From Pity to Praise

Empaths have the unique ability to sense and absorb the feeling of others – and that can create some real challenges.

Being highly sensitive to emotions makes Empaths caring, compassionate, and understanding of other people. Friends and family tend to turn to them first for a listening ear and a shoulder to cry on. While most of the world struggles to put themselves in others shoes, Empaths possess a true superpower- the ability to easily see a person’s perspective because they actually feel their emotions as their own. Many highly sensitive people (HSPs) describe themselves as Empaths.

Are you one? Here are some signs you’re an empath,

There are real challenges that come with being so empathetic. Empaths often feel misunderstood because of how deeply they feel. They can become overwhelmed easily as the juggle all the emotions they experience – from themselves and others,

As a empath myself, I know there are certain struggles only other Empaths can fully understand.

Can you relate?

Other’s emotions can flip yours like a switch.

You were having a good day. Maybe you got some good feedback at work, checked off all the items on your to do list, or were generally just feeling good about life. Then, your partner gets home or you meet up with a friend who had an awful day,

Immediately, you feel your emotions shift. Your good vibes are gone, and you feel sad or angry just like your friend or loved one. If feels like that their day happened to you. This can make it hard to hold space for the other person because you’re trying to manage the same feelings. As an empath, it’s hard to disconnect someone else emotions from your own.

You’re constantly battling emotional fatigue.

Feel your own emotions can be exhausting enough. But as an empath who picks up on what everyone around you is feeling, it can quickly become way to much. This includes strong emotions of any kind – from deep sadness to excitement and joy. Empaths have to carefully manage their emotions and practice a lot of self-care to avoid constant emotional fatigue and exhaustion.

Compassion can feel like a burden.

Empaths are used to being told or led to feel like that they care too much or are too emotional. But to us, it’s odd that others don’t care more.

At the same time, not being able to shut off compassion for those around you can feel heavy and leave you carrying a lot of burdens you may not have control over. When you’re the person who feels suffering more than anyone around you, it’s hard not to feel responsible for remedying it,

You’re torn between going out and staying in.

Although Empaths tend to connect well with others, ironically, they need a lot of time alone to process their own emotions and have a break from absorbing other’s. Sometimes they’re even mistaken for introverts (although many people are both). If you don’t have time alone you can easily crumble under the pressure. On the other hand, maintaining healthy relationships is good for your mental health, and pure isolation is not.

It can be a real struggle to balance alone time with socializing. For this reasons, Empaths tend to prefer more low-key settings, such as coffee shops or friend’s houses, over noisy clubs or parties.

Alone times is necessary – and not everyone understand that.

Speaking of needing time to recharge, it can be hard to explain to others why you need it. For me, it’s the only time I can properly listen to myself and sort out the thoughts swirling around in my head. I also need quiet moments to hear myself abs filter out the emotions I may have picked up throughout the day from other people.

Non-Empaths may not need as much time alone, and some even thrive being around others constantly. If you’re an empath who lives with a partner or roommate- or have extroverted friends it may require long conversations to help them understand your solidarity needs.

You need time to process transitions.

Empaths can have a hard time going from high- stimulus environments to low-stimulus situations, and vise-versa. This is why some may feel a strange “hollowness’ after a loud party or be completely overwhelmed jumping into a crowded event. They need time to process the staggering transition and all the emotions associated with it.

You struggle with anxiety or depression.

Although not true of every empath, it’s not uncommon for them to struggle with their mental health. Because that are so sensitive to emotions- their own included they may deal with a lot of self-doubt, stress, and anxiety. Receiving anger or disappointment from other people can feel like getting hit with a ton of bricks.

In the book by Dr Judith Orloff “The Empaths Survival Guide,’ she writes that Empaths can feel the entire spectrum of mental and physical symptoms that come with other’s emotions including depression, panic attacks, chronic fatigue, and more. This means Empaths can be left juggling the mental effects of their own problems, as well as those of others.

In addition, many Empaths have spent their lives feeling different from those around us, which can lead to isolation. That is why it’s so crucial for Empaths to take time for themselves and make their well-being a priority.

You know when someone is feeling off when no one else notices.

Empaths can sense when a person upset, often even before they have indicated it to other. This can be a wonderful trait because it allows you to notice when others are in need. However, it can also make it hard to enjoy yourself.

For me, this can happen when I’m just trying to have a nice carefree time with family or friends. Once I notice someone is feeling unhappy. I can’t enjoy myself if I begin taking on their emotions.

People take advantage of your compassion.

Intuition is a have empath superpower. They often have gut feelings after meeting new people that turn out to be true, shielding themselves and others from dishonest people, or those with bad intentions. That being said, Empaths are not immune to deception, narcissism, and toxic people. It’s important to watch out for those who try to take advantage of your empathy, compassion, and willingness to help.

Small things can deeply upset you.

Empaths care — a lot, about everything. It’s just in their nature. So, little things such as one mean comment from a stranger online or a disagreement with a co-worker, can affect you for days and take a long time to get over. Other people may no understand why you can’t just get over it,

Sometimes you forget to leave emotional space for yourself.

You feel so much from those around you, and your empathy make you a great listener m healer, and problem solver. But sometimes you give away all your energy to others, while forgetting about yourself. This is where it’s so important to prioritize inner work and self-care. Empaths must help themselves before they can have the energy to help others.

Saying no is really hard.

No often make us feel guilty. Empaths hate disappointing or potentially hurting others. In the moment m you’re happy to sacrifice your time and energy to make others feel good -until it leaves you drained and overwhelmed.

Violence and horror deeply upset you.

Although not true of every empath, some Empaths will never understand how other people enjoy horrible movies so much. Or how some people can watch a violent scene or read a tragic news story and simply move on with their day. Fake and real-life violence can leave empaths upset for hours or even days after they’ve seen or read about it.

You don’t always know which emotions are yours.

This is probably the biggest ongoing challenge Empaths face. When your constantly absorbing emotional information from other people,nit can be hard to know what you’re feeling from others -vs- your own thoughts and emotions. This can make decisions hard, and sometimes your felling lead you down the wrong path.

Being a empath is either a blessing or a curse. Empathy is the ability to understand and share feelings of another. Some say have this trait is a blessing. But, when you have no control over how deeply you car aboutp people it can bring pain and suffering.

As we live through the experiences of being an empath it will be easier. You will learn what it means being one. We need to learn survival techniques to survive.