Being empathetic means to feel other people's feelings and often take them on as your own.

For example, attending my Mood Disorder Support Group can be at times painful as I will sense and feel other people's duress. I take these feelings home with me instead of leaving them at the door. Even with my boyfriend's efforts to debrief and fragmentize my upset or even painful feelings do not result in pulling me out of it. The feelings sometimes linger for days - often until a new set of feelings about yet someone else's difficulties take their place.