The World Feels Like a Lot Right Now: Why We Need Each Other More Than Ever by Julie Bjelland, LMFT

The world feels like a lot right now.

So many people are carrying an enormous amount of emotional exhaustion, uncertainty, and overwhelm.

And for those of us who are highly sensitive or neurodivergent, there can be additional layers. We may feel things deeply, absorb so much of what’s happening around us, and already be using enormous amounts of energy just navigating everyday life.

When we’re sensitive to our environments, deeply affected by what others are going through, or managing sensory and executive functioning challenges, the demands of everyday life can become especially exhausting.

I’ve been thinking about how important it is, especially during times like these, to be part of a community of people who truly understand us.

The Comfort of Feeling Understood

Recently, members of my Sensitive & Neurodivergent Community were sharing how meaningful it is to feel accepted for who they are, without having to explain or defend themselves.

They described how having people who understand their experiences helps them find more self-compassion, feel more comfortable being themselves, and feel less alone in the world.

That touches my heart so deeply. It’s exactly why I started this Community, and why it’s become one of my favorite places to be.

For many highly sensitive and neurodivergent people, finding others who understand our inner experiences can be especially meaningful.

Some of us have spent years, sometimes decades, feeling different, misunderstood, or trying to adapt ourselves to fit into environments that weren’t designed with our needs in mind.

This can be particularly meaningful for those of us discovering we’re autistic later in life, after years of trying to understand why so many things have felt harder for us.

Finding people with similar experiences can bring an incredible sense of relief.

We can share our experiences, recognize ourselves in one another, and begin to feel more comfortable being who we are.

The Feeling of Belonging Stays With Us

Something else I find especially beautiful is how that feeling of support and belonging can stay with us long after we’ve closed our computers or stepped away from a conversation.

One member recently shared how remembering that they have understanding allies in our Community helps them find self-compassion when they’re navigating difficult situations in everyday life, particularly when their sensitivities or executive functioning challenges aren’t understood by others.

I think that’s such an important part of what belonging can offer us.

Even when we’re having a difficult day out in the world, we can remember that there are people who understand us, accept us, and genuinely care.

And sometimes, just knowing that can give us a little more strength to navigate the harder parts of life.

We can carry that feeling of belonging with us, even when we’re taking time for ourselves.

Especially for those of us who experience overwhelm, burnout, or fluctuating energy, there’s something comforting about knowing we can step away to rest and still have a community to return to.

We Need Connection That Honors Our Needs

During overwhelming times, we may feel the need to withdraw from everything. And sometimes we really do need that space to rest and recover.

But we also need places where we can find connection without pressure, where we can show up as we are and feel understood.

Sometimes that means sharing what we’re going through.

Sometimes it means offering encouragement to someone else.

Sometimes it’s simply reading something another person has shared and realizing, “I’m not the only one who feels this way.”

And sometimes it’s knowing that somewhere, there’s a group of people who understand us, even when we don’t have the energy to connect.

That’s what I love so much about the Sensitive & Neurodivergent Community we’re creating together.

A place where we can be ourselves, support one another, grow together, and feel a little less alone in everything we’re carrying.

A Little Support to Take With You

If the world has been feeling especially overwhelming lately, I’d love to offer you a gentle practice to help you feel a little more connected and supported.

Create a small collection of reminders that you belong.

Think about the people, places, experiences, or words that have helped you feel understood and accepted.

Maybe it’s a friend who truly gets you, a meaningful conversation, a supportive message someone sent, or something you’ve read that made you feel less alone.

Consider saving a few of these reminders somewhere easy to find, perhaps in a note on your phone.

Then, when you’re having an especially difficult day, you can return to them.

You might also try one small moment of connection, in whatever way feels manageable. Send a simple message to someone you care about, revisit an encouraging conversation, or spend a little time in a space where others share experiences similar to yours.

And if you need solitude, you can honor that, too.

Here’s something I hope you’ll remember:

You deserve to feel understood and accepted just as you are.

You deserve relationships where your needs and sensitivities are respected.

You can need time alone and still long for connection.

And even if you’re still searching for your people, there are others who share experiences similar to yours.

You deserve that sense of belonging, too.

Finding Our People

Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you find people and places where you can feel understood, accepted, and supported.

We all deserve that kind of belonging, especially when the world feels like so much to carry.

And if you’d like to explore the Sensitive & Neurodivergent Community we’re creating together, you’re always warmly welcome.

About the Author

Julie Bjelland, LMFT is a psychotherapist, adult autism assessor, author, and educator specializing in neurodiversity-affirming identification of late-discovered autistic women and highly sensitive adults. She is the founder of the Sensitive & Neurodivergent Community, Podcast, and Blog, and the author of the forthcoming book Autistic Women: A Clinician’s Guide to Neurodiversity-Affirming Identification and Support (W. W. Norton, 2027).

As a late-discovered autistic and queer woman, Julie brings a deeply informed personal and clinical perspective to her work. Learn more at JulieBjelland.com.

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