stressed, or physically unwell, it might be more than just a temporary response to life’s challenges—it could be a sign of a dysregulated nervous system." {See more in the post below, including link to her article "Understanding A Dysregulated Nervous System: The Symptoms and Signs."]Therapist and author Julie Bjelland, LMFT: "The brain has a negativity bias...stress, nervousness, fear...can actually trigger a response in the brain that alerts your system to think that it needs to set off these alarm bells." And, she notes, "that happens even more so in highly sensitive people."~~~~~» See more videos in playlist: Nervous System Regulation ~~~~~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe

Psychologist Melanie Joy notes this is an incredibly dysregulating time for everyone, especially those of us who are highly sensitive. This is an excerpt from her conversation with Andrea Weber for the Sensitive Empowerment Community.Dr Joy comments: "We're especially affected by violence, chaos, and unpredictability. And right now, it's just an incredibly dysregulating time, as you pointed out, for everyone. "So the question really is, how do we find the balance, right? So how do we take in enough information?"I think this is one of the things that does throw people a little bit off because they don't want to just tune out entirely. We need to be informed enough so that we're not a part of the problem by sticking our heads in the sand. "But how do we stay informed enough and not get over informed and then manage when we do get over informed?"She suggests multiple resources, including books, apps and practices, to help emotional regulation and resilience.This is an excerpt from the HSP podcast episode "Is Dysregulation Impacting Your Life? How to Recognize and Manage our Emotional Response with Dr Melanie Joy."➡️ Hear the full episode at The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast on the Sensitive Empowerment site of Julie Bjelland, LMFT - where you can find many more of her articles, books, courses, Sensitive Community and other resources. ~~~~Do You Think Your Nervous System Is Dysregulated?Cathleen King, DPT, is a "doctor of physical therapy who teaches neuroscience principles, and is a mind-body practitioner." She writes:"If you’re feeling persistently anxious, stressed, or physically unwell, it might be more than just a temporary response to life’s challenges—it could be a sign of a dysregulated nervous system.”See much more in her article Understanding A Dysregulated Nervous System: The Symptoms and Signs.Follow the link to her site with more articles, a membership program, and more.~~~Related Creative Mind posts and podcast episodes:…~~~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe

"We don’t pay attention to all events and our corresponding emotional reactions in the same way. One negative event can taint an overall good day."Anne-Laure Le Cunff, PhD explains more about our brain's Negativity Bias: "It’s the same with interactions: you may have a good relationship with someone who has supported and complimented you many times over, but you will tend to more saliently remember the one time they shared negative feedback." (Image above is an edited version from her article.) [1]This episode of the Creative MInd Audio podcast includes excerpts from podcasts by two therapists talking about how negativity bias operates and how much impact it can have on us, cognitively and emotionally. First is Emma McAdam, LMFT of Therapy in a Nutshell, who comments in her podcast episode [2] and related video:"Your brain is not designed to make you happy; it's made to keep you alive. “And in order to do that, it's got some built-in biases, including a negativity bias that literally filters what you see, what you pay attention to, what you notice in your life. "And this is why you might feel like everything is getting worse all the time. This bias fuels depression and anxiety, and this thinking pattern might make you see the glass as half empty."One of her resources is a free course: » Grounding Skills for Anxiety - *How your stress response works *How to turn on the calming part of your nervous system (the parasympathetic response) *Essential skills for managing stress, anxiety, PTSD, and panic attacks. » Also see list of her Therapy in a Nutshell Courses, Membership, Blog, and more. Topics include *Mental Health Essentials *Depression *Anxiety *OCD *PTSD/Trauma *Relationships. ~~~Therapist and author Julie Bjelland, LMFT helps highly sensitive people understand our trait and thrive more.She notes this brain tendency toward negativity "has to do with the evolution of humans in general because we used to be living out on the land and could be attacked by a lion at any moment. You had to be very conscious of threats. “But the brain can't tell the difference between a real threat and a perceived threat."So what happens is that stress, nervousness, fear or different things like that can actually trigger a response in the brain that alerts your system to think that it needs to set off these alarm bells."And that happens even more so in highly sensitive people."One of the strategies she suggests to counteract negativity bias is to keep a positivity journal, and pay attention to the more uplifting, encouraging, beautiful, satisfying parts of our life.Resources by Julie Bjelland, LMFT:» Free class Tools For A Chaotic World. » Free class High Sensitivity and Anxiety.Her audio comments are from one of her videos. (3]~~~~Do you relate to this information about Negativity Bias? I certainly do. Most of my life I have experienced some degree of depression and generalized anxiety, and find it helpful to consider how my nervous system operates, especially having the temperament trait of high sensitivity (sensory processing sensitivity).~~~Sources[1] Negativity bias: how negative experiences cloud our judgement By Anne-Laure Le Cunff, PhD in neuroscience, founder of Ness Labs, author of Tiny Experiments.[2] Podcast episode: Why Your Brain Defaults to Scarcity: Break the Anxiety Cycle By Emma McAdam, LMFT. [3] video: Julie Bjelland on negativity bias and HSPs.~~~~~ This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thecreativemind.substack.com/subscribe