Weâve all had something in our lives that we didnât want to accept because we didnât like it. Perhaps youâre unhappy with who got elected, or that your beloved pet has cancer, or the fact that you or your teen are highly sensitive.
We fight these things because sometimes they are hard, or not what we would have chosen. But when we fight them, we only make things worse.
In this weekâs video, find out why fighting your sensitivity is like swinging a baseball bat at the rain. And what you might do instead.
Radical Acceptance Doesnât Mean You Like It
There is a term in DBT called âradical acceptanceâ that is often widely misunderstood. Most people mistakenly think that acceptance = agreement. But thatâs not the case at all.
The concept of radical acceptance simply means that we accept the reality of what is. It doesnât mean we have to like it or agree with how things are, it simply means we acknowledge the truth. Only when we acknowledge the truth can we finally do something about it.
Donât Waste Your Time Fighting Reality
Trying to deny the truth is like standing out in the rain, hating it, and trying to beat the rain back up to the sky with a baseball bat. The only thing that is going to do is make you tired, and soaking wet and frustrated.
Radical acceptance is putting down the baseball bat and acknowledging that itâs raining and what youâre doing isnât working. Only then can you start to re-purpose your energy into effective action (e.g., you could put on a rain coat, or go inside, etc.)
Stop Fighting Your Sensitivity
If you or your teen are struggling with your trait of high sensitivity right now, I get it. Iâm a highly sensitive person myself and know how hard it can be sometimes. But I promise, it doesnât have to always be that way. When you learn to work with -instead of against- your trait, then things can be so much better!
If managing you or your teenâs trait of high sensitivity is a challenge for you right now, consider reaching out for help. There are many skilled professionals out there, just make sure you consult one who is familiar with highly sensitive people (HSPs).
Group Therapy Can Help Highly Sensitive People (HSPs)
If you think the support of a group might help you or your teen feel less isolated in your trait (yes, I promise there are others out there), then check out my group offerings below.
Adult Stress Management Group
This group is for adults who sometimes struggle with the stress and overwhelm of the modern world - especially when itâs compounded by being a highly sensitive person (HSP). You will learn more about what it means to be highly sensitive, how to identify sneaky stressors, and what you can do to manage them so that you donât end up feeling overwhelmed so often. Because nobody likes that.
Teen Support & Skills Group
This group is for highly sensitive teens who could use some peer support and connection, as well as some skills to help them deal with the stress and overwhelm of school pressure and social situations. Your teen will learn how to work with, instead of against, their trait. They will gain a greater awareness of what it means to be a highly sensitive person, as well as learn concrete skills for working with some of the challenging aspects of their trait, so that the gifts can shine through.
If you want to learn more about therapy and coaching for Highly Sensitive People (HSPs) then check out the HSP page, or request a free consult call today.
