Episode 47: Researching the Highly Sensitive Brain With Dr. Bianca Acevedo
Conversation
Episode 47
[00:00:00] Welcome to the Authentic Calm Podcast, a holistic space for natural Sensitives. I am Jessi Michel Agadoni your host and Sensitive guide. And if you are here today, I believe that your sensitivity is intentional and needed and that your authentic nature and calm state are the keys to whole health. This episode is intended to be a catalyst for you.
Cultivating reconnection with your body, unleashing the full capacity of your heart and curating thought freedom by pressing play. You have my personal invitation to join our world created just for sensitives together. We will uncover and live out our unique callings as tender spirits. Let's dive in.
Jessi: [00:00:00] Hello and welcome Bianca. We're so excited to have you here. This is a long awaited interview for me. I've been admiring you from afar for a while, and just so thrilled to have you on, so thank you for your time today.
Bianca: It's my pleasure, Jesse. Thank you for having me.
Jessi: Well, I just wanna kind of jump in right away and get into a little bit about your topic and, um, you know, I'd love for you to share if you're open to it, kind of how you.
Stepped into the research around sensory processing [00:05:00] sensitivity, how this became something that you were intrigued by and how it just became part of such a huge part of your world.
Bianca: Well, it just kind of. Stumbled into my life. So I was doing my graduate work at SUNY Stonybrook with art, Aaron, and the focus of my research was close relationships.
And specifically I was, um, very focused on, understanding whether people could stay in love for a long time. Hmm. And his wife is Elaine. Aaron. Who wrote the highly sensitive person and who coined the term, the highly sensitive person. So, it just kind of, you know, came into my life through our Anna, Elaine.
And, um, at the time I was interested in. Mm, still am [00:06:00] interested in empathy mm. In couples and seeing how partners react to their partners, emotional displays. So we had collected some data from, couples looking at each other. Showing different types of emotions, happy, sad, neutral emotions, as well as strangers.
And we had included the highly sensitive person scale in that study. So we were interested in understanding whether people respond differently to their partners, emotional displays, as a function of their sensitivity. And we found. the more sensitive participants showed stronger brain activity in response to their partners, happiness in reward areas of the brain.
So in, [00:07:00] you know, when they see their partners showing happy emotion, their brain actually lights up in a stronger way. Amazing in response to the partner's happiness. So in these key reward areas that are rich and dopamine, and that are involved in energy and motivation. So seeing just they're seeing their partners smile and inferring that their partners experiencing joy, they actually show stronger activation in these reward details.
And we also saw activation in an area of the brain called a. And at the time, the insular, um, and still the it's it's known for being involved in our visceral processes. So it's like, you know, when we kind of have like a gut feeling about something mm-hmm and. In response to other's emotions, specifically their partners, to greater extent for the [00:08:00] partners, they show stronger activation in the Inala and the Inala is also thought to be kind of like, you know, somebody coined the term, the seat of awareness, because it's kind of, um, you know, related to intuition, you know, when we just kind of send something, we kind of feel it viscerally without, you know, having a cognition about it.
So. Yeah. So that was, you know, how I got started. And I got really interested in understanding how highly sensitive people's neural responses are different than people who are less sensitive. So I'm still on that track of trying to understand highly sensitive.
Jessi: How fascinating. I, I think there's so many of us that, you know, identify as sensitives.
However we choose to label it. Right. HSP and path sometimes even introvert. Um, we feel that we're different, but we don't really know why or how. And so when I first [00:09:00] uncovered your work and, and Dr. Elaine's work too, how it's actually a wiring in the brain, um, that makes. Receive the world differently and respond differently.
And I'm sure you'll have better, more technical language than that. But when I read your work, it was like, oh, that makes so much sense to me. And I identify with that so deeply. So I'm so grateful for your uncoveries yourself and with your team and for bringing that forward in your beautiful book. Uh, the highly sensitive brain, which I cannot recommend enough.
Um, Especially if you're a therapist, you know, a teacher, a parent of someone that's sensitive. If you're sensitive yourself, there's just so much, uh, goodness in there. So thank you for that. So I have a ton of deeper questions that I wanna run by your extra brain. yeah. Um, so when you talk about how our brain.
Responds to those that we, you know, are we love our partners [00:10:00] specifically yeah. In a different manner than maybe someone who isn't sensitive. Is there a way that we respond to other elements in our life, other people or simuli in our life? How does that look within the brain?
Bianca: Yeah, that's a great question.
So, um, hi, so highly sensitive people, process information. Differently in a deeper way. So sometimes they seem to be a little bit slower to, you know, because they pause to reflect, to think about things, to, you know, process the information and when too many things are going on at the same time, they can become overwhelmed very quickly because they're processing so much.
And they need time to process and, uh, you know, carefully think about things, make careful decisions, um, analyze things, process the information, but then over time they become [00:11:00] faster at things it's usually initially then they can get really, really good at things and kind and making connections and understanding things in a deeper way.
Mm. Um, so is
Jessi: it just when something's new that there's, that kind. Caution and, um, that pausing that you're talking about that happens more when it's a new interaction. So when you're a child, it's probably really strong. And then as an adult, when it's yeah. Something new or unexperienced unknown that comes in that you start to slow down.
But once you know it there's actually, it sounds like you're actually rapid and you start to kind of accelerate, um, potentially from those around you. Is that what you're.
Bianca: Yeah. Yeah. So there is that learning element that that happens. Um, so it's interesting because you know, it would seem that we're introverted mm-hmm , but, um, it just finished analyzing, uh, data set, looking at.
High [00:12:00] sensitivity and high sensation seeking. So a trait where people seek novelty mm-hmm they like, um, having new experiences, they like having sensory experiences, sometimes intense ones. Mm-hmm but not necessarily impulsive ones. So they won't like do something on unaware and do something that's very, very risky, but they take these highly sensitive high sensations seeking people take, um, Like small calculated risks, but they do enjoy these, um, high sensation seeking experiences, like going to parties or writing motorcycle or going, uh, gliding or, Like all these, all these, you know, things that we would not tend to associate with being highly sensitive, but for some highly sensitive people, I think in our example, it turned out to be, um, gosh, about 70% of them who were [00:13:00] moderately or highly sensitive, also scored high on sensation seeking.
So not that small of an amount for just the highly SENSIT. Folks. It was a smaller percentage that were also high sens Asian seekers. So some of us, you know, highly sensitive people, you know, do seek out new and interesting things like going to concerts or, um, you know, going to, um, festivals or going to the theater.
You know, we kind of get into these different things that do require for us to go into the world and be social. And we like it, but we also have to be. I think mindful about how much we can do, even though we may be, um, interested in doing these things, because we do need more time to process this information and to kind of give ourselves a, a break to rest.
So that. Process [00:14:00] it and not get over exhausted and burnt out, which money highly sensitive people do.
Jessi: I don't know what you're talking about at all. That never happens to me.
I love how you said that. I, because I think a lot of times we. Put phrases on it, like, oh, you're, you know, um, a stayat home person or, you know, a partier and we make it extreme like that. When I think there's a lot of in between. Right. Um, it's a spectrum. And so there's many of us that love to have those exciting experiences that love to be social.
I know I'm that way. I always called myself an outgoing introvert. Or a social hermit. Those are the terms that I've used to describe myself of. I actually love being around a lot of people, but it has to be for a really short amount of time. And then I have to go home. And I like what you said, process that information that is literally what I'm doing.
It's like, uh, you know, storing it, filtering it, filing it, usually reliving things a little bit. Um, and identifying [00:15:00] labeling, you know, it's like organizing a little library in my brain, just okay. That goes there. That goes there. Okay, we're good. Now I can experience another thing and take in more information, but how is that different from someone that doesn't have, you know, um, sensory processing sensitivity or, um, I forgive me.
What was the other one that you were describing?
Bianca: Oh, sensation seeking, sensation seeking. So, um, it's a little bit different. You know, we, you know, we come in different flavors, so yeah, not all of us are, you know, some, some, some highly sensitive individuals may prefer to, you know, stay home and not, you know, Beely, um, as extroverted and they may not seek out these new experiences.
They may be com you know, perfectly comfortable, like, you know, with doing, um, common things and sticking with the familiar, but some of us, um, you know, we, we, we kind of. New things and we, and we like it. And we like experiencing all these different sensory, [00:16:00] um, experiences and pleasures, like, you know, eating a good piece of chocolate or mm-hmm, , um, you know, smelling a, a different type of garden.
And we like to see the world and explore and, and understand things around us. Yeah. And. But not everybody's that way. Not all highly sensitive folks, you know, mm-hmm, want to, you know, they may be comfortable in their careers and in their family life mm-hmm . And, um, so, you know, may not necessarily seek things out and a little bit different, um, from risk taking and, and definitely impulsivity mm-hmm um, because you know, that kind of.
acting without thinking about the consequences is quite different. Gotcha. Um, because we highlight sensitive people tend to reflect and think a lot. Mm-hmm, , [00:17:00] we're very deep, they're a little bit different, really. You know what? The, the high sensation seekers may seek these new experiences, but they won't be as impulsive.
Gotcha because they take time to think. So they may not say, oh, you know, I'm gonna, um, book a vacation tomorrow and, and head out. They may, you know, plan it, think about it a little bit. Um, and, and, and do a little bit of research and, you know, that kind of thing. Mm-hmm, where people who are, you know, pure high sensation seekers may not necessarily display the, the inhibition that highly sensitive people.
Jessi: Hmm. Yeah. So it comes across as a lot of thoughtfulness planning, um, setting up expectations and as opposed to just like being very spontaneous, um, that's something I've noticed too, is that I think sensitives. Our [00:18:00] spontaneity is not their strong suit. Not that you know, we can't do it, but it's not our, it's something we have to develop and kind of takes a lot of energy to do that.
