Thin-skinned, hyper-sensitive, wimpy, spineless, wussy, feeble, weak, fragile, melodramatic, temperamental …
If you can relate to, or have been called a combination of any of these words, chances are you’re part of a unique group of people: the Empaths.
Occurring in an estimated 5% of the population, Empaths are known for their highly developed ability to sense the emotions and thoughts of the people around them. As author and Empath Christel Broederlow put it “empaths often possess the ability to sense others on many different levels”, this includes the abilities to intimately understand what a person desires, yearns for, and is currently feeling, suffering or thinking, as well as the ability to feel other people’s bodily illnesses. These occurances manifest themselves as energy vibrations that the finely tuned Empath can pick up on, or “tune into”.
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Commonly identifying as clairsentients and HSPs, Empaths possess an ability that is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, the Empath is an excellent listener and counselor, knowing the best way to comfort and assist those around them. On the other, being an Empath can be painful and tiring. It’s common for the Empath to be weighed down and constantly congested with the negative emotional energy of others, often creating physical and psychological disharmony.
Although the Empath has a wonderful gift, and is often greatly cherished by those around them, they are often challenged and confronted by a variety of misguided perceptions towards their innate gift.
Myths & Misunderstandings
“You need to grow some thicker skin! Stop being so overly sensitive.” I wish I could tell you how many times I heard that in my childhood! Growing up as an Empath, you may have experienced similar insults from your parents, friends or peers, and perhaps even worse.
It’s not at all trendy or popular to be sensitive or feeling in our society that values efficiency, cold calculation, and industrial resilience. Therefore, you may have experienced and still experience, a lot of antagonism towards your behavior as an Empath. I will explore four of these main misperceptions below.
Myth #1 – Empaths are navel-gazing and self-absorbed.
Truth – We often focus more on others than on ourselves.
It’s true that Empaths are often unexplainably moody and quiet on the outside. However, this isn’t because they’re excessively absorbed thinking too much about themselves and their feelings. Rather, the Empath is often deeply affected by the exterior emotions of others that he experiences as his own. The Empath’s ability to intuitively feel the feelings of others is what weighs him down so much. In fact, it’s characteristic of the Empath to pay more attention to others needs than his own.
Myth #2 – Empaths are mentally ill.
Truth – We are magnets of negative energy. This often creates psychological disbalance within us.
Empaths are excellent listeners, confidants, and counselors. For this reason, it’s common for people to be drawn towards their sincere and caring natures, almost like magnets. Therefore, Empaths often experience a lot of “emotional baggage dumping” from other people, and have difficult releasing themselves from the negative energy that remains in their minds and bodies afterwards.
Unfortunately, this can lead to a lot of lingering depressive emotions that the Empath is left with. Thus, the Empath can appear to be mentally ill and depressed, and in some cases legitimately is. However, in most cases the Empath is congested with remnants of harmful emotional energy, like sinuses are congested with mucus during a flu virus.
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The root of the problem doesn’t lie with the Empath, it’s a result of their outer emotional climate.
Myth #3 – Empaths are psychologically frail.
Truth – We are biologically programmed to be more sensitive and in tune with our surrounding environment.
As Empath Nicole Lawler wrote, Empaths are essentially “walking around in this world with all the accumulated karma, emotions, and energy from others”. Understandably, this results in a lot of inner emotional tension for the Empath who is more prone to crying and exhibiting other signs of “weakness”.
Additionally, the Empath finds it extremely difficult to partake in many “normal” activities. For instance, watching a movie about Nazi concentration camps is extremely emotionally upsetting for the Empath, and getting a job in an office is overwhelming and tiring for the Empath who is bombarded with other people’s emotions constantly. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the Empath is often perceived as “wussy”, “frail” or “weak minded” to the person who fails to comprehend the constant pressure the Empath lives under.
The fact that most Empaths aren’t driven clinically insane by the constant emotional flux they experience is testimony enough to their mental strength.
Myth #4 – Empaths are lazy.
Truth – We often lack mental, emotional and physical energy due to our intense empathetic ability to understand others.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) amongst other physical issues like headaches, insomnia and Fibromyalgia, have all been commonly attributed to Empaths.
If our minds are constantly overloaded with stress, tension and pressure, it therefore translates that our bodies are as well. This often results in sicknesses such as the ones mentioned above. Thus Empaths often lack the energy and therefore desire to do many things, preferring to relax (including taking naps) instead.
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If you’ve experienced any of these misperceptions in your life, please feel free to share your experiences below. Also, feel free to take our Empath Test or read our empath book to get more in-depth guidance. Being an Empath can certainly be riddled with setbacks, however, it’s invaluable to remember how much of an asset you are to the world. Our planet needs a balance of both hard and industrious people, and soft and empathetic people. You form an important part in this great Universal Balance.
If you would you some more free resources, check out our extensive collection of empath articles!
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Hello there. I too am an empath (I scored a 93/100) and it’s slowly becoming unbearable. I find it very difficult to go out as it is very draining for me. The most I can be out an about is 2 hours before I really begin to feel the repercussions. I always feel in need of a nap but I never get there because of all the thoughts and emotions floating inside me. I regularly suffer from migraines, lower back pain and just generalized aches and pains. I’ve basically learned to live with all that. What I have most trouble accepting is that despite all the people I care about and help out it is those very people who least understand or make an attempt at understanding me. I feel like a stepping stone on to better things or better people. I listen to but am not listened to, I love and am not loved at least not the way I want or need it, I serve as company yet never have any. A lot like a gas station basically, people come, fill up and go. I’m just tired. Sorry needed to vent. Idk it just seems funny to me that the very people who benefit the most from my being an empath are the first in line to criticize, label and tear me down. On top of everything else I think I’ve developped agoraphobia as well I’ve basically lived locked up for the past 10 or so years. Can anyone relate? Thanks for lending a much needed ear.
I understand Kim. I too experience chronic aches in my neck, shoulders, as well as fatigue and constant headaches. What I started to realize above all else was that what mattered was MY health – not living up to expectations, or pushing myself unnecessarily to the limit. Perhaps you need to wind down and assess what you are doing and where you could improve. Keeping rituals helps a lot in establishing emotional and psychological balance, e.g. meditating in the morning, drinking chamomile tea and midday, having a nice bubble bath at night. Establishing and keeping relaxing routines is an important part of any empaths life. Perhaps you haven’t established any time to truly, deeply relax?
I think you are absolutely right and will definitely try out your suggestions. It becomes very easy to just get caught up in everyone else’s drama and forget our own needs.
Thank you! :)
Btw I love the fact that you guys not only take the time to read comments but to reply as well. It means a lot.
It’s my pleasure to interact with others who share such similar experiences!
Thank you ;)
Pleople have recommended to me in the past that I should relax. It’s not easy for me as my mind is always rushing. I also have Low Latent Inhibition. The idea of relaxing for me is boredom. I’m not trying to condescend the idea, I just simply have no idea, or ironically, empathy for relaxation.
I believe in this advice and desperately need help!
Thank you, I’m starting to realize that I’m not alone…I used to think I was cursed. Now I’m trying to understand and use it to my advantage.
I would like to learn more if anyone has any suggestions on where to begin, I would be grateful.
Nope. You are definitely not alone. And I for one find at least a bit of comfort in that fact itself because now I know I have others to learn from and grow with. I can’t help much on the suggestions as myself and lost. Aletheia Luna gave me some suggestions below that I really feel are worth a try. The only thing I was able to think of was to read a book on the subject and suggestions on how to deal with the problems it can cause. Hopefully I can gain some knowledge and get a better handle on this gift/curse.
Wishing you the best on your journey. :)
Kim–your comment resonates with me! Especially about being a “Stepping stone to better things and people” and “being company but never having any.” I, too, feel like I give everything to people who don’t give a crap about me. I just saw a quote yesterday: “I’m sick of drowning for people who won’t even get in the water for me.” Last week I broke down crying to my husband, baffled by how yet another friend–whom I had stood by through the toughest times in her life–could announce to me in mass email that I was not invited to her upcoming nuptials, but was encouraged to donate to their honeymoon. Let me clarify, I did not expect to be IN her wedding, I just wanted to witness something joyous and celebratory in her life after helping her through pain and sorrow. I wanted to share in the good for once.
But “good times” are not what my friends seek me out for. I think of myself as the “foul-weather friend” meaning people seek me out for going through the worst experience in their lives, but forget about me once they have “gassed up” with all of my energy. I was not invited to 5 of 6 of my “best friends” weddings over the years. Not one was due to a fight or falling out. I was simply forgotten.
It has been very difficult in recent years coming to terms that most people I considered friends were actually just acquaintences I really liked. The only people whom seem desperate to not let go of me are emotional vampires, I am beginning to believe, suffering from severe manic-depression, long bouts of depression, are in an emotionally abusive relationship, or flirting with addiction and self destructive behaviors. Those are the types who simply won’t let me go.
I also feel like the people whom benefit the most from my empathy are also the first to tease or ridicual me or my sensitive ways. I started crying today at work simply by describing the storyline of the movie War Horse. People treat me like a novelty. My older sister (whom I seem to always be counseling emotionally or helping with childcare) takes great pleasure in pouncing on my flaws or insecurities. She finds it very easy to chastise my husband or my lifestyle choices, yet I never actually have the guts to give her a piece of my own mind because our disagreements implode so quickly if I resist her badgering. Her criticisms of me are quick and severe, yet I’ve always been supportive of the choices she makes, whether i agree or not. My husband points out I always come home from her house “all hyped up” and “take on her issues as my own.”
I once became so worked up over a “Friend” getting into a verbal dispute with my now husband (it was very early in the relationship at the time though) that I had a full on panic attack in the car on the drive home and threw up all over myself. I think that was my first actual panic attack due to only emotional stimulus.
I had never heard of “Empath” before discovering LonerWolf yesterday, but after a series of articles/quizzes on this site–spirit animals (I scored highest for “Swan”) and soul age (I got “Mature soul” but I also discovered my mother is a “Baby soul” which explains so much)–I found the Empath quiz and scored 95/100.
Thank you Luna, and Kim, know that you are not alone and my heart is going out to you.
Hi Kim,
I can definitely relate!!! In college I started meditating to find my inner voice and also went to counseling sessions at the local community center. I’d say learn how to tune into yourself and know that it is not selfish to take care of yourself. imagine how u can help others once your can find peace within amongst the noise. The vibrations can be so loud around u at times and I find that breathing exercises and a personal montra helps!!! Also get a support system rather that be a sibling, parent, or friend. Let them know that you need to talk. I know that when us as empaths try to do that, people can’t help but still divulge what’s in them and turn the conversation on themselves. Before that happens let ur lover or friend know that you need someone to listen to you!!!
It’s the same with me. I too am an empath. I always feel tired , the same body aches, occasional insomnia, headaches and racing thoughts. I also have a desperate need to be alone so I got a third shift security guard job where I’m alone for 12 hours, it helps a lot because the only emotions I feel are mine ( at least I think lol ) even watching most movies is physically painfull. I feel the same emotions portrayed in them and they almost always give me chills or I cry along with them. anger is the worst emotion to try to block or separate it from your own anger or the person your arguing or upset with. Sometimes it makes the argument worse because I feed off of there frustration and anger and it makes me even worse. It scares my wife sometimes, even though she says she understands but I really don’t think she does. It would take another empath to really truly understand. I’m really a very nice , easy going, even tempered and a very non confrontational person. She has been scared of me at times and I have tried to explain to her that sometimes I can’t help it. Whenever her and I have a heated argument she is perfectly fine afterwards but I’m still very much upset and extremely drained to the point of passing out. I have only recently in the past few years figured out what I am and still trying to figure out how to separate or learn to block others emotions when I don’t want to feel them, and this article is right when it says it’s a blessing and a curse.
Hi Kim, thank you for your post. As I was going through, almost everything you said I experience. For years I always wondered why I was always the shoulder to cry on (with no shoulder in sight when I needed one!). Now, I think I understand it. From person to person my mood, attitude and body language changes. People have took this as me being ‘mad’ or bi-polar.
BUT…..this is far from the case!
I have struggled with this for years and in all honesty, thought I was manic due to all the thoughts and emotions going on around me. Turns out, I’m just in tune with them. Also explains why I stop talking (until I’m comfortable) when with a lot of people.
It’s got to the point now that ALL those people I have helped over the years, no longer talk to me. In their eyes I am arrogant but I do listen fully to people. My issue is, I see the answer but shouldn’t always tell the person.
That’s life I guess :-)
Do you (or anyone reading this) know of a way I can balance things for myself? To me, its either setting boundaries for myself (suppress things) or finding a way to learn and home this skill so I only use it at appropriate times.
