Issue #49: highly. SENSITIVE.
the definition of a highly sensitive person, parenting a highly sensitive child, histamines + periods + hormones, good hangs, and black maternal health week.
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This month, we’re asking: what does it mean to be highly sensitive? To move through the world with a nervous system that feels everything a little more intensely—the joy, the grief, the beauty, the chaos. It might mean you’ve always been the one who cries easily, who needs more time to process, who feels off after too much noise, too many people, or too much change. Maybe you were told you were “too sensitive” as a child. Maybe you still tell yourself that now.
Sensitivity is not a flaw. Being highly sensitive isn’t something to fix—it’s a way of experiencing life with depth, empathy, and richness. It’s a form of intelligence. Many of the most creative, thoughtful, and emotionally attuned people identify as highly sensitive. It’s noticing the small details others miss, caring deeply about the people around you, and needing meaningful connection over surface-level chatter. It can also mean needing more rest, more space, and more permission to be exactly who you are.
A Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) is someone who has a heightened central nervous system sensitivity to physical, emotional, or social stimuli. This term was popularized by psychologist Dr. Elaine Aron in the 1990s and refers to individuals who process sensory information more deeply and thoroughly than others. HSPs may be more attuned to subtleties in their environment, more easily overwhelmed by noise or chaos, and more deeply affected by the moods and emotions of others. While this trait is not a disorder, it is considered a normal variation in human temperament and is thought to affect about 15-20% of the population.
Common characteristics of HSPs include:
Strong emotional reactivity and empathy
Deep reflection and processing of experiences
Sensitivity to sensory input such as light, noise, textures, or smells
A tendency to feel overwhelmed in busy or chaotic environments
A rich inner life and creativity
Want to learn more? Check out the links below:
Highly Sensitive Person: Symptoms and Strengths
Are You a Highly Sensitive Person? Self-Test
The Creative Superpowers of Highly Sensitive People
Is Your Child Highly Sensitive? Self-Test
20 Tips for How to Understand and Parent Your Highly Sensitive Child
next week on the INTERWOVXN PODCAST
Next week on the podcast, we’re talking with Sue Bruckner, a relationship coach who specializes in guiding highly sensitive women through the tender terrain of divorce. She brings so much insight into how sensitivity can feel like a weight during seasons of heartbreak—and how it can also be a map home to yourself. Her work is rooted in helping women move through endings with clarity, softness, and intention. Tune in on April 16th for a conversation that reminds us that tenderness isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
Histamine + Periods + Hormones
Artwork: Mary Osmundsen
As we explore sensitivity this month, we’re also widening the lens to consider how it manifests physically, especially in connection to the menstrual cycle, perimenopause, and reproductive health more broadly. One key player in this conversation is histamine—a naturally occurring chemical involved in immune responses, digestion, and the nervous system. When our bodies become more sensitive to environmental triggers like pollen (hello, seasonal allergies) or to certain foods such as aged cheeses, wine, or fermented products, histamine levels can rise. This increase doesn’t just result in the typical allergy symptoms; for many, it can set off a chain reaction throughout the body, amplifying inflammation and discomfort. This heightened histamine activity can particularly impact those already navigating hormonal fluctuations—whether during ovulation, menstruation, or perimenopause—as estrogen plays a direct role in both histamine release and its breakdown. This makes conditions like PMS, PMDD, and endometriosis more complex, potentially intensifying symptoms and even influencing fertility through its effects on cervical mucus, uterine lining, and ovulation.
During the menstrual cycle, estrogen levels naturally rise and fall, and because estrogen both triggers histamine release and inhibits the enzyme (DAO) that breaks it down, this can lead to a double whammy of increased histamine levels just as hormone-related symptoms intensify. This can show up as more intense cramps, mood swings, headaches, anxiety, skin reactions, and digestive issues—all symptoms often chalked up to "just hormones," but possibly made worse by underlying histamine sensitivity. In perimenopause, when hormone levels fluctuate in unpredictable ways, the body may become even more vulnerable to histamine surges, leading to symptoms like insomnia, brain fog, joint pain, and hot flashes that feel unrelenting. For those trying to conceive, histamine may also be a hidden factor affecting cycle regularity and implantation. Recognizing histamine's role opens the door to more targeted support—through lifestyle shifts, mindful nutrition, and modalities like acupuncture, which has been shown to help regulate hormone balance, reduce inflammation, and ease the overall load on a sensitive system.
Here are a few articles for further reading:
Histamine and Your Menstrual Cycle: What You Need to Know
Histamine, Health and Hormones
Why High Histamine Can Make Perimenopause Feel Harder
PS- the supplements that are mentioned in this article for natural histamine support are many of the same ingredients in our FAVORITE allergy/SINUS CARE supplement. Check out our new INTERWOVXN storefront on Fullscript where you can order Receive a 10% discount with your order and support the work we are doing as a women-owned small business. Thank you!
TASTE: Low Histamine Diet: What to Eat and What to Avoid. Want to learn more about diet and histamines? When following a low histamine diet, the goal is to reduce the intake of foods that either contain high levels of histamine or trigger the release of histamine in the body. Check out the link above for more details. We also found this post and 6 week protocol from The Period Lab interesting to calm the histamine spiral.
SEE: Tips for Hosting a Clothing Swap. This past weekend we stopped by a clothing swap hosted by our friend Adra of Alaska Fresh Salmon. It was SO much fun- she had a lovely group of women and a friend who helped to organize and sort items as they came in. It was the perfect time to let go of the clothes that didn’t make the cut when spring cleaning and get a few new pieces! It was such a lovely way to meet new people and a low key way to connect whether cheering someone on as they try on a new item, or sharing a laugh about how your style or body have changed.
