Does High School Have to Feel Like a Battle? The start of a new school year can feel heavy—hallways full of noise, shifting schedules, social pressure, and the quiet worry of “Will I be able to handle this?” For highly sensitive and introverted high school students, it’s not just about academics. It’s about navigating a world that often feels too much, too fast. Here’s the unconventional shift:Back-to-school doesn’t have to be about bracing yourself. It can be about building calm strength in your own way. Create your calm start. Begin mornings with one grounding ritual—a walk, journaling, or just silence before screens. Choose your safe spaces. Notice the classrooms, corners, or people where you feel at ease. Let them be your anchors. Allow smaller steps.…

Highly Sensitive or Introverted? Here’s the Back-to-School Advice No One Gives You! Do you feel a knot in your stomach every time “back-to-school” season rolls around regardless of what your age? You’re not broken for feeling this way.You’re not “too much.”You’re simply wired to notice and feel more deeply. Here’s what most people don’t say out loud: back-to-school anxiety hits sensitive and introverted people harder—because it’s not just about new classes or teachers. It’s about new environments, uncertain social dynamics, and constant stimulation. But here’s the good news: your sensitivity and introversion aren’t obstacles to overcome—they’re strengths you can work with. The key is creating your own safety net before stepping into all that newness. Here are some unconventional ways to ease the transition: Preparation,…

What Are You Really Afraid Of? I’m afraid of public speaking.I’m afraid of filling out forms.I’m afraid of taking tests, looking foolish, and being in social situations where I don’t know anyone.And I’m especially afraid of that helpless feeling—when I sense I’m not in control. Sound familiar? As a highly sensitive person, fear doesn’t just whisper—it roars.And while fear is universal, we tend to feel it with extra intensity, as if the stakes are always high. But here’s something I’ve learned:Most fear is not about danger—it’s about control. Or more accurately, the fear of losing it. And that realization changed everything. What if we stopped trying to “conquer” our fears—and instead tried to understand them? Here’s how I push back when fear shows up: Filling…