Any info appreciated
While I read these comments I feel that I could be the one posting it. The same experiences with friends, the same aches and pains, the same sadness and heartache because it feels like nobody cares about you but they know where to go when they need a shoulder, an ear, advice. You walk into a room and it is like a switch – whatever mood you are in changes to the general mood in the room. You know people laugh at you because you are strange or they think you are nuts. You talk less and less, share less of your feelings, look at people and you know it is a two-faced “friend” talking to you. They always remark about how sensitive you are but they lie to you and think you are not going to know it?! And while you do not share your own feelings you take on all the heartache and pain of others and when you eventually show your own feelings they are so surprised! Yes, people;s actions hurt us and make us angry but we still love people and we still want to help the whole world, heal the world – because that is who we are. I wanted to study medicine but had to give up on that dream. I worked in a hospital during school holidays – the patients loved me but I cried harder than the family when a patient died, got as sick as a dog working with sick children, fainted watching a C-section and cried and threw up changing a dressing on a little girls wound. Somebody remarked that people actually read the comments – I found that something to giggle about – you are posting comments to a group of people who’s entire life is about listening (in this case reading) to other people! The difference here is that we do not only listen, we are also listened to. Wonderful isn’t it? I was also wondering what everybody’s star signs are? Is this more common under specific star signs?
Kim — I can absolutely resonate with everything you’re saying, and you are not alone in the slightest! One of the thoughts posted above in the article mentions overeating, and gaining weight, and three years ago, it became my reality. Over the next two years, I slowly gained weight, and avalanched into a pit of despair and loneliness, wherein food became my comfort. However, what helped me get out of this – and others who have commented have mentioned this, also, so I can attest! – is simply ignoring negativity, and focusing only on positivity. The negativity is drowned out this way from a lack of acknowledgment, and others appreciate positivity, oftentimes no matter what the circumstance may be. Additionally, setting my own expectations for myself, and blocking out others, have helped in growing as a person, spiritually and emotionally.
You can focus upon yourself, and approach the world through your own lens, while remaining sympathetic. It may not seem that way at first – it certainly didn’t for me – but over time, as you develop personal coping mechanisms relating to your own lens, exhaustion becomes secondary to actively being present with others.
You can DO IT, Kim, and I wish you nothing but the absolute best. You are not alone, and my heart is with you.
I’m so glad I’ve found this site and other people experiencing the things I have my entire life. Reading all of this is so invigorating and I can’t wait to see where my journey takes me with time and consistent practice. Good luck to all of you!
Yes, Im glad to I have been suffering for years I absolutely knew I was different ; how I couldnt wrap my mind around any of this .
Hi there Kim, I feel exactly the same. I’m an empath. (I got a score of 97 %) The emotion of people around me really get to me. Most of my friends and family tell me I’m too good hearted and too possessed to please others. They tell me I should focus on myself more. The truth is I love to listen to other’s problems. I love to help and be the shoulder you can cry on. I can keep secrets well. I tried to listen to myself more, because all these problems, I get told, slowly make me sick. The worst thing though is I can’t help it. I always take on the emotional baggage of others. And when I try to be selfish for once, I feel bad and guilty. My friend once was mad at me for thinking of myself and that hurt me the most. I try to like her with all her mistakes, with all her bad characteristics and what do I get in return? An angry friend which makes me apologize, even though I have done nothing wrong. I slowly come to terms, that I won’t be loved, be listened to and be understood the way I love, listen to and understand them.
When I walk through a crowd I feel so many emotions. But for me I noticed that, when I don’t look at the people, it’s not as strong. I often called in sick, because of situations I have to digest first. I get pains and even the doctors don’t know why I get them. My own thoughts are slowly killing me and the suppressed emotions show themselves in aggressiveness towards my loved ones. Sometimes I can calm myself down and tell myself it’s not their fault, but other times I can’t. Then I hurt them the most, because I know their weaknesses and that is where it normally hurts the most. I don’t like it. I’m slipping in and out of these depressing moods. My marks at school have gone downhill and the tasks, I have to do, weigh me down heavily. People think I’m arrogant and ignorant, which I’m clearly not, but I act cold toward everyone now, because I can’t deal with more people relying on me. I feel as if I’m close to giving up on myself and I don’t know what to do. What really helps me though is reading comments like yours. Then I don’t feel so alone anymore. For your question at the end. YES! I can totally relate!
