Seeker33 - I understand you. I suppose I could say I empathize with this.

I empathize with most people and things. It is difficult for instance for me to read news or even things on FB without feeling badly. These forums can be bad too. Particularly difficult is the need to help when I am powerless to do so.

One such situation which is really difficult is my weekly support group for Mood Disorders. I hear a lot of difficult stories. I generally come home really wound up and feeling terrible - quite often crying.

So what do I do?

- I talk about it with my husband. I get it all out. He is really good about centering me and telling me how it is. He is really good about encouraging me to realise that other people's problems aren't my own and discouraging me from the overpowering need to fix them.
- I write about these feelings. I put them down on paper. Then I stand back and pretend that I am a friend - what would they tell me about what I am doing? It helps.