Dive into the topic of burnout recovery and prevention, particularly for sensitive and autistic individuals. Burnout is a pervasive challenge for many neurodivergent people, and Julie provides practical tools, strategies, and insights to help listeners identify, manage, and prevent burnout.

Topics Covered:

Burnout Prevention Strategies:

Burnout Recovery Tools:

Long-Term Resilience:

Takeaways: Burnout is not a personal failure but a sign that your body and mind need care. Recovery and prevention require intentional self-care, boundary-setting, and creating routines that align with your unique needs as a sensitive or autistic individual.

Explore More:

Your well-being matters, and small steps can make a big difference. Take time to care for your beautiful, sensitive self. 🌟

I’m Julie Bjelland, LMFT, Consultant and Specialist in Late-Discovered Autism in Sensitive Women (AFAB), a neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I empower sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to embrace their authentic selves, improve their well-being, and thrive. Through my global support hub, I offer online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars to reduce overwhelm and balance the sensitive nervous system. As a proud LGBTQ+ member, I am dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all.

In this episode of The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast, I explore why so many sensitive individuals, particularly women and those assigned female at birth (AFAB), are discovering their autism later in life. Together, we’ll tackle the misconception that autism is a “fad”—an idea that suggests people are falsely claiming to be autistic as part of a trend. I’ll explain why this view is not only wrong but harmful and how greater awareness is helping people recognize traits that were overlooked for decades.

I’ll also answer a listener’s question about whether heightened empathy is compatible with being autistic and challenge the myth that autistic people lack empathy. We’ll discuss the concept of “masking,” or hiding autistic traits to fit into societal expectations, and how this often leads to anxiety, burnout, and chronic health issues. Plus, I’ll share 14 common traits of autistic adults and explore how understanding autism can transform self-compassion, reduce self-criticism, and improve overall well-being.

Links and Resources Mentioned:

If you’ve ever felt “different,” overwhelmed by sensory input, or driven by people-pleasing tendencies, this episode is for you.

I’m Julie Bjelland, LMFT, Consultant and Specialist in Late-Discovered Autism in Sensitive Women (AFAB), a neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I empower sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to embrace their authentic selves, improve their well-being, and thrive. Through my global support hub, I offer online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars to reduce overwhelm and balance the sensitive nervous system. As a proud LGBTQ+ member, I am dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all. Discover more at⁠ JulieBjelland.com⁠.

Description:
In this episode of The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast, Julie Bjelland explores how injustice can deeply affect sensitive and neurodivergent individuals. With heightened empathy and a strong sense of fairness, many of us feel overwhelmed by the injustices we witness in the world. Julie shares 10 actionable strategies to help you manage these emotions, find empowerment, and prepare for meaningful action.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

Links and Resources:

Bio

I'm Julie Bjelland, LMFT, Consultant and Specialist in Late-Discovered Autism in Sensitive Women (AFAB), I am a neurodivergent psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I empower sensitive and neurodivergent individuals to embrace their authentic selves, improve their well-being, and thrive. Through my global support hub, I offer online courses, a supportive community, a podcast, articles, and webinars to reduce overwhelm and balance the sensitive nervous system. As a proud LGBTQ+ member, I am dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces for all. Discover more at JulieBjelland.com.

Life can feel overwhelming and distressing in uncertain times, especially for sensitive and neurodivergent people. That’s why it’s even more important to turn inward, ground ourselves, and find a sense of stability within. By nurturing our inner world, we can create a safe, steady space amidst the external chaos, allowing us to respond with greater calm and resilience.

Welcome, everyone, to The Sensitive and Neurodivergent Podcast. I’m Julie Bjelland, a psychotherapist specializing in high sensitivity, late-discovered autism in women, and neurodivergence. This podcast is a space for you to find comfort, connection, and tools to navigate the unique challenges we experience.

In today’s episode, we will engage in a grounding meditation to help sensitive and neurodivergent individuals find calm during uncertain times. When life feels overwhelming and distressing, it’s a signal to turn inward. For those of us who are sensitive, these feelings can be magnified, making it essential to ground ourselves and cultivate a sense of stability within.

By focusing on our breath, reconnecting with our bodies, and practicing mindfulness, we can nurture a steady anchor amidst external chaos. It’s not about ignoring the world but about creating a sanctuary within ourselves. This meditation is a gift to yourself—a way to reconnect with your inner strength, to feel rooted, and to find comfort and safety within your own body.

I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s take this time together to pause, breathe, and ground ourselves in a moment of peace. You are welcome to show up just as you are, without any pressure to feel or be a certain way. This is your space to simply be.

If you’re seeking further support, visit my website at www.SensitiveConnection.com, where you’ll find additional free meditations, resources, and a loving Sensitive Empowerment Community for deeper connection and mutual support. Thank you for being here, and take extra good care of your beautiful, sensitive self.

I’m Julie Bjelland, LMFT, a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I specialize in high sensitivity and adult-discovered autism. My passion is helping you live with more self-love and self-compassion and flourish more fully in the world. I’ve developed tools to balance the sensitive nervous system and reduce challenges so you can reach your fullest potential. My global support hub includes online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. I’m a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, and my mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. I look forward to supporting your journey. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

We are all too often bombarded by disturbing and distressing media and this can be extremely overwhelming for sensitive people. We can find it extremely challenging to manage the intensity of emotions that are often felt from over-witnessing suffering and violence in our media. As a result, we can spend a great deal of energy intentionally avoiding being exposed. Some things are, however, simply can't be avoided.

In this insightful interview, Dr Melanie Joy shares the psychology of why we turn away from the things we desire to change the most and shines a light on common misconceptions around what is required to instigate change.

