Why You Feel Everything So Deeply (and how to survive it) - Dr Sasha Hamdani - #1147
September 7, 2026
AI Summary
5 min readWhy Emotional Sensitivity Isn't a Flaw—It's a Wiring Difference
Dr. Sasha Hamdani, a psychiatrist who describes herself as "an emotionally sensitive person," opens with a definition that immediately reframes the experience: emotionally sensitive people are those who "feel things quickly, deeply, and for a long time." This isn't just about being dramatic or thin-skinned. It's a distinct neurobiological pattern with real consequences for how someone moves through a typical day—and real strengths that often go unrecognized.
What's Actually Happening Inside the Brain
Hamdani breaks down the neuroscience in concrete terms. The amygdala—the brain's threat receptor—is highly attuned in emotionally sensitive people, constantly scanning for emotional data. Meanwhile, the prefrontal cortex, which handles judgment and rational processing, isn't as active in counterbalancing that input. Worse, the connection between these two regions is "frayed," meaning the rational brain can't easily override the alarm signals.
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:00) **Opening & Guest Introduction** - Chris Williamson introduces the episode's topic and guest, Dr. Sasha Hamdani.
- 2 (01:13) **The Daily Experience of Emotional Sensitivity** - How an emotionally sensitive person navigates a typical day.
- 3 (03:35) **RSD vs. Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)** - Clarifying the difference between two common terms.
- 4 (05:41) **The Neuroscience of Social Rejection** - Why social rejection feels so physically and emotionally painful.
- 5 (07:08) **Underlying Brain Mechanisms** - A deeper dive into the specific neural pathways involved.
- 6 (13:46) **Limbic System & The Spectrum of Feeling** - Exploring the limbic system and what it means to "feel more."
- 7 (17:07) **The Role of Hormones** - How hormonal fluctuations impact emotional sensitivity.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Dr Sasha Hamdani is a psychiatrist, ADHD specialist and author.
Why are some people more emotionally sensitive than others? If you feel things more deeply, you’re not alone, and emotional sensitivity can be both a gift and a challenge. So, how can highly sensitive people manage intense emotions, and how can those close to them better understand and support them?
Expect to learn what being a highly-sensitive person feels like, what Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria is and why social rejection hurts so much, why some people are more emotionally sensitive than others, why some people need constant reassurance, if you can build self-esteem without external validation, the benefits of being emotionally fragile, if emotional dysregulation is central to ADHD and much more…
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Timestamps:
(00:00) Inside the Mind of an Emotionally Sensitive Person (02:55) Is Rejection at the Heart of Emotional Sensitivity? (05:40) Why Social Rejection Hurts So Much (07:07) What Actually Causes Emotional Sensitivity? (13:46) Do Some People Feel Emotions More Intensely? (16:54) How Hormones Shape Emotional Sensitivity (20:10) Why Have Humans Evolved to Be So Sensitive? (21:24) Are Men Just as Emotionally Sensitive? (31:59) The Hidden Strengths of Emotional Sensitivity (35:49) Do Sensitive People Need More Validation? (38:21) How Rejection Dysphoria Affects Relationships (43:43) Why the Right Environment Changes Everything (49:40) Why Uncertainty Feels Unbearable (53:00) Are Emotionally Avoidant Men Secretly Sensitive? (54:04) When Should You Work on Emotional Fragility? (57:35) The Most Powerful Tools for Emotional Regulation (01:02:34) What It’s Really Like Being a Sensitive Parent (01:04:41) The Vulnerability Behind Mindfulness (01:07:23) Is Social Media Harming Sensitive Teenagers? (01:09:51) Are We Born Sensitive? (01:13:24) How Rejection Dysphoria Affects Your Career (01:22:56) The Most Important Lesson for Sensitive People (01:23:35) Where to Find Dr Hamdani
Extra Stuff: