Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People (HSP): Inner Work and Strategies for Coping with Stress, Overwhelm, and Negative Emotions
As a highly sensitive person, are you looking for a more effective way to cope with stress and negative emotions? This show helps highly sensitive people avoid overwhelm, eliminate stress, and find true inner freedom. Listen to discover: • Specific stress management strategies to avoid overwhelm as an HSP • Real stories and insights to inspire your own inner freedom • Powerful ways to understand and embrace your sensitivity Todd Smith, your host and founder of True Inner Freedom, has been helping people reduce stress through The Work of Byron Katie since 2007—a powerful practice for questioning the thoughts that cause suffering. Each week, you’ll hear three episodes designed to support your inner freedom as an HSP: • Breakthrough Mondays feature success stories and insights to inspire your growth. • Self-Compassion Wednesdays explore the unique traits of high sensitivity and offer deeper self-understanding. • Strategy Fridays focus on practical tools and stress management strategies to help you stay balanced and grounded. If you’re ready to transform your inner experience, start by listening to Episode 189, “The 3 Pillars of Stress Management for HSPs: A Path to Emotional Balance.”
Episodes
Are you chasing perfection… or simply doing your best?
If you're a highly sensitive person, the pressure to get everything “just right” can feel overwhelming — but what if your perfectionism isn’t a flaw, but a message?
Perfectionism can feel like part of your personality — but it may be the root of your burnout.
Are you giving so much to your partner that you’re losing yourself—or have you gone too far the other way?
Many Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) struggle to find the sweet spot between honoring their own needs and showing up fully in their relationships. If you're feeling emotionally stretched, disconnected, or unsure where to draw the line, this episode offers a pe...
If you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP), you may have internalized the belief that your sensitivity is a flaw — especially in a world that praises toughness, speed, and emotional detachment. This episode dives deep into how those beliefs are formed, how they silently drive your stress and self-doubt, and most importantly, how to break free from them.
Discover h...
Highly sensitive people crave meaningful, soul-nourishing relationships—but what happens when that connection starts costing your peace?
In this episode of Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People, Todd Smith explores the powerful draw HSPs have toward deep, emotional relationships and the hidden toll that can come with th...
Ever felt like a small critique cuts deep—and you just can't shake it? You're not alone, especially if you're a highly sensitive person (HSP).
Criticism can feel overwhelming for HSPs—not because we're weak, but because we process emotions deeply and care about doing things well. This episode reveals why criticism stings so much and how to shift your relationship with it, so it no longer hijacks your peace...
Are you secretly judging yourself for needing alone time?
Discover why your need for solitude as a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) isn’t a flaw—but your greatest asset.
In a world that glorifies constant hustle and social engagement, HSPs often feel out of step for needing downtime. This episode reframes alone time not as a weakness, but as a powerful tool to reclaim your energy, focus, and emotional balance...
Are Your Stress Management Routines Helping—or Holding You Back?
Feeling boxed in by your own self-care habits? Discover how even well-meaning stress management rules can become sources of stress for highly sensitive people—and what to do when that happens.
For many highly sensitive people (HSPs), routines provide a sense of safety and balance—but what happens when those helpful rules become too rigid? In ...
What if burnout isn’t caused by overwork—but by something much deeper within?
As a highly sensitive person (HSP), you may have tried resting, unplugging, even meditating—yet the exhaustion lingers. This episode dives beneath the surface to explore the hidden cause of burnout that no amount of vacation or exercise can touch, and why conventional fixes often fail HSPs.
You'll discover:
Why Are Highly Sensitive People Actually More Resilient Than Others?
Have you ever felt like your sensitivity was a weakness—especially when it comes to stress? What if it’s actually your greatest asset?
In this episode of Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People, Todd Smith reframes what it means to be resilient as a highly sensitive person (HSP). If you've ever struggled with feeling overwhelmed by ...
Do you find yourself constantly saying “yes” to others—only to feel emotionally drained and overwhelmed afterward?
As a highly sensitive person, your deep empathy can become a double-edged sword—especially when it keeps you from saying "no" and prioritizing your own well-being. This episode dives into the hidden emotional cost of people-pleasing and the approval trap, showing you how this silent habit fuel...
Are You “Too Sensitive”—Or Just Misunderstood?
What if the emotional overwhelm and self-criticism you experience aren’t signs of weakness—but powerful signals from a part of you that’s been misunderstood?
If you’re a highly sensitive person (HSP), this episode will feel like home. You’ll discover how to stop seeing your sensitivity as a flaw and begin understanding it as the foundation for deep emotional i...
Are you trying to "fix" your stress—only to end up feeling worse?
Many Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) struggle with the pressure to treat emotional pain like a mechanical problem: find it, fix it, and move on. But what if that very mindset is blocking your healing?
In this episode of Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People, Todd Smith reveals why traditional, fix-it approaches often fall flat when it...
Are You Chasing Balance or Just Burning Out Trying?
If you're a highly sensitive person constantly striving for the perfect work-life balance, you might be chasing a mirage—and adding to your stress without realizing it. This episode unpacks why the traditional idea of balance doesn’t work for HSPs and what to do instead.
Discover the real reason balance feels so elusive and how redefining it on your own t...
Ever find yourself stuck in the painful limbo of not knowing whether to stay in a tough situation or finally walk away?
For highly sensitive people, this decision is especially overwhelming—your empathy, conscientiousness, and fear of conflict often cloud what your heart truly wants. If you're caught in this internal tug-of-war, this episode offers a grounded way forward that honors both your nervous syste...
#275 | How to Better Understand the HSP in Your Life (And Make the Relationship Easier for You Both)
Are You Accidentally Stressing Out the Highly Sensitive Person in Your Life?
If someone you love often seems overwhelmed or withdrawn, you might be missing crucial insights into what it really means to be highly sensitive—and how your everyday habits could be making it worse without you knowing.
In this episode of Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People, Todd Smith breaks down the most common misconc...
Are you pushing through exhaustion just to "get everything done"—even when your soul is screaming for rest?
If you're a highly sensitive person constantly caught between doing what needs to be done and honoring your own energy, this episode is your wake-up call. You’ll hear the real-life story of a client swept into literal and emotional chaos—and how questioning just one “positive-sounding” thought gave h...
Are you constantly putting yourself last — and wondering why you're so drained?
If you're a highly sensitive person (HSP), your empathy and deep sense of responsibility can drive you to care for everyone else first. But what if this “selfless” habit is actually sabotaging your wellbeing — and your ability to serve others?
In this episode of Stress Management for Highly Sensitive People, Todd Smith explores...
Are you tired of feeling "too slow" in a world that moves too fast?
If you're a highly sensitive person who often feels behind because of your thoughtful, deliberate pace, this episode is your reminder that your natural rhythm isn't a weakness—it’s a powerful strength. Discover how embracing your slower processing style can actually unlock deeper creativity, better decision-making, and stronger relationshi...
Are you secretly craving a break—but feel guilty for taking one?
For highly sensitive people, life can quickly spiral into overwhelm, especially when responsibilities stack up without pause. If you're feeling drained, disconnected, or like you're constantly running on empty, this episode offers a gentle, powerful path back to yourself.
You'll discover how a simple, unplanned afternoon alone helped Todd Smi...
Are You Missing These 10 Subtle Signs of Burnout as a Highly Sensitive Person?
If you're constantly exhausted, snapping at loved ones, or feeling emotionally numb, you might be facing more than just a rough week—burnout could be quietly taking hold. As a highly sensitive person (HSP), your nervous system picks up on subtleties others might ignore. This episode helps you recognize when your sensitivity is s...
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