And it's, it's uncomfortable, I think is a good word to put on it. It's not natural. Um, so within the brain, what, when it comes to like the different firing actions, how is that different? You know, when we. Um, say in an exciting situation where we're receiving a lot of stimuli, um, someone that is more impulsive and more naturally extroverted or, um, just, you know, lower on the sensitivity spectrum or wouldn't, you know, qualify as an H S P how does their brain function versus someone that is an HSP in that same setting?
Bianca: That's a great question. We dunno. We haven't done that work yet. We've been, um, mostly. Examining, um, responses to emotional displays and emotional stimuli. Okay. So showing people like different [00:19:00] types of, uh, emotionally evocative images, positive ones, negative ones. Um, I just finished another study with some collaborators and Iran and they showed people a series of like a hundred D.
Pictures, emotional pictures. Hmm. And not surprisingly, we found that the more sensitive folks rate higher arousal for all the pictures, but we were also interested in whether they would show any differences in perception and how they, they were asked to select what, you know, what part of the picture they attend to.
The most, and we didn't see any differences with where people are attending to the picture. Most people tend to focus in the middle, whether they're highly sensitive or not, but not surprisingly, we did see, uh, significant association with arousal. So they tend to get more aroused by these [00:20:00] emotionally evocative images.
And, uh, the sample was in Iran. we also see this in the brain. We see that highly sensitive people respond more strongly to emotional pictures, whether it's general emotional stimuli, um, or their partners, or even strangers. Um, but we haven't studied sensation seeking and, um, sensitivity in the scanner.
So that would be a good direction to try to understand how they. interact and how that results in different kinds of brain responsivity.
Jessi: Yeah, I'd be so intrigued by that. The emotional, uh, arousal, I think is what we all know is the strongest, right? That's where we feel very different is we're in the exact same situation as someone that isn't, you know, that high sensitivity and we're ha we're seeing the same thing, but we're experiencing it very differently.
um, [00:21:00] and that's, I think where we feel that difference, we feel you. If we don't understand who we are, we feel odd. We feel like we're too much or we're overreacting, right? Because in comparison, we are technically overreacting. If, if our, um, our controller, our baseline is the other person. Right. Um, but if we understand that, you know, we're an orange and they're an apple and we're not gonna necessarily have the same response, then that really kind of relieves that pressure.
So. When it comes to, uh, SP and or HSP, um, How is that different than, uh, say like the, um, autism scale, you know, or cuz I think a lot of people kind of mix them up, especially when they hear SPS, right. Sensory processing sensitivity. They're like, oh my gosh. You know, is that on, you know, like what does that mean?
And does that mean there's something, you know, off with my brain. Um, am I unhealthy in some way, could you break that down and kind of explain the [00:22:00] differences there?
Bianca: Yeah, I would say that. One of the main differences between people who are on the spectrum of autism and highly sensitive is the, um, understanding of other people's emotions.
Mm. So one of the markers of autism is usually a deficit in, um, perceiving and understanding other people's emotions, where for sensitive people. um, that's one of our strong suits is that we do tend to understand other people's emotions, both visually. And I would even say viscerally, like we kind of can sense things in, um, in, you know, our entire sensory system, not just by visually, you know, seeing the person's face, but also maybe by their tone of voice by their body language, we perceive subtleties.
So that is one of the main differences. Autism and, and sensory [00:23:00] processing sensitivity.
Jessi: So it's almost like to kind of make my own spectrum. um, it's almost like they're on maybe. Is that correct? Like on the opposite side, as far as like picking up on emotions and subtlety, um, is that high sensitivity's over here and autism's more over here where it's like, uh, a lessening or an enhancing or a heightening.
Is that accurate? Am I understanding that correctly? Yeah.
Bianca: So, um, I would say that for autism, you know, people may not perceive other people's emotions or process it. They may not, you know, it's just, um, not in the, you know, um, information processing of the autism. You know, one of the deficit seems to be that they have a harder time inferring other people's feelings or.
Or being able to put themselves in the other person's shoes, like cognitively understanding, even if they [00:24:00] haven't been in that situation, what it, what that person might be experiencing.
Jessi: Yeah. The skill of empathy is something that they can't quite access. Yeah. Yeah. Whereas HSPs, um, it's innate, right?
They're born with this deep empathy that I always say you can't turn off. You can just turn the volume down on it. Right. you can raise the volume or load at the volume. Um, and, but it's always there. So that's interesting. Yeah. That's a big shift. And then. As far as like other, um, potential labels that deal with brain and overactivation and overwhelm.
Are there any others that people tend to kind of overlap or confuse with HS? P I know, I think, um, in your book you were mentioning a few, like that hyper sensitivity to specific sounds was one that you mentioned.