SMELL: DIY Laundry Detergent. Speaking of clothes... have you tried making your own laundry detergent? We are interested in more natural products without all the plastic and it sounds like this was pretty easy and something this woman would do again. Made with just a few basic ingredients like bar soap, washing soda, and borax, this homemade blend holds up well against commercial detergents. It’s a budget-friendly, low-waste swap that skips synthetic fragrances and unnecessary chemicals, making it a satisfying and sustainable addition to your everyday routine.
Do you have any favorite low-waste detergents, cleaning products, or DIY recipes you LOVE?
HEAR: Good Hang with Amy Poehler. Amy Poehler’s new podcast, Good Hang, is the joyful, no-pressure hangout we all need right now. Each week, Amy welcomes friends, comedians, and fellow creatives into her studio for conversations that are more about laughter than life lessons. It’s not about self-improvement or hot takes—it’s about sharing stories, cracking each other up, and finding lightness in the everyday. In a world that often feels overwhelming, Good Hang offers a refreshing reminder that sometimes, the best thing we can do is laugh with people we like. It’s good, dumb fun—and that’s exactly what makes it feel so necessary.
BONUS HEAR: SABLE, fABLE by Bon Iver. Bon Iver's fifth studio album, SABLE, fABLE, released today, marks Justin Vernon's return after a six-year hiatus. The album, co-produced with Jim-E Stack, features collaborations with Dijon, Flock of Dimes, and Danielle Haim, blending Vernon's signature falsetto with a fusion of indie folk and electronic elements.
TOUCH: Black Maternal Health Week. Today marks the start of Black Maternal Health Week 2025 (April 11–17), an annual campaign led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to amplify the voices and experiences of Black mothers and birthing people. This year’s theme, Healing Legacies: Strengthening Black Maternal Health Through Collective Action and Advocacy, calls for systemic change and community-centered care in response to the longstanding disparities that continue to endanger Black maternal health. The week is a rallying cry to honor those we've lost, uplift those currently navigating the maternal health system, and build a future rooted in equity and care.
New data underscores the urgency of this work. A recent New York Times article highlights a study published in JAMA Network Open, revealing that nearly one-third of maternal deaths in the U.S. occur more than six weeks postpartum—well after most new mothers are considered “in the clear.” The study also found that pregnancy-related death rates rose almost 28 percent from 2018 to 2022, surging during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, Black women experienced a maternal death rate over three times higher than white women, and the disparity has only widened. “Our study illustrates why we can’t take our eyes off maternal health,” said Dr. Rose L. Molina, one of the study’s authors. As we acknowledge these sobering facts, we must also commit to changing them.
To learn more and get involved, visit blackmamasmatter.org/bmhw25, where you can find resources, events, and ways to support Black maternal health initiatives.
What is appealing to your senses right now? What are you reading? watching? cooking? wearing? loving? obsessed with? We would love to share some of your picks in future newsletters!
ENTER to WIN
two dance party tickets before 11:59pm TONIGHT!
Tickets are limited and will not be available for purchase at the door.
Other Upcoming Events
MKE HEALTH & WELLNESS Earth Day Clean Up. This is an inclusive FREE, nonprofit event focused on health, wellness, community & sustainability created by Amelia of HER Health & Healing— uniting over 30+ women & BIPOC/LGBTQ+ leaders in the Health & Wellness field & Milwaukee’s diverse residents to commit to a healthier planet & serve our diverse communities. Follow the link to become a part of the INTERWOVXN cleanup crew (bring your friends, kids, neighbors) at Highland Community School (park in the parking lot and meet at 18th Street entrance) from 10am-12pm (or connect with one of the other teams if location works better for you) and then join us at Boone & Crockett for the After Party and Raffle from 12-2pm!
Women’s Entrepreneurship Week (WEW) is an incredible, week-long conference for women entrepreneurs crafted to spark innovation, foster connections, and celebrate the diverse voices of women in business from May 5-9, 2025! Milwaukee Central Library will be the host for She Stands Tall’s annual event, setting the stage for five energizing days of inspiring workshops, talks, and networking opportunities—PLUS a Thursday night party! Every moment is carefully crafted to spark innovation, foster connections, and celebrate the diverse voices of women in business. Learn more about the other amazing keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and networking opportunities and grab your ticket at the link below before prices increase April 16th. If you need financial assistance, please reach out to info@shestandstallmke.com to learn about options. Oh and here are the details on the session we are offering!
And we leave you with…
ANOTHER GIVEAWAY!
DANCE PARTY + PERIOD PRODUCT DRIVE
Raspberry Image reposted from @nicehairmke_salon
Our friends Nicole and Jamie from @milwaukeeperiodparties reached out and asked if we could host a period product drive in support of Milwaukee Diaper Mission’s Period Program and we thought what better place than our dance party!
Did you know that 1 in 3 menstruators struggle to afford period products? Want to help? Anyone who brings period products for donation on May 10th will be entered to win a one night stay in a Classic Room at the beautiful Dubbel Dutch Hotel!
Can’t make the Dance Party? The giveaway is only for donations made in person on the 10th, but you can drop off products at Nice Hair Salon (920 South 2nd St, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53204) through the end of April or stop by the 4th Annual Period Party that Nicole and Jamie are hosting on May 18th!
Have a great weekend!