Melanie discusses how easy it is for our nervous systems to become dysregulated without adequate self-care to build resilience around challenging issues and gives practical suggestions for self-regulation strategies. Throughout the interview, the topic is discussed in general terms with particular reference to animal welfare, reflective of Melanie's expertise in this area.

The Podcast is Founded by:

Julie Bjelland, LMFT, a psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. I specialize in high sensitivity and adult-discovered autism. My passion is helping you live with more self-love and self-compassion and flourish more fully in the world. I’ve developed tools to balance the sensitive nervous system and reduce challenges so you can reach your fullest potential. My global support hub includes online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. I’m a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, and my mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. I look forward to supporting your journey. Learn more at JulieBjelland.com

Episode Highlights:

Julie’s Resources & Links

Willow’s Resources & Links

Bios

Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. She specializes in supporting high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism. Julie has developed tools to help balance the sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help individuals reach their fullest potential. Through her global support hub, she offers online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. As a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, Julie’s mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and has been working in purpose alignment and lightworker facilitation for 17 years. He specialises in initiating people with High Sensory Intelligence to experience their reality as a gift that can be implemented into valuable products and services. https://inluminance.com/

In this episode of the HSP and Neurodivergent podcast, host Julie Bjelland and Willow McIntosh explore how to find light in the darkness, even during grief and difficult times. They discuss the importance of intentionally seeking joy, even in small moments, and how this practice helps manage overwhelming emotions and build resilience. Julie shares her personal experiences with grief after losing her mother, highlighting the physical and emotional toll it took on her and how finding moments of joy, like photography, helped her heal.

The conversation touches on the challenges sensitive and neurodivergent individuals face, such as sensory overload and emotional depth, and the need for self-care, processing time, and emotional validation. They emphasize how acknowledging emotions without judgment and practicing self-compassion can ease the emotional burden. Willow adds insights into the journey of aligning with one's purpose, especially in business, and how important it is for sensitive people to embrace their truth and strengths. The episode supports and encourages those navigating emotional challenges and seeking resiliency and balance.

Julie’s Resources & Links

Willow’s Resources & Links

Bios

Julie Bjelland, LMFT, is a Licensed Psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. She specializes in supporting high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism. Julie has developed tools to help balance the sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help individuals reach their fullest potential. Through her global support hub, she offers online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. As a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, Julie’s mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and has been working in purpose alignment and lightworker facilitation for 17 years. He specialises in initiating people with High Sensory Intelligence to experience their reality as a gift that can be implemented into valuable products and services. https://inluminance.com/

Welcome to this episode of the HSP and Neurodivergent Podcast with Julie Bjelland, LMFT, and guest Willow McIntosh. This episode celebrates the 5th anniversary of the Sensitive Empowerment Community. We discuss milestones, including reaching listeners in 183 countries and ranking in the top 1.5% of podcasts globally.

Julie’s Resources & Links

Willow’s Resources & Links

Julie Bjelland is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment. She specializes in supporting high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism. Julie has developed tools to help balance the sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help individuals reach their fullest potential. Through her global support hub, she offers online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community, a top-ranked podcast, articles, webinars, and more. As a proud neurodivergent and queer therapist, Julie’s mission is to create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. Learn more at https://www.juliebjelland.com/

Willow McIntosh is the founder of Inluminance and has been working in purpose alignment and lightworker facilitation for 17 years. He specialises in initiating people with High Sensory Intelligence to experience their reality as a gift that can be implemented into valuable products and services. https://inluminance.com/

In this episode of the HSP and Neurodivergent podcast, I share insights on managing the tough days that sensitive individuals often face. After recently losing my mom, I’ve realized how crucial it is to have a "Sensitive Person's Toolkit" to help navigate overwhelming emotions, sensory overload, and other unique challenges.

I discuss common struggles like emotional burnout, strained relationships, social exhaustion, and grief, offering practical tips and tools, such as the use of cold water and ice for immediate relief, practicing self-compassion, and grounding techniques.

I also invite you to join the Sensitive Empowerment Community, where you can connect with like-minded individuals in a supportive, ad-free environment. We’re celebrating our 5th anniversary with a special live chat on September 24th, and I’m excited to announce a new live course, "Nurturing Compassion as a Way of Being," starting September 16th, led by the amazing Gracie King. This course is free for all members and will guide you in cultivating compassion in your daily life.

If you're looking for more support, visit sensitiveconnection.com to find resources, book sessions, and explore the tools I recommend for sensitive individuals. Please like, subscribe, and share the podcast to help others find this supportive space.

Resources Mentioned in Episode

I’m Julie Bjelland, LMFT, a Psychotherapist, author, and founder of Sensitive Empowerment, specializing in high sensitivity, neurodivergence, and adult-discovered autism in women and AFAB individuals. I love developing tools that balance our sensitive nervous system, reduce challenges, and help us reach our fullest potential so we may excel in our unique talents. I’ve created a global hub of extensive support, including online courses, the Sensitive Empowerment Community—a nurturing sanctuary—a globally top-ranked podcast, articles, free webinars, and more. My passion is helping create a world where differences are embraced as strengths and celebrated. LGBTQIA+ and Neuroaffirming. Learn more at JulieBjelland.com

In this episode, Sensitive Empowerment Community members Carol Huckle and Carolina Mariposa co-host quarterly Intuitive Parenting events, in which members discuss the joys and challenges of parenting as HSP's, while supporting one another in our parenting and caregiving journeys. While these events are not normally recorded to maintain privacy of participants, Carol and Carolina hosted this public Q&A session in which SEC members submitted written questions ahead of time. The themes that arose included how to support our sensitive children with intense emotions, how to stay calm while we support our children, and how to help everyone in the family thrive through the stresses of major transitions and unexpected events.