Bianca: Yeah. So, um, so mostly, you know, Sounds, [00:25:00] um, sense, um, tactile, you know, we tend to process it in a deeper way, so we feel it in a stronger way.
Um, and that means that when things are negative. So if there's like a very loud noise or a, you know, a, an annoying sound that we also tend to, you know, feel it and respond to it and, and our bodies can become uncomfortable with it. Hmm. So, yeah, so both for the, you know, it's like for better, for worse, like when, when we, um, experience something beautiful and delightful, we also can, you know, take it all in.
But when things are negative, we also experience that to, uh, you know, like stress mm-hmm . Um, Yeah, pollutants, toxic stimuli. We also process that mm-hmm so that's why it's important for, you know, to try [00:26:00] to immerse ourselves in positive environments, around positive people, um, and positive activities, engaging activities, and, um, and to rest as much as we can, you know, because.
That usually helps us to recover.
Jessi: Hmm. And what is it about rest? Uh, is it just literally, uh, not taking in that stimuli or our body has time to process or is there something like a cleansing of the brain that needs to happen? Like what is it that really, uh, helps us recover from rest?
Bianca: Yeah, that's a great, that's a great question.
Um, so we did one brain imaging study where we looked. The brain at rest. So after folks did an emotionally evocative task, they were asked to just rest for five minutes, like don't do anything mm-hmm [00:27:00] and, you know, they could have been thinking, but they could have closed their eyes, but they were just asked, like, you know, don't do anything in particular.
Just allow your mind to wonder. And then we looked at. Brain activity. And what we saw was, um, as a function of high sensitivity, people show more activation and areas related to memory. So there's probably some memory consolidation going on. and, Yeah. So there's probably that, that cognitive processing of information, there's probably, you know, we need the time to kind of, to digest it. Yeah. And remember it and, you know, that's that, um, and. Remember what we, what it is that we were doing and, and, you know, so we're probably engaging in that, you know, the depth of processing and that's why we kinda need the downtime to rest.
Jessi: That makes sense. I, as you were describing that, I was actually thinking back, um, to when I was a child. Uh, [00:28:00] and tell me if I'm on track here, but. I was very busy child. And, um, when I would have, you know, a full day, if I didn't rest, if I didn't really take a moment to kind of let my mind be still, if you asked me what I did that day, I would not remember.
Like, I really couldn't. I couldn't recall. Is really the correct word. I couldn't recall what I had done, but if I moved at a, you know, took a break and pause and let myself kind of reflect back and process and file, you know, brain file everything. Then if someone asks me, how is your day? I could answer no problem.
But I think you're, there's something that I've noticed that if I don't take and it's more than just rest. You know, not just physical rest, but like brain rest. Right. Clearing the mind, letting it just settle. Yeah. Um, that is what allows me to have good recall and memory. And so when I've had seasons of my life where I haven't, I, you [00:29:00] know, honored that my memory is not great of those times.
And I know there's other elements that play into that as well, but is that kind of aligned with what you're talking about of needing that time to file and rest? Otherwise our memory's not quite up to. .
Bianca: Yeah. Yeah. I think what, what, you know, the highly sensitive folks are probably doing that, you know, depth of processing, where they're engaging in all of this, like processing of the information, learning it, you know, making connections, understanding ourselves, you know, being reflective about, um, you know, situations.
And you're right, doing this kind of, you know, filing or making, you know, connections of different things and trying to understand, um, and, and remember, you know, so we are engaging in, uh, probably some memory consolidation as well.
Jessi: Yeah. Yeah. That's so interesting to hear, cuz I've always like had either really great memory or really bad memory.
And now I'm [00:30:00] kind of, I'm starting to think. I wonder if it is connected to my. My brain rests times if I'm taking them or not taking them. So that's a really interesting, I've never thought about that angle before. Hmm. Okay. There's like so much. I'm gonna be, reflecting. Typical. Gonna be reflecting on after this conversation, gonna be filing and processing after this.
So, um, my gosh, so one of the things I was really curious about too, is. If I have sensory processing sensitivity. Um, and I obviously I haven't had a brain scan, so this is me assuming based off of, you know, traits and, um, how I understand myself and how others understand me. But if I carry that trait, is that the correct term?
Like a trait? um, and I have a child, uh, is this something that's biologically passed? Is this a genetic, um, Passon or is this more epigenetic? Um, [00:31:00] in that, you know, it's the environment that really brings, well, I guess that's still genetically passed and then activated by environment, but yeah,
Bianca: that's a great question.
Um, I think the genetic research on SPS is still a little. Mixed. Okay. So there was, there was some evidence of the serotonin gene being involved. Hmm. But then there was other evidence that didn't show those effects. So I think, um, as far as serotonin goes, the evidence is mixed. Some studies have found that there is a dopamine gene that may also be involved.
