Pandemic Fatigue: Care for HSPs

Who is feeling pandemic fatigue?  At this time are many months into the pandemic and I know that many people are experiencing pandemic fatigue.  

I want to both normalize your emotions and provide some resources that might help. First of all, most everyone has had some kind of meltdown or experienced an emotional rollercoaster.  Times aren't "normal" so it's unlikely we will feel "normal".

One of the biggest things we can do is continue to show ourselves self-compassion and let ourselves feel what we feel while being gentle, and loving, and patient with ourselves.

Some HSPs Shared Their Pandemic Fatigue…

Thank you for this, Julie. I'm really struggling with having everyone endlessly in the house needing me. I'm enjoying mindful walks and savoring quiet moments when I can. Thank you for the reminder that it's ok to feel stressed during these stressful times! 

Thank you Julie! For me it was difficult to explain to my husband and sons what I really wanted was spending a few days alone, but it is was worth "overcoming the guilt". I know I'll be much better company for everyone thanks to this break! (I also feel very lucky that it is possible!). Sometimes...often to be honest- I need to push myself to do what I know is right for me...what helps me then is to imagine what I would encourage a friend to do - and that way the choice seems more obvious :)

My experience has been on the other side! :) Too much alone time. It has been just me and my dog in this house for months and months and months on end with very little happening of the life I was engaged in before the Pandemic. I’m an introvert, obvi, but I would still be able to go sit at the local coffeehouse, meet some friends, go over to my friend’s house for holiday meals, all of those little human touchpoints. I’m mentally strong, resilient, and have great coping skills but I too want to acknowledge with all of us here how difficult it really is and stand supportingly with everyone that is feeling the impact in their own unique way.

Thank you Julie, that does help. I use my tools most of the time, but like everyone else, I really miss socializing and doing activities of my choice.

Want to share your experiences in the comments below?

Here Are Resources That Might Help

Here’s a compilation of episodes fromThe HSP Podcast as well as recommended blog posts offering tips during the pandemic and meditations for the sensitive to help you feel less stressed and calmer.

Support for highly sensitive people during this pandemic

Ideas to support your wellness and balance and reduce anxiety and help you through this time. By sensitivity expert and psychotherapist Julie Bjelland

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What’s Hard and What’s Helping During This Pandemic

I share what I find hard and what I'm hearing is hard for HSPs. I also share the results of a poll I did on what self-care HSP therapists are doing that helps. Visit HSPpodcast.com to leave comments about what is hard and what's helping.

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Pandemic Self Care: with Julie and Willow

What is self-care? How is self-care different for HSPs? How does it need to be different during a global pandemic? Willow and I share what helps us stay resilient so we can stay balanced, take care of ourselves, our families, and stay productive in our work helping others.

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Optimizing Health as an HSP during Coronavirus with Julie Bjelland and Dr. Julia Hipp

Dr. Julia Hipp discusses naturopathic approaches to caring for the highly sensitive body during the COVID-19 pandemic. She talks about how your "terrain" or overall health can impact your immune system and ways to decrease your physical, mental and emotional overwhelm. Disclaimer: The information discussed in this podcast does not constitute medical advice.

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How To Deal With Anxiety While Navigating Chaos And Uncertainty with Sukie Baxter

Learn simple, embodied tools that HSPs can use to calm their nervous system while staying centered and connected to their core selves even when the world is chaotic and uncertain. Discover how to discharge stored stress so it doesn't build up in your body and cause physical, mental, and emotional health issues down the road.

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Recognizing the importance and value of our high sensory abilities during a global pandemic with Julie Bjelland & Willow McIntosh

This podcast episode is dedicated to empowering sensitive people to recognize their trait as sensory intelligence and bring their unique gifts into service for the crucial roles we play in communities, businesses, and leadership globally. With Julie Bjelland, Sensitivity Expert, Psychotherapist and Founder of the online Sensitive Empowerment Community And Willow McIntosh founder of Inluminance and leader of the High Sensory Intelligence movement.

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Our Challenges Shape Our Purpose with Julie & Willow

Current times are challenging. Several months into a pandemic with no known end in sight, dividing families, economic crisis, racial unrest, political divide, climate crisis, etc. Families are struggling. It's easy for fear to take over in all this uncertainty and when you combine the intensity of emotion we experience as HSPs it can be overwhelming.