I can relate for sure. It’s almost like you read my mind and wrote down what you read. The stepping stone and love part part really hit me hard, I always feel like I always get put on hold for people. I always called it being a back burner for people or always being someone’s plan B and it hurts a lot. I just commented on the page before replying to you because I felt I needed to get it off my chest, never talked with anyone like this because I felt they would think I was crazy. Thank you for speaking up
I really appreciate the article and find it very enlightening…..its nice to know there is a name for us……hi……my name is Jay and im an empath……and very much would like to share my experience……ever since i was a child i always felt like an outsider………from the way i looked, to the way i thought…… i was alway described as a happy boy…………but growing up was hard as the child of a very abusive home at times felt like hell ………only difference was i went to church on on sundays……….i still remember the first time i realized or felt i was different,….an empath …. my mother who began seeing my (now stepfather) was very abusive towards her as well as me and i hated him deeply…………. he soon after had asked her to marry him ……….and she left the decision up to me, “should i marry him son?” with tears streaming down her face……..at that moment in time i realized, ……thats not what she was asking me…….i told her, “if it makes you happy momma”…………..i was 10 years old………my path then darkens as i opted towards a more destructive route, becoming more cold, calculative, and ruthless about my judgements and observation of others……….. i became a nomad of sorts, constantly moving from place to place, making friends and losing them ……made mistakes…….then made bigger mistakes….got incarcerated ……. It wasnt long after my release. that i questioned my sanity and entered deep depression. ….in which i embarked on a period of “transformation”.a return back to the light……i sought counseling for ptsd and since then have changed myself………..im often noted for being a little weird and akward at times…….and i find great joy in helping others……but my pain has always been my teacher……….i almost always know when im being lied to, at times i can sense peoples emotions and be in sync with them, and have a tendency to predict accurately things people will say before they say them
I constantly feel overwhelmed and drained……….. accepting the burdens of the ones closest to me………..as well as their secrets………..but i did want to ask you a question …..i can feel and predict emotion very accurately……But all “I” feel is “nothing”……. im told that often times im very serious, expressionless or as a close friend put it, “your eyes hardly ever change” ……..Aletheia, how do I seperate “my” emotions from everything else? How do i heal a broken heart? How can i harness and sharpen my talents and to what purpose should they be used?
I greatly respect all the comments others have posted and am glad that “we” are not alone.
Jay … your story gives me a lot of food to thought, especially in regards to what TYPES of people are Empaths. What is their main uniting feature?
Sol is an even stronger Empath than I am, yet personally he is very calm and emotionally stable. In a sense, he is often “empty” of these sorts of fluctuating emotions that people experience all day long due to his ability to not identify with the transient nature of emotions. I believe it is his “emptiness” of emotion that causes him to become a vessel of other people’s emotions. Think of a cup full of water, and a cup empty of water. Which is easier to fill? Obviously the empty cup. That is what I think an Empath is: a person naturally empty of emotion for one reason or another, and who is thus more susceptible to receiving OTHERS emotions.
Being a very emotional person makes you self-absorbed as you focus on YOUR problems, however, being a very unemotional person makes you less self-absorbed and more open to what other people are experiencing. I hope something of what I’ve just said has made sense. This, I believe, is why Empaths are so confused. Where do these emotions come from? Why do they weigh so heavily?
In response to your questions, it may help to first establish what TYPE of Empath you are so you know where you stand. I wrote this article a few months ago on the topic: https://lonerwolf.com/what-type-of-empath-are-you/ There are about 10 types in total. Next, you must learn to handle these abilities. Sol wrote about this at the end of this article: https://lonerwolf.com/old-souls-empaths/ It deals with identifying the origin, applying mindfulness and seeking solitude to balance yourself.
Healing a broken heart is about developing self-love, which assists you in forgiving yourself, and forgiving others. These articles will help you begin this journey: https://lonerwolf.com/involution-self-love/ , https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-become-your-own-best-friend/
I hope these answer your questions and give you a path to follow. Let me know Jay, if you need any more help. Finding your way through the storm of life can be overwhelming and painful, but it is possible.