Oh, interesting. In sensory processing SENSIT. Um, so it's, it's, um, you know, it is, it is possible that if mm-hmm , if one is highly sensitive that we may have a highly sensitive child, but, um, but not necessarily the [00:32:00] case, um, there are, you know, plenty of nonsensitive parents with highly sensitive children and vice versa.
Very true.
Jessi: Mm-hmm mm-hmm .
Bianca: so it, it is, yeah, the genetic evidence is still coming in and we're trying to still make sense of it, but yeah, but those studies require really big sample sizes. So I think there, there probably are teams of people. I think there's a team in the Netherlands that may be collecting some of that data.
So probably we'll have a better understanding in the near future. Hopefully in the next, you know, five years we'll have a better understanding of the genetic basis of, of sensitivity.
Jessi: How fun. Oh, I'm so excited. I love that this is kind of an emerging science too, that, uh, we're getting to be a part of in a way.
Um, me by observing you actually are in it in the nitty gritty, which has gotta be so fun, so [00:33:00] fascinating. Um, and the reason I ask about the genetic piece is cuz I'm so intrigued by kind of. Why we're here. And I, I'm a big believer in intentionality in the universe. And so I feel like if, if someone like myself or, or you, or anyone is sensitive, that there's an intentional reason for it.
And so, um, I'm very intrigued by the possibility of, you know, From a scientific standpoint, you know what, you know what we're playing, obviously from more of like, uh, belief, system energetic and all of that kind of standpoint. I see the impact that we have, you know, and how as thoughtful individuals, we're here to really play a role within society.
Um, have you noticed any of those traits or kind of felt anything come forward as you were doing the research around kind of our role in society as.
Bianca: Yeah, I think, um, highly sensitive people, um,[00:34:00] are, you know, they're perceptive. They, they attend to, to things they attend to, to subtleties and they're cautious, they're reflective so we can make great leaders because we lead with strength and we are.
Kind of Intuit, what other people need mm-hmm so that means be Intuit. What other people need to succeed mm-hmm and to thrive. And, so I say, you know, go for it, put highly sensitive people in positions of power, because we will likely have much less abuse in, you know, in, in higher places. We'll probably have people that are making careful decisions, good decisions for society.
We tend to be conscientious and great leaders, you know, but, uh, unfortunately we burn out, you know, so if, if, um, if, if you know, the standards are that, you know, you have to, you know, work [00:35:00] all around the clock, you know, we that's not a big problem for me, but you know, the negativity can be, especially for our sensitives, you know, if we have, but if we.
Have a great team, you know, mm-hmm, not necessarily all sensitive teams, but other people who are talented and not sensitive to balance a team, then, you know, it could make for a great, um, organizations and, um, yeah. And systems.
Jessi: Yeah. It makes it more well rounded. Like. I've always felt that we all need each other, right.
Those that are, um, less sensitive or non-sensitive their gifting is to be that strong, like energy bunny that can just go, go, go and make decisions in the moment. And like, we need those people. Um, but we also need sensitives that are more cautious and thoughtful [00:36:00] and reflective and, um, yeah. And need to take breaks.
even those that aren't sensitive need to remember to rest, and we can be that embodiment and that example of that. Right. Um, but as sensitive, we also need to be reminded that it's okay to have fun and to get out and to sometimes be spontaneous, even if it is uncomfortable so it's that E and flow that beautiful balance of back and forth.
I, I love that. I think. Yeah. I think there's so much, so it's cool to hear.
Bianca: And I think, you know, one of our gifts is of perceiving things, you know, we're subtle, we perceive subtlety. So that means we could be also great storytellers. Mm. And, and exciting. But if we never step out of our comfort zone and share that with other people share our perspective, share our thoughts, share our observations of the world.
Yeah. That nobody is ever gonna know. So you're right. Yeah. We do have to. Step outside our comfort zones a little bit to, to, to [00:37:00] share what we absolutely, you know, our perspective.
Jessi: Yeah. And that's you just hit the nail on the head. That's the hardest thing for us as sensitives is to step out and to be seen, um, perfect example of this podcast, right.
I'm interviewing sensitives left and right. And every time it's this beautiful preparation that I have to take and the guest has to take, like, I'm sure you did to like mentally prepare yourself for this. And then also knowing after. Like the vulnerability hangover that's gonna hit and how you like move through that and relax and rest
And, uh, whereas someone that isn't sensitive, they can just like pop on and be like, yeah, whatever, and then go about their day. And it doesn't even make it it's, you know, it's exact same as if they were drinking coffee by themselves. Whereas for us, this is such a big, you know, um, it takes a lot of effort and intention.
Um, and so I think a lot of sensitive. Don't either have the capacity or, um, are nervous about the energy that it takes. And then [00:38:00] also of course like being, uh, so thoughtful, you think about all the possible options of how something can go yeah. And get overwhelmed by that. Yeah. And then never take action.