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Why Self-Care isn't Cutting it During this Pandemic with Jodi Aman

For HSPs, the energy from the field is overwhelming right now as global and community fears are high. We not only need a new level of self-care, but a paradigm shift in our relationship to that energy to keep ourselves from being totally overwhelmed. Jodi Aman shares the secrets to doing this.

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How to manage intense stress and anxiety right now as a sensitive person

I'm giving you information and resources on how to manage the intense emotions you might be experiencing right now to help you find a way to be balanced and get through this. Do you have a question you want to be answered in an upcoming Q/A? Leave me a voice message!

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Be careful about how much news you’re taking in

I give an example of what I do and I hope that it helps you stay balanced and well.

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How to manage intense stress and anxiety right now as a sensitive person

I'm giving you information and resources on how to manage the intense emotions you might be experiencing right now to help you find a way to be balanced and get through this. Do you have a question you want to be answered in an upcoming Q/A? Leave me a voice message!

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Growth Through Suffering

There absolutely can be growth through suffering. In fact it's our responsibility right now to intentionally take the path towards growth and to recognize the power of this trait of high sensitivity. This trait evolved as a survival strategy of the population. You are needed more than ever.

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Hope in Crisis

There are so many things we can do right now to support ourselves through this crisis. Accessing resiliency and hope can make a big difference. Developing self compassion and brain training skills designed to activate calming centers will also support your balance.

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Accessing Resiliency: Helping Yourself & the World When You Are Needed Most with Willow McIntosh & Julie Bjelland

Willow and I talk about resiliency today. We share what we are doing to stay resilient and how to access it. Additionally, I have observed these 10 patterns of what HSPs are doing right now that are helping them to stay resilient.

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Reflection and Growth Opportunity

This is a time for us to reflect on our journey and what this pivot might mean for our lives and the ways that we might consciously and intentionally grow.

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How HSPs Are Staying Resilient

I'm noticing a pattern of what HSPs are doing who are able to stay resilient and strong right now and I'm sharing with you in hopes that it helps you access your strength and resiliency right now. www.sensitiveconnection.com

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Also, here are some blog posts recommend

10 Ways Highly Sensitive People Can Reduce Their Fear During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Read here.

It’s OK if You Aren’t Ok Sometimes, but here are some tools that help.

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Explore Meditations for the Sensitive

Here’s a list of some of the meditations I’ve created for you! Explore them all here.

Episode 107: Grounding Meditation

Episode 103: Self-Love, Self Honoring Meditation

Episode 87: Meditation to Restore

Episode 77: Seeking Peace: A Meditation for the Busy Mind

Episode 74: Sleep Meditation Listening to Water in a Stream

Episode 70: Meditation for Intense Feelings

Episode 69: Ocean Time Meditation

Episode 68: Forest Bathing Meditation

Episode 65: Meditation for Deep Feelers

Episode 62: Meditation for Emotional Wounding

Episode 53: Meditation for Exhaustion or Irritability

Episode 51: Guiding You Into Sleep

Episode 50: Deep Sleep Meditation

Episode 43: 10 Minute Relaxation Meditation

Episode 38: End of Day Relaxation Meditation: Bath and Candles

Episode 37: Letting Go Meditation: Opening Up a New Path

Episode 36: Loving-Kindness Meditation to Self and to All

Episode 23: Body Scan Meditation for the Sensitive

Episode 17: Breathe Awareness Meditation

Episode 16: Relaxation Meditation by Julie Bjelland

Episode 15: Relax with the Beautiful Sound of Birds

Episode 10: Self-Esteem Building Relaxation for the Sensitive

Episode 09: Lovingkindness Meditation for Highly Sensitive People

Episode 08: Relaxation & Body Tension Release for the Sensitive

Episode 07: Meditation for Highly Sensitive People

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We are stronger together. I hope you will come to join my amazing Sensitive Empowerment Community where we support and validate our experiences of sensitivity and grow new tools. It’s life-transforming to spend time with other sensitive people dedicated to growth and empowerment. I’m there every day and we do weekly live events! Private community, no ads, off of social media. Yay!

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Download the free guide to calm your brain! This is one of many brain training tools I teach that work well. You will also get weekly tips and support to help you reduce challenges of sensitivity so you can access your gifts and live at your fullest potential.

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