So I have a question. My GF says that she’s an empath. She said that my soft energy is causing her to make the wrong decisions and that she needs to break up with me to get to where she wants to go in life as a hunter. Is this a common scenerio?
She turned down a job offer to wait for another and blames my energy level for her decision making.
Your girlfriend shouldn’t play the blame game (it’s manipulative) for starters. Secondly, it sounds as though she is not taking responsibility for her own thoughts, actions and decisions, which is an extremely potent red flag in relationships. Don’t let her put the blame on you.
she did you a favor. run.
I got 86% on the empath test and I am not sure if I am an empath. I feel emotions when I am around certain people. I always go to my mom to talk to her about life in general and she doesn’t know what to tell me most of the time. I talk to her about clairsentience or “having psychic abilities” and she just says she doesn’t know anything about that. I feel like there are spirits around me trying to connect to me somehow and i can almost reach out and grab them but i can’t. It’s very emotionally draining for me to think someone is standing in front of me staring at me but I can’t see or hear or talk to them. I have had loved one pass and I am clinically depressed and have severe anxiety or just ’emotional baggage’ And I feel since I am so depressed they know and want to help or let me know everything’s ok. but i can’t tell because I can’t hear them or see them. Sometimes I get the weirdest dreams about the weirdest things. I don’t know what any of it means. I am an avid dreamer, with about 3 to 6 dreams a night. I feel very drained from the world and I stay inside most of the time. I get very sad very easy. I am not sure how to hone my skill if i am empathic or have some psychic ability. I just let go the idea of it all which, i think makes my situation worse because the longer i go without any tools to help learn to protect myself from negative energy the longer I think i’ll be depressed. maybe if I had some help to hone my abilities (if i have them at all) I’d be better off in life and love. I think i am a new soul. I know they may not be accurate but i have taken many ‘soul’ test’s and always get the ‘You’re a new soul’ result. So if i am a new soul how can i have empathic ability or psychic abilities? Can someone please help or give me some advice as to what i should do or where i should go?
I understand your frustration Jackie. Not knowing what to do, where to go, what to think, who to turn to. And all the while you feel yourself getting worse, growing to believe your life will always be this painful or difficult.
But it won’t.
You need skills. You need tools. And when you don’t have either of these things, you get stuck in an existential ditch. First things first, you may like to develop an understanding of what TYPE of Empath you are. I wrote about the 10 types here: https://lonerwolf.com/what-type-of-empath-are-you/ This is for the general development of self-awareness and discovery.
Sol wrote about dealing with Empathic traits in an article recently. Ignore the ‘old soul’ bit and scroll right down to the bottom of the article. These suggestions help: https://lonerwolf.com/old-souls-empaths/
Other articles that can help give advice:
https://lonerwolf.com/energy-vampires/
https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-relieve-depression/
https://lonerwolf.com/self-destructive-person/
https://lonerwolf.com/how-to-become-your-own-best-friend/
https://lonerwolf.com/overcoming-self-pity/
I hope any of these help you out, or give you a direction to turn at least!
Hello. I just found out i was an Empath recently and im not sure at this stage if i didn’t make things worse by finding out. My anxiety is through the roof and my heart feels like its gonna explode! I ended up in the emergency room last night because of a serious panic attack. They gave me valium which did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! !! Ive always been labeled different, in fact its tatooed across my back! I feel the woes of animals and underdogs to the point of defending them even putting myself in danger . I was catching the bus to college a couple weeks ago and , lets just say someone who was handicapped and of a different race than the throngs that were boarding the bus, was being denied access to the bus and since he was in a wheelchair he should have been able to board first. I live in the ‘hood so this was particularly dangerous for me to do but i violently took on seven ‘hoodrats both male and female and the apath driver to get him on the bus. He never said a word but i think he was scared because of the intensity of the confrontation i was having on his behalf. I’d never seen him before but i could’ve gotten shot standing up for him. They eight of us fought until he got off. When i got off i cursed the driver for being so indifferent and when i got to school i had a panic attack when i saw my professor who is also in a wheelchair. She thanked me for standing up for him but thought i should be more careful. I find that since i didn’t know what i was, ive made terrible and self destructive decisions with my life. Ive tried to die many times and am an ex addict brought back from the dead twice to my dismay. It seemed to get worse if i flatlined and was brought back. Each time, worse! I would always be mad they brought me back. Now i know what it is and i try to stay safe but im always in great pain and distress no matter what i do. Sleep is something i long for and only the strongest pharmaceuticals will buy me two or three hours sleep. By the way, every empath test i take i score 100% on ALL OF THEM!!!! I just want to know if this is gonna eventually kill me. Oh and im a small girl who really shouldn’t be fighting people in the hood because when i see red i really see nothing else so i wouldn’t remember the faces of the people i just fought with and i live alone with my cat who knows how to get anything out of me she wants. Is this why i hang out in graveyards and am drawn to touch old trees? Please help me because im suffocating in this. Im trying not to self-mutilate or do any drugs. Ive been clean of both for over tw years but i feel like im gonna have a heart attack at any minute!