Bianca: yeah, yeah. Yeah. I absolutely like I was thinking, I know there's another really important finding that I'm forgetting. with the resting state connectivity paper. I know there's something else like it was, um, and it, and now, yeah, you're right. It's like, well, it's okay. You know what? We, everybody, you know, I think the important message is that we need time to rest.
So we can process information because we're careful. Mm-hmm we learn, we integrate for deep thinkers, we're perceiving subtlety. So we need that time to integrate everything, to integrate all that inform. Yeah. And that's why when there's too much going on, we're like, no, no, no, no, no. I'm overwhelmed because we need time to process it.
We need it. Yeah. And you know, it's amazing because I grew up in New York city. I live in New York [00:39:00] and I love New York city, but it's completely overwhelming. It's completely, you know, can be overstimulating. There's tons of people. Everything's like, you know, going on at once. But, but I love. You know, it doesn't, you know, but yeah.
I mean, I do, I do need, I would say I probably need like more yoga when I'm here. than when I'm in, you know? Oh yeah. Santa Barbara. I probably don't. I have more time to do it. I have more space to do it, but, uh, but in New York I definitely need more yoga to just keep. Semi balanced
Jessi: mm-hmm oh, I love yoga. I love yoga.
Yoga has saved me on so many planes. Like it's a little tangent on yoga. Yeah. I, I think for me, because we're so much in our minds, because as you've described, you know, we have that overactivation going on. Yeah. Yeah. I think we kind of forget that we're in a body and we're [00:40:00] just like floating up here and moving through in our mind and processing.
And I was joking the other day that I am. So I know I'm not in my body when I'm really cutsy. I start dropping things, running into things because I'm not. Connected to, oh yes, I have hands and legs and this will run into that wall if I'm not paying attention. um, but it's yoga. I feel like creates that connection again.
It's that embodiment again, right? It's a, oh yeah. I'm in this vessel. I'm in this body. I'm on I'm these bones, this skin, and I'm moving in this manner and it's really calm and simple. So it is it's, that's a beautiful example of rest. That's not necessarily. Sitting or laying on a bed, but your mind is at rest as you do something like yoga.
So it's so, so, so powerful. I've loved it.
Bianca: Yeah, definitely. Definitely. That embodiment is so important and slowing down, you know, going for, you know, slowing down, just slowing down and paying [00:41:00] attention. Hmm. Cause sometimes yeah, you're right. Things can move so fast that we.
Really present. And it's like, well, then if I wasn't here, then where was I? here
Jessi: in our own world, in our library processing, trying to go as fast as we can.
Bianca: where was I? Right. It's like, no, we want to be present and, and, and mindful. And that's why some of these practices can be so, um, simple, but not. Right.
Yeah. Because like, you know, it's so easy to forget to, to, to do them and they can be so simple, but not always easy to do, but
Jessi: yeah. And since we're such deep individuals, we love the profound, we love having huge impacts. And so if we feel like something's too simple, then we. Is it enough, right? Like, I feel like that's a question often that comes forward for sensitives when [00:42:00] ironically, because we're so complex and deep and there's so much going on taking, bringing in tools that are very simple are actually the most effective for us because it pulls us out.
Like we don't need to have more complexity in our lives. We don't need something. That's, you know, it takes us to another level of overwhelm. We want something that actually pulls us out of that overwhelm. Right. And helps us. Simplify and slow down and B just B. Um, but that is the hardest for us, ironically, because we are just like, we're this whirling engine up here that's constantly going constantly analyzing and taking stuff in.
So from a research perspective, is there anything else around kind of children and our environment and how we grow? I'm gonna shift us a bit here. Um, because I know within the, our society, we are. I [00:43:00] know Dr. Aaron talks about us being like 20%, 20 to 50% of the population, meaning that, you know, at minimum 80% of the population is wired.
Mentally brain wise very differently than us. They receive information quite differently than us emotions. They process emotions quite differently than us. So growing up as children, if we're in that environment, you know, um, How, how can different environments shape who we are as adults, as sensitives? Cuz I'm thinking about people that are sensitive that have sensitive children even.
Yeah, definitely.
Bianca: Um, so we're impacted by our environments, um, for, you know, for a whole lives, but childhood is especially critical. Mm-hmm and especially critical for highly sensitive children. It's important for all children, but because they are. um, more affected by everything, both the positive and the negative negative environments can impact them a [00:44:00] lot.
And it's interesting because there's some, um, data suggesting that, um, different measures of wellbeing are negatively associated with being highly sensitive. Mm. So we tend to. Lower life satisfaction, quality of life and wellbeing. It's sad. Um, but those effects aren't as strong in children, meaning that highly sensitive children still, you know, are resilient.
They experience positive emotions, their qu you know, their well, you know, their quality of life may be okay. But over time for us, highly sensitive folks, unless we really understand ourselves and strive to put ourselves in positive environments. Hmm. Our quality of life diminishes. Yeah. It's sad. But that's what some of the data [00:45:00] suggests is that, you know, we tend to.
