To be honest, I was always a little empathetic, but for a long time did not get around people who were in emotional pain because I just couldn't handle it. Now I go to group twice a week, and I see so many people who are worse off than me, either physically, mentally or financially that I've actually grown from it and feel like, for the first time, that I don't feel sorry for myself. I can safely empathize with people and feel that when I can, I want to help, but the emotion is no longer so overwhelming that I avoid it. Hope that makes sense.