Is there a way i can be more open to these things, i feel in a lot of ways I’m mentally blocked. The only way i feel I’m truly an empath is when people tell me how they feel, I absorb those feelings and will feel that way 100% like a hypocondriac but the emotions have to be said. I don’t as easily pick up on others emotions if they don’t directly tell me how they feel. i feel deeply connected to animals too. and can totally relate to the tired draining feeling. I recently worked at summer camp and had kind of psychic moments which were stronger their and i attribute it to being outdoors and away from technology. and i get deja vu all the time but its so fast and i can’t grasp on to it and lately i have “dream deja vu” which i kind of made up the word but its where i remember snip-its of dreams that I’ve had in the past. maybe none of this means anything but i feel like someones trying to tell me something or I’m supposed to know something and i can’t understand or put the pieces together. it feels like my brain is clogged and i can’t think as deeply as i want to. I’m just so confused
I’m guessing that you are getting deja vu from past lives, and you are an old soul. Research what old souls are more if you are curious. I don’t mean to impose my beliefs of reincarnation on you, but I would guess, like me, you are an old soul. This would make very much sense that you would be an empath because you have had this knowledge from previous lives and can pick up on emotions and vibrational frequencies very well. Check out infinite waters on you tube and watch your life change :)
Some helpful suggestions here, thanks Bai! x
Renee, if your brain/psyche feels blocked up, you most likely have energy blockages. You probably have formed a series of unhealthy habits throughout your daily life (e.g. eating processed, fattening foods – watching too much TV – not spending enough time in nature etc.)
I’ve felt these sensations before, and I’ve found that a number of things help:
-Meditation, every day, 10 minutes in the morning.
-Qigong (Asian practice of moving meditation that deals with life energy).
-Watching what you eat (your food affects your body, and your body affects the way you think)
-Opening your mind (read far and wide, watch documentaries now and then to expand your awareness and understanding of the world).
-Nature time. Each day.
-Solitary time. Alone entirely, doing something you love.
Give these things a go, and I’m sure you will feel happier and wholer.
I got 84% on this test and scored high on others. I never had a word for what I am , always drawn to different causes, try to help… then comes the burn out . I want to do something good for the world AND me now. I cant go on like this. I also did read a bit about the pineal gland but
I have a complex cystic mass on my pineal gland. Will that screw things up for me and make it worse?
Giving your time to rest and breathe is important, yes, Bethany. How can you truly care for others when you can’t do so for yourself? Since you’re an Empath you have an advantage in being in-tune with your emotions and body.
As for pineal gland cysts, you may like to consult a specialist about that (traditional or alternative).
My entire life has been like this. Growing up we were discouraged to show emotion. I believe due to this and my parents misunderstanding of me caused me to become addicted to drugs, alcohol, sex, and anything else that would make me numb. Being clean has brought everything out and I had a therapist who understood and truly believed not just in science but also beyond science. I loved talking with him. This new one……….not so open minded and I find myself worrying about what to say and it defeats the whole purpose. Time to sit at the ocean.
Emotional repression is extremely destructive … I’ve experienced its wrath as well Terri.
Have you tried crying therapy at all? It’s completely free, and in your hands. I wrote about it a while ago after trying to loosen myself up after a very hard time in my life: https://lonerwolf.com/emotionally-repressed/ Laughing therapy is also another alternative, as well as screaming, but crying seems to wrench the most smothered emotions from the depths of the mind and body (in my experience).
With therapy, well, it’s a gamble most of the time. Sometimes you wind up with a therapist on the same wavelength as you, sometimes you end up with a cynical disinterested one. You may like to supplement your therapy sessions with other things you can do for yourself such as researching alternative remedies, free self-help resources, and books (that’s if you haven’t already).
