The Sensitive Ones: Healing and Understanding Your Child's Mental Health

"A must-read book for parenting a sensitive child. As a mother who has walked that same path, Heather Nardi's deeply moving account holds nothing back." —Jen Harrison, parenting coach and author of Just As You Are "Stop trying to fix me." Years into her daughter Ellie's mental health journey, this statement stopped Heather Nardi in her tracks. Ellie was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and spent years in traditional treatment with prescription medications, therapy, and outpatient and inpatient facilities. But she wasn't getting better. And Heather intuitively knew there had to be another way. What Heather discovered was life-changing: her child's symptoms that were unsuccessfully treated as a disorder were—in fact—traits of an empath and highly sensitive person (HSP). And they were traits that Heather herself shared. Now a speaker and life coach known as "The Empath Mama," Heather Nardi is a fierce advocate for other families shifting the story from "disorder" to "trait." Inside this parenting advice book for the highly sensitive child and empath, find: an introduction to HSP (highly sensitive person) and empath characteristics and why they are commonly misdiagnosed as mental illness, parenting tips for avoiding frustration and stress by embracing sensitivity as a gift, coping skills for overwhelm and overstimulation, like routines, space for quiet time, and creative outlets, how to advocate for your child by becoming an expert in their needs, and holistic health pathways like diet, animal therapy, mindfulness, and spiritual practices. Understanding and acceptance can heal the past and present. The Sensitive Ones is an honest first-hand account of how one mother learned to embrace her and her daughter's sensitivity so they could both live healthy, empowered lives. Fans of The Highly Sensitive Child and Sensitive is the New Strong will feel empowered as parents to their highly sensitive child. "Heather Nardi illuminates the fault lines in our culture's understanding of and support for sensitive empaths." —Maria Hill, founder of Sensitive Evolution