Research on HSPs and Chronic Illness
Are you a highly sensitive person or empath with one or more chronic illnesses or autoimmune disorders?
Having a more sensitive nervous system combined with physical challenges can be draining, overwhelming and disheartening. Did you know around 50% of sensitive people report having one or more chronic illnesses, compared to only 10-15% of the general population?
My colleague Bevin Niemann is also an HSP and empath who’s navigated fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and thyroiditis for the past decade. As she embarked on her healing journey, she could not locate any studies that specifically looked at the impact of chronic illness on highly sensitive people – so she decided to create her own.
This confidential, anonymous survey takes around 15 minutes to complete and at the end, you have the option to sign up to receive a PDF of the group results, once compiled. Thank you for sharing your experiences to help other sensitive people to thrive.
Discover gentle, community-sourced ways to recover from burnout as a sensitive or neurodivergent person. From weighted blankets and quiet nature walks to boundaries, self-compassion, and soothing rituals, explore practices that honor your nervous system and help you restore balance.
In this guest post, Aimee Tasker explores how the hypervigilance of queer HSPs might develop and what it looks like to stop scanning and start feeling safer.
What if all the specific things we are extra sensitive about are actually our unique “Superpowers”? What if there was a place where you could go where you would be cherished, celebrated and deeply understood for those “Superpowers"? The Sensitive Empowerment Community is this place.
For many sensitive autistic women, misdiagnosis can deepen loneliness. Here’s how self-discovery can finally bring the belonging and relief we’ve been searching for.
Discover why most autism assessments miss highly sensitive, high-masking women. Learn about lived-experience autism assessments and the Sensitive Autistic Neurotype.
Travel back again to peaceful Sunflower Farm in this special blog post sharing how Niko, Juju, Buttercup and Blueberry celebrate the joy & connection of finding a new sensitive friend.
Perimenopause and menopause bring intense challenges for sensitive and neurodivergent women, including late-discovered autistic women. This September 2025 survey reveals key symptoms, patterns, and lived experiences across physical, emotional, cognitive, and sensory domains. Explore validation, community voices, and practical recommendations for support.
Get to know the characters in the delightful book series “The Adventures of Niko the Highly Sensitive Dog” as Carol Roesler chats with them once again to share what brings each of them their own sense of personal joy.
Discover the hidden truths, challenges, and gifts of sensitive and neurodivergent people. This collective project shares anonymous confessions, wishes, and strengths to help us feel seen, validated, and less alone.
Embrace your unique needs as essential self-care, not an inconvenience—because honoring them empowers you to thrive authentically.