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March 19, 2024 18 mins

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Emerging from a brief respite with a renewed spirit, I, Kristen Schwartz, invite you back into our shared journey of empathy and self-discovery. 

Have you ever wrestled with the unnerving whispers of worry that seem to know your name too well? 

Our latest heart-to-heart delves into the silent struggle of high-functioning anxiety through the lens of the highly sensitive person. It's a candid revelation of the inner narrative that relentlessly plagues us with doubt and the overwhelming urge to dissect our every move.

Together, we explore the intimate challenges of balancing our empathic nature with the persistent hum of anxiety. I open up about my experiences, offering solidarity and understanding while highlighting the transformative power of grounding practices that anchor our turbulent emotions. 

As your holistic counselor, I'm here to guide you through the strategies that can pave the way toward inner peace and a harmonious life. This session is crafted for every empath seeking refuge and strength amidst the din of our bustling world.

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Thanks for tuning in to the Realized Empath Podcast! 🎙️

If you're vibing with us, there's so much more to explore. Head over to RealizedEmpath.com for free resources, blog posts, and a community of like-minded souls. 🌱

Don't forget to follow us on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook @RealizedEmpath for daily inspiration and empath hacks. Until next time, stay sensitive and strong! ✌️💕"

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You're listening to the Realized Empath Podcast,
where we get real about lovingand stumbling through our
sensitive lives With your hostand holistic counselor, Kristin
Schwartz, who helps redefinewhat's possible for an empath
who embraces a path ofself-healing.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
Welcome to the Realized Empath Podcast, where
we are going to explore thedepths of our sensitivity,
unravel our power and learn howto navigate this busy world
while still staying true to ourauthentic selves.
I'm Kristin Schwartz and I amhere to guide you on this
journey.

(00:42):
Today, we're going to talkabout something many of you will
understand and some of you willrealize for the first time that
you struggle with this Highfunctioning anxiety in the
highly sensitive person.
So I want to first start outand say that I have been MIA for
the last two weeks and I wantto let you know that I myself am

(01:06):
a highly sensitive person andan empath, and the way that I
run my business sometimes is youknow, when you get to that
point where you need rest or I'mnoticing when things in my life
outside of my business aregetting really busy and need my
attention, sometimes I will skipan episode or two so I can care

(01:29):
for myself and get my energyback where I have something to
give.
So I'm glad to be back.
Thank you for being patient.
Let's dive into high functioninganxiety and how that manifests
in the highly sensitive person.
Anxiety it's a word that we allhear often, but when combined

(01:53):
with high sensitivity, it takeson a new dimension.
High functioning anxiety isn'tofficially recognized in medical
textbooks, but it's very realfor those who experience it and
I will shout this from anyrooftop that your realization,

(02:14):
your intuition, your connectionto your body, you knowing
yourself, is much more valid andimportant than any degree that
someone might get who may putthemselves in an expert position
over your experience.
So how you experience life andhow that feels for you, you are

(02:37):
the expert.
So when we're talking abouthigh functioning anxiety, think
of it as like an engine thatkeeps you moving, but it comes
at a really steep cost.
It's a constant hum of worry,planning and overthinking and it

(02:57):
makes you feel like everythingis urgent and, unfortunately, it
makes us feel like everythingis about us.
So imagine this a friend'senergy shifts, or maybe they
haven't replied to your text,and your mind whispers oh, they
must dislike me.

(03:18):
Or or maybe someone acts coldlyand instantly you think it's
because you've done somethingwrong.
This inner narrative whereevery external change ends up
reflecting your worth or youractions.
It's exhausting and it'srelentless right.

(03:39):
So it's this race for peacethat we're on.
We want inner peace, but thefinish line keeps moving further
away.
It's like we it's just outsideof our grasp For highly
sensitive people or empaths.
This anxiety is compounded byour innate ability to absorb the

(04:00):
emotions around us right.
Our sensitivity to thesubtleties means we're
constantly processing ourfeelings and everyone else's,
and it's like it's like having adozen browser tabs open in your
mind, each one, let's say,streaming live videos of
different emotions.

(04:21):
So our desire to fix everythingright, we want to fix
everything because we want toensure our harmony, that peace
that we're searching for andwhere that stems from, is a
beautiful place, but it comeswith a heavy, debilitating
burden.
I remember a day when a simplecan we talk later?

