No matter how many times it happens, when I see a client out and about in the world, I freeze inside. My breath gets shallow, and my heart starts racing. I feel like I have a flashing warning light in my head - Danger! DANGER! Do NOT break confidentiality! 

I’ve been a therapist for over 15 years, and it still happens. The irony is that I don’t really mind seeing my clients in public (most of the time). I know I’m very fortunate to get to work with some wonderful people. In fact, I often think about how if I had met a client somewhere other than in my office, we’d likely be friends.

When the world feels bleaker than usual, I get into reading dystopian novels. There’s something about escaping into an even more difficult world that’s appealing. I can wholeheartedly focus on how these other people are trying to survive and adapt in incredibly difficult circumstances. At least it’s not that bad here, I tell myself as I lean into perspective-taking and distraction.

I keep thinking how complicated it is to carry on with life when we’re feeling utterly worn down. It’s such a messy and confusing struggle, so let’s keep this convo going.

Can we start by acknowledging how overwhelming it is to be exhausted, burned out, worn down AND still have to cope with work? Even prior to this political nightmare right now, I get really angry at capitalism and how it treats people.

The heaviness of being utterly worn out. We’ve all been there, we’re there right now, or we’ll be there again. As Hemingway wrote, “the world breaks everyone.” Being human means that we’ll know loss and struggle, that there’ll be times when life goes along with ease and times when it’s all we can do to slowly inch our way through the muck. Of course, our highly sensitive natures can be especially impacted when we’re consumed with struggle.

Some days I struggle to get out of bed. Whether it’s because I don’t want to face something, I didn’t sleep well the night before, or my bed is just exerting its natural gravitational pull, it reminds me of the importance of rest. As a highly sensitive person (HSP), I’m used to feeling quickly depleted by the goings-on of an average day. As a highly sensitive therapist, I’m even more aware of the mental and emotional load I carry at any given time and how important it is to let go and just be with myself. As highly sensitive therapists, how do we soothe ourselves, not just when we’re stressed or tired, but every day?