Or quality of life and wellbeing probably. Um, you know, there, there probably are some of us who, um, you know, strive to create a, a really positive life for ourselves. And, but it, you know, kind of takes a lot, you know, it takes a lot, there's some data, you know, Elaine has, um, published some data suggesting we suffer from lower self-esteem.
Um, probably because we have to take more time to rest. Mm-hmm we may not always, uh, find, be as financially, unless we inherit money or some, you know, something like that. Mm-hmm, a as financially well off as other people who maybe, you know, are not as sensitive and they can, you know, kind of mm-hmm , you know, make different decisions, engage in different kinds of, of, of environment, uh, work environments mm-hmm [00:46:00] and so.
So, you know, it it's, um, but we don't see those effects as strongly in children. So still, you know, the highly sensitive children may be somewhat resilient and that's important to know, because that means that, you know, if we harness that for all sensitive people, you know what we have as children, mm-hmm, our quality of life may not necessarily have to diminish, but it, you know, it would.
a lot of different efforts to yeah. Create a different kind of paradigm.
Jessi: It sounds like, uh, identification of sensitivity is early on as possible is really helpful because based on that, then you can shift your environment. Yeah. Um, and what would you say, would you describe. just so people can grasp like a positive environment for a highly sensitive versus a negative environment for highly sensitive.[00:47:00]
How would you describe those two?
Bianca: Well, I think, you know, because we're more receptive of things. We probably have a lower threshold for, uh, you know, um, negativity, you know, mm-hmm so that. that could be another podcast. You can bring somebody on to talk about that. to speculate on that, but, um, probably, you know, what most people experience is negative, but even in a more subtle way, like, you know, like somebody, you know, may say, well, I wasn't shouting and, and.
And the other person, the highly sensitive person might think, no, you're you really are shot. No, I'm just talk. I just, I just talk, I just speak loudly. I just, you know, but it's like, but to us, we may perceive it as like the person is shouting mm-hmm and, um, and we may feel that, you know, like we, our body may respond to that as like, oh, this Christmas shouting, and it may feel uncomfortable and you may get stress from it, [00:48:00] but other, other people might be like, no, they just talk.
You know, they just .
Jessi: Oh my gosh. That's like my whole childhood. I always felt like everyone talked so loudly. And if there's an association between loudness and discomfort or loudness and. Anger or loudness, you know, of course it's all those connections that we make. And, um, especially as children, we, you know, probably make them at a much higher rate as highly sensitive.
Uh, yeah. There's I can totally relate to that. I can specifically within my family, my, my sweet, precious family that was very boisterous and loud was so overwhelming to me because every, every word they spoke was at a volume that they thought they were speaking normally. But to me, it was like volume a hundred and they're like, I'm at 50.
And I'm like, no, you're at a hundred . So that's interesting to hear. So when you're talking about positive and negative environments, it's not just like, I know sometimes people go to the extreme of like, oh, it's, you know, of course, no one wants to be an abusive [00:49:00] setting, a violence setting. Like no child should be in that.
No adult should be in that, but we're talking more. Right. Of like even just a family where it is, everyone else is quite boisterous or, um, maybe you're in the city and there's a lot of excess noise or a lot of, uh, you know, even radiation going on or different, um, lights going on or so regardless of, you know, how other people perceive your child and I, and I think that's something I've had to process through is if someone were to look back on my childhood, they'd be like, oh, Relatively normal.
Yeah. There's some things that aren't ideal, but you're having a really, you had a really strong reaction to your childhood. Um, and that can kind of take away a lot of my confidence in what I need to heal or why I need to restore when, to me, those subtle differences that my parents were aware of or not aware of impacted me so deeply.
So that's something I think is really important for sensitives to know. And, and the reverse, like you're saying, uh, even like subtle, positive things have, have a really deep [00:50:00] impact. So we don't need a lot, technically . Um, but you know, each thing, it just has such a profound impact on us.
Bianca: And it's interesting because then we hope that, um, you know, we hope that.
Those experiences. Like we don't, you know, we don't fault our, you know, other people from not being sensitive, like, oh, they're, you know, like they're so insensitive. Like they, like, they should adjust it. But, but, you know, if we can impart that to our own children or other children around us, like the, you know, the understanding and the empathy of, of the sensitivity, then, you know, that's gold, you know, growing up with, you know, somebody who kind of gets.
And, but of course not, you know, faulting our families for not being sensitive. It was not their fault that they . I mean, I mean, parents now do a lot, right? Like they, um, you know, they read books. Like if they find out their child is sensitive, they will, [00:51:00] you know, make the effort and study it and accommodate and, you know, try to adjust to, to the child sensitivity.
But. I wasn't, I wasn't one of those. I was I, but some, but you know, do research and read about it and try to understand themselves are not sensitive. So. That's a step in the right direction. Mm-hmm so we're moving in a better direction where, you know, people are writing books about it. Like Elaine wrote a book, um, for parents.