(04:45):
Text, maybe from a friend or apartner, would spiral me into
hours of anxious overthinking.
It wasn't just the fear ofpotential conflict, but the
intense and immediate beliefthat I had somehow failed them,
and what I would do is thatevening I would find out nothing

(05:07):
was wrong, nothing was amiss,and all it was is that the other
person wanted to share goodnews without distractions.
And what I realized is my highfunctioning anxiety had me
coloring my perception andturning just neutral situations
into these emotional mind fields, and knowing this ended up

(05:31):
being half the battle.
So recognizing that thisrelentless drive, this constant
planning and worrying, isactually anxiety.
So then, what's the next step?
The next step is developingstrategies to manage it right.
So, of course, we can't manageit unless we're honest with

(05:52):
ourselves in the present momentabout what's going on in our
head, especially as a highlysensitive person.
So first, I talk about this alot, but grounding is so
important for the impact on thehighly sensitive person and it's
transformative when you do itconsistently.
A lot of times, highlysensitive people and impasse can
be so in our heads, right,because we're tuning into

(06:14):
everything, we're dissectingeverything, we're trying to
figure out where that's comingfrom, what's going on, and we
spend more time up in our headthan we do in our body.
So simple practices likemindful breathing, connecting
with nature or physicalactivities, like I just came out
of the gym right before Irecorded this episode for you,

(06:35):
because I want to be able toreturn to the present, I want to
be able to reduce overwhelm, Iwant to be grounded in my body
and not all up in my mind and myhead when I'm wanting to
connect with you and I'm wantingto pour energy into what I'm
creating.
So second is setting boundariesand it's okay to limit your

(06:57):
exposure to situations orindividuals that can trigger
your anxiety.
But remember, the long termplan is not avoidance.
Our triggers are actually giftsand I know there's a lot of you
they're going to raise youreyebrows at that, but we are
responsible for our triggers.
They actually guide us towardsopportunities to heal more

(07:18):
deeply.
They point us to what needs ourattention and if we're
constantly avoiding our triggers, we're really avoiding our
expansion and growth.
So, yes, remember saying no orI need space is not just self
care, it's actually an act ofself respect.
And also know that there'sgoing to be opportunities in

(07:39):
there to expand your window oftolerance and mindfully accept
triggers and welcome them whenyou're ready for growth.
Last, you want to cultivate selfcompassion.
You want to come up with apractice of self compassion.
So speak to yourself like youwould, a close friend, when

(08:01):
you're facing some of thosechallenges that ignite that
anxiety.
You want to be gentle, usingunderstanding words.
Figure out what words help you,soothe your mind right, remind
you of your strength andresilience.
And this isn't just like sayingthings just mindlessly like I'm

(08:21):
okay, I'm okay when really it's.
You're not noticing any realchange in your body.
I want you to really tune in towhat words soothe your nervous
system.
I get it when the race forpeace feels out of reach, but
it's not about crossing a finishline.

(08:41):
It's about finding your pace.
High functioning anxiety andhigh sensitivity are part of
your journey, but they don'tdefine you.
They don't define your pathright.
Your path forward is not allfigured out for you and you're a
victim in your high sensitivityor the high functioning anxiety

(09:02):
.
Each step you take towardunderstanding, managing and
embracing those aspects ofyourselves are steps towards
peace, like incorporatingmindfulness into your daily
routine, not as another task tocheck off, but as a moment to
truly connect with yourself.

(09:23):
You want to explore creativeoutlets to express and process
your emotions and, mostimportantly, you want to build a
support network thatunderstands and uplifts you.
Let's explore mindfulness a bitmore.
It can be a light for those ofus that are navigating the

(09:44):
craziness of life andhigh-function anxiety.
But mindfulness isn't justabout sitting in silence.
It's an active engagement withthe now, with the present.
It's a way to declutter themind.
For empaths, practicingmindfulness can be it can be

(10:07):
like putting on noise-cancelingheadphones in a crazy busy room,
right when the energy is justall over the place and suddenly
the external and internal noisedims down right.
And that's what we want.
We want to leave you with clearthoughts and a sense of calm

(10:27):
that you can access wherever youare.
So I want you to considerbringing in mindfulness.
So maybe you do it throughmeditation apps, maybe you
already do it through journalingor one of my favorites maybe
you do it through walking rightThrough mindful walking, through
nature walks, but I want you topay attention to the sensations

(10:49):
under your feet when you walk,the rhythm of your breath or the
sounds around you.
Right, this isn't about erasinganxiety.
It's about learning to movethrough it with grace.
You know, our ability to bemindful, or our ability to know
when we need grounding, is allabout connection right.