My best wishes in your continual recovery and self-growth,
Luna
For years iv always avoided an never liked the idea of settling for a close contact job an always had other excuses as to why but this sums up alot for me in that area. Also pick up on my surrounding peers etc. Have learnt not to confront or address (with even the sympatheticist approach) sumone on what im unintentionally picking up off them cos they never ever come clean. It painful in a way bcos i hav a yearn to help but wen sumone is in denial its very sad. Anyway a big ups to this read it was awesome i love it
It also depends how close you are to them Coast Girl. I’ve had the same problem before at work in particular, picking up really sad signals from other people, but then when you approach them and try to talk about it, they immediately shut off. I put it down to natural defence reactions, the environment, social context and also how comfortable they are with you in the first place. I’ve committed the mistake of getting too intense and close with people too quickly in environments like this, and it doesn’t pay off in the long term: these people expect you to constantly be open to hearing their problems and sufferings, and many try to establish out-of-work friendships with you, which can add to the overwhelmingness of the situation (and the pressure to live up to their desires!) So I can understand where you are coming from! Keeping your distance is important for the Empath, unless absolutely necessary (family or loved one).
Thank you for sharing :)
Luna
I took the test and scored a 98% which I guess didn’t surprise me. I have felt as though I could read people since I was a child. As many have said, my family and friends thought I was weird and out of touch. This ability has caused me great pain and sorrow as well as wonderful happiness. It seems it is a double edged sword if you will. I’ve seemed to have breakdowns and times of healing. I tried suicide a couple of times and then asked why, why I wanted to die when I didn’t know what it was to live. Then I surrendered to what I had always know was there but, fear kept me from. This was in my mid twenties, I experienced a profound spiritual awaking. I walked in both realities at the same time. I was given knowledge and wisdom beyond comprehension at times only to contemplate and absorb what I was given. It was as if I had an eighteen month out of body experience that culminated in a final scene of oneness that all things were revealed. I was told to write it down but never did it seemed unimaginable to put it into mear words. “Seek all there is to be believed to know what must be believed, the truth will resonate with your spirit” “Seek all there is to feel to know what must be felt, your emotions may be your guide to truth. “Seek all there is thought to know what you must think, let your spirit guide you to what truth there is”. “Envision the life you see within you, observe yourself in this life from your spirit, it cannot help but come true, for that is why you are here”. ” All the knowledge you seek is found within you not around you” I’m still seeking on this journey and have learned much. I’m now in my 50s. The last 30 years seem but an instant in time. I long for home, when it is time and I have passed on what I can it will be time.
Some beautifully powerful revelations here Brent – I particularly identify with: “Seek all there is to be believed to know what must be believed, the truth will resonate with your spirit”. Such a divine insight, and I thank you for sharing these here with all of us.
Being so emotionally and psychologically receptive to the world and everything in it, many Empaths that I have spoken with have undergone some kind of spiritual awakening, or dark night of the soul in their lives. Empaths are more often than not spiritual people, I think it’s safe to say.
Once again, thank you for sharing this wisdom with us, and your own personal failures and triumphs through life. It was a pleasure to read, and to connect in some small way with you!
Warmly,
Luna
How to reach Brent?
Thank you all so much for your input. I have really needed some like-minded reassurance lately.
This is really true. Thanks for this site. I already know that I’m an empath. (72%-I took the test here)
I was even called weird by one of my family members because of some manifestations that make me different from them.
Now I know why I find cruelty and violence from movies very unbearable that’s why I avoid those kind of movies. I’m an animal lover too~~ I even cried when one of our dogs died. Even in tragic movies I weep and more on in the real life situations. I don’t know whether if it’s a weakness of mine but I have my own a strategies in coping it.
All I know is that my strength of being an empath is that I know how to understand other people. Now, I’m starting to accept myself. I hope others will too. Thank you again. =)
*I have my own strategies…
Family members, ironically, can be the least supportive and understanding. That’s what I learnt. But as you mention Den, it’s important to develop strategies and learn to accept the person you are from a deep inner sense of respect and love. We can’t rely on other people to provide that for us, but we can rely on ourselves because we have the control.
Thank you for your encouraging comment, we all appreciate it here!
-Luna