So hopefully, yeah, so that's like one step, right. For parents that are motivated and engaged and they wanna learn about it. Mm-hmm and be there for their children in different way.
Jessi: That's such a good point because we didn't have this information. What, like 20 years ago, it wasn't even around. So there's, we now have language.
We now have identification. We have the ability to understand [00:52:00] ourselves as adults and pass that on. If we happen to have sensitive children or know anyone that has a sensitive child, there's so much, so much power in awareness and education and understanding. Um, so your research is so. So huge. And I know for me, I don't necessarily need things to be proven within science to like trust something.
But when it is then like affirmed through scientific measures, it does sink in so much deeper. And so I think for the sense of community, like we know we're different. And then when we come together as a community, it's like, oh great. There's other people like me, we're all different. But then to have your research really affirm that, you know, at that data level takes it to where we feel.
I feel like it gives us a straight spine and we can just be like, yes, like this is real. This is not just in our, our minds. This isn't just imaginary. Right? This is actual firing of the brain. This is something that's different. And, um, we [00:53:00] therefore need to. Move forward in a different manner than those around us.
We have to, as I say, live differently in order to be healthy, right.
Bianca: Yeah. And, um, thank you so much for having me on, on, and I'm happy to share knowledge, information, words of wisdom with the audience. And, um, and if we haven't done the research, it's important for us to know, like, , you know, what's gonna be helpful to highly sensitive people. So you're on the front lines and, you know, sharing information with other people.
So please feel free to anytime, email me if you have any questions, and if we haven't done the research, then that's important for us. You know, like this is an important question people are asking and, um, and we can, you know, start to make, make roads, the research going.
Jessi: Yeah. Yeah. So if people want to kind of stay in touch with you and, and see any research [00:54:00] that you're working on, or, um, read your book, where can they find that information?
Where can they connect
Bianca: with you? They can find the information on my website. So, um, it's Bianca acevedo.com. And there's also the highly sensitive brain book and there's another book that will be coming out in about a year. So, um, it's about living well with high sensitivity. Um, but if they wanna stay, um, in tune with what's going on, um, they can go on my website and they can input their information so that I can send them, um, updates via a newsletter.
Jessi: Oh, perfect. Oh, perfect. And listeners, if you have any topics that you want researched, send those to Bianca we need more, we need more to come forward from the scientific community to just really affirm, like I was talking about really deep in our understanding of who we are, and to also be able to use that as a way to communicate who we are to others.
So that there's this beautiful understanding this back and [00:55:00] forth and this respect from both sides. So, ah, well, Bianca, thank. So much for your time. This was so sweet. And again, thank you for your work for really bringing our sensitivity into the world, into the scientific community. It's my
Bianca: pleasure. Thank you for having me.
And please feel free to email me any time if you have any questions and I'm happy to do this and thank you for everything, Jessie, thank you for doing this for humanity. Oh, yeah, I know. I know it takes like effort, you know, you have to coordinate things and, and show up.
Right. You have to show up. That's the, you know, it's gold, it's gold. We show up.
Jessi: Absolutely. That's all that's needed from us as sensitives is to have the courage to show up and we'll bring something really special every time we do.
What an episode. Ugh. Thank you for joining. I would love to hear from you. It means the world to me to know that this space is making an impact. So if this episode brought you hope connected you to your true self or challenged you to grow, please, please, please, please pop into the review section and share your experience.
Text this episode to your loved ones or your favorite sensitive. And finally. It on your favorite channel? Don't forget to tag me though, so I can say hello and if you're looking for support to integrate these topics or curate your own authentic, calm, just scroll down into the show notes, to schedule a one on one sensitive session with me, you are never alone in this journey and I'm here to support you as.
But bottom line, I'm just so honored to be a voice in your life. So thank you for joining today. And until next time, my friend a votre sante.
Connect With Dr. Bianca Acevedo
www.biancaacevedo.com
Resources and links Mentioned
The Highly Sensitive Brain (Discount Code Neuro30)
The Highly Sensitive Brain: an fMRI study of sensory processing sensitivity and response to others' emotions
Sensory Processing Sensitivity Predicts Individual Differences in Resting-State Functional Connectivity Associated with Depth of Processing
Sensory Processing Sensitivity in the context of Environmental Sensitivity: A critical review and development of research agenda
The Functional Highly Sensitive Brain: a review of the brain circuits underlying sensory processing sensitivity and seemingly related disorders
Sensory Processing Sensitivity and Childhood Quality’s Effects on Neural Responses to Emotional Stimuli
Further Articles on the Topics Discussed
To live authentically, rediscover your natural self, and restore your health as a Sensitive, peruse the resources below:
Authentic Calm, the podcast
Mêrfleur Natural Living Recommendations, for Sensitive-safe products
Merfleur Library, books to listen to or read
Merfleur Wellness, the Guide and the Assessment to recover your health