(11:12):
Connection for highly sensitivepeople can be both a source of
joy and anxiety, right.
But finding your tribe, thosewho understand and share your
experience, can significantlylighten your load.
One of the most beautifulmoments I had with my other

(11:34):
retreat goers when we were inCosta Rica in January was the
moment when the other womenrealized how quickly they were
able to be vulnerable andconnect with strangers, because
when someone else gets you, it'slike you drop down your armor

(11:56):
really quickly.
Connecting with others is aboutquality over quantity, and a
few deep understandingrelationships can offer huge
support and validation.
So I want you to start byexploring communities online,
joining support groups orattending workshops on

(12:17):
sensitivity and anxiety.
Sharing your experiences andhearing other stories is
incredibly affirming and healing.
And remember vulnerability inthe right environment is not a
weakness.
It's a pathway to deeperconnections and self-acceptance.
I've said this before, but Ihave a forum on

(12:38):
RealizedImpathcom where it'sfree to join, and there's a lot
of impasse and highly sensitivepeople in there and you can talk
, chit, chat, get to know eachother.
So if you wanna head over toRealizedImpathcom and join the
forum, I invite you to do that.
Remember your sensitivity is notan obstacle.
It's this amazing quality aboutyou that allows you to

(13:00):
experience the world in vividcolor.
Yet when we're talking aboutthe context of high functioning
anxiety, it can feel like acurse.
Right, and the key is balance.
You wanna embrace yoursensitivity, but that involves
recognizing your limits andnurturing your inner world.

(13:20):
Create a sanctuary for yourself, a space or practice where you
can retreat, recharge andreconnect with that amazing
essence inside of you, whetherthat's through art or nature or
music or spirituality.
Find what replenishes your souland make it a non-negotiable

(13:44):
part of your life.
Building healthy habits isfundamental for managing
high-function anxiety.
This includes physical activity, which can greatly lower
anxiety levels, and it alsoimproves mood and boost overall
health.
But it's more than exerciseright.
It's about establishingroutines that anchor you,

(14:07):
provide comfort and bring youjoy.
Whether it's a morning cup oftea in silence, or reading
before bed, or a regularcheck-in with a friend, these
habits build a framework ofstability in your day-to-day
life, making the unpredictablewaves of anxiety much more

(14:28):
navigable.
It's important to note too, asyou're building healthy habits,
I want you to take note of whathabits do you have right now
that you do every day that youknow, if you're honest with
yourself, don't feel good andactually create anxiety.
I'll share one of mine.
I tell myself that in themorning, before I get out of bed

(14:52):
, I take maybe I'll get up,brush my teeth, wash my face,
and then I get back in bedbecause it's so cozy.
And then I tell myself, oh, I'mjust taking these 20 minutes to
myself and I'll grab my phoneand I'll answer emails, or maybe
I'll do an Instagram post.
But if I'm really honest withmyself those 20 minutes that I

(15:12):
do, that when I'm done I feeldrained.
I know that it serves me betterto allow myself to wake up,
brush my teeth, wash my face,take care of myself, go out and
get nourished and hydrated.
But I've created this habit andI also tell myself untruths to

(15:33):
keep myself in that habit.
So not only do we need to buildhealthy habits, but we need to
be honest with ourselves, withwhat habits we have that aren't
healthy, and we need to startnavigating away from those two.
So all the strategies thatwe've discussed are powerful and
there's immense strength inseeking professional support too
.

(15:54):
Therapy, particularly with aprofessional who understands
high sensitivity and anxiety,can offer you more personalized
strategies and deeper insights.
It's not about finding a quickfix.
It's about building a toolboxof coping mechanisms and

(16:14):
understanding the roots of youranxiety.
If therapy feels like a bigstep, start with workshops or
books focused on anxiety andsensitivity.
The goal is to provide yourselfwith the knowledge and support
that reinforces that you're notalone in this world, in your

(16:36):
journey.
As we wrap up this episode, Iwant to remind you that
navigating high functioninganxiety as a highly sensitive
person, as an empath, is goingto have ebbs and flows.
It's about continuouslylearning, adapting and growing.
The path to peace, remember,may seem elusive and I get that

(17:01):
but it becomes more tangiblewith each step of understanding,
self-care and connection.
If you resonated with today'sepisode, I invite you to explore
further.
Reach out for support, join ourempath community where we dive
deeper into these topics, sharethis episode with someone who

(17:22):
needs to hear it and togetherlet's spread understanding and
compassion.
Thank you so much for spendingthis time with me and for being
open and vulnerable.
You're not just surviving, butyou're learning to thrive in
your beautifully sensitive skin.
Remember you are enough exactlyas you are, and your
sensitivity is this beautiful,amazing, unique aspect about you

(17:48):
, and the world definitelydesperately needs it.
Until next time, take care ofyourself, honor your feelings
and cherish your incrediblecapacity to feel deeply.
Goodbye for now and rememberthe Realized Empath community is
always here for you.

Speaker 1 (18:05):
See you next time.
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