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We all know that the challenges of new motherhood can be many--and overwhelming. If you are an HSP (highly sensitive person), then those challenges may be magnified---and you probably aren\u2019t focusing on any self-care. This topic resonates deeply with me and intrigues me in the way the trait interacts with motherhood and its challenges.\nJulie Bjelland is an LMFT, an HSP psychotherapist, and the author of Brain Training for the Highly Sensitive Person: Techniques to Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelming Emotions. Julie\u2019s mission is to help sensitive people reduce the challenges and increase the positives.Through her website specializing in highly sensitive people (the trait also known as Sensory Processing Sensitivity), she offers many valuable resources for both HSP\u2019s and parents of sensitive children. Julie has a mission to spread awareness and education about the trait of high sensitivity and believes the world needs the gifts of sensitive people.\n\xa0\nShow Highlights:\n\nHigh sensitivity is a trait and not a disorder--and it\u2019s NOT the same as introversion (30% of HSP\u2019s are extroverts and 20% are introverts)\n\nFrom Elaine Aron\u2019s work on HSP\u2019s: Depth of Processing, Overstimulation, Emotionally responsive, and Sensitivity to subtle stimuli (DOES)\n\nThe judgment around being sensitive and its connection to weakness\n\nHow scientific research shows real brain differences in HSP\u2019s\n\nOn the positive side, HSP\u2019s are more empathetic, more aware, and more compassionate\n\nCommon for the HSP mother is to put themselves at the bottom of the priority list and take care of others first\n\nTrained HSP vs. untrained HSP\n\nSelf-care---a conscious action you take to lower your stress and bring you to a balanced state\n\nA key for HSP\u2019s is getting enough sleep in order to understand and meet specific needs\n\nAn HSP mom\u2019s default setting is to be hard on themselves and focus on everyone else\u2019s needs\n\nCertain parts of the brain in HSP moms will be overactive, like merging into everyone else\u2019s moods and experiences\n\nMany people who seek treatment for anxiety will also have the HSP trait\n\nHow HSP contributes to overall perinatal depression and anxiety, since everything changes in mind, body, and spirit\n\nWhy HSP\u2019s need creative ways to get two hours of alone time each day\n\nThe tendency to measure everything in ourselves and others against the standard of perfection\n\nSelf-talk, with low levels of self-compassion and criticism of themselves\n\nCommon characteristics of HSP\u2019s: perfectionism, sleep-deprived, overstimulated, and misunderstood\n\nSteps to help HSP\u2019s:\n\nDevelop self-compassion\xa0(Kristin Neff outlines 3 steps)\n\nTake breaks when needed\n\nPractice mindfulness\n\n50% of clients in therapy are HSP\u2019s\n\nSupporting moms and dads better in pregnancy and the postpartum period could impact parenting differently and offer more support\n\nUsing the right tools for support in children can prevent many problems and help them gain confidence and have an easier time accepting who they are\n\n\xa0\nResources:\n\xa0Brain Training for the Highly Sensitive Person: Techniques to Reduce Anxiety and Overwhelming Emotions.by Julie Bjelland\n\xa0\nThe Highly Sensitive Child by Dr. Elaine Aron\n\xa0\n\xa0Self-Compassion by Kristin Neff\n\xa0\nwww.juliebjelland.com\nFind Julie on Facebook: The Highly Sensitive Person\nInstagram: hsp psychotherapist\nTwitter: @juliebjelland\nLinkedIn: highly-sensitive-juliebjelland