[manicplanet]

Has anyone every felt that they have a severely heightened sense of emphatic skills while manic, or even sometimes while stable? I just recently reviewed some of my writings from a manic period and I kept mentioning that I was feeling others pain. Am I alone on this one? Please let me know. Thanks.

[DocClyde]

I sometimes feel that way when I am sad, yes. I do think being sad sometimes does make us more empathetic towards others. And of course, being sad (or depressed) is one side of bipolar.

[KristyGirl7]

Originally Posted by manicplanet

Has anyone every felt that they have a severely heightened sense of emphatic skills while manic, or even sometimes while stable? I just recently reviewed some of my writings from a manic period and I kept mentioning that I was feeling others pain. Am I alone on this one? Please let me know. Thanks.

I heard about people that do, but don't know anyone personally.

[wadingthruemotions]

Originally Posted by manicplanet

Has anyone every felt that they have a severely heightened sense of emphatic skills while manic, or even sometimes while stable? I just recently reviewed some of my writings from a manic period and I kept mentioning that I was feeling others pain. Am I alone on this one? Please let me know. Thanks.

I do, not just when manic, but in general.

[reesecups]

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.

[Perna]

It could be an attempt to get/feel closer to others when things are difficult for us?

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...c-white-knight

[noshadows]

Yes I do. I feel intensely desperate for people's pain to be healed. Sometimes people I don't even know. It doesn't feel like the same desire I have for myself to be healed, it actually feels completely selfle
ss. Today, and I wasn't feeling manic or even good, I found myself praying for a shop keeper on the side walk outside his cell phone or whatever shop, while driving past. My heart went out for him so completely as if for someone I love and care for deeply. I don't know if it's a judgement on my part that he needed prayer although I didn't pity him. I hoped for him the kind of good business, prosperity and a really good, easy day, that any hard-working man deserves.
I've felt the same a long while ago while looking into the eyes of a young child staring through the window of a passing vehicle. I find it interesting how some people just grabs me and illicit that feeling of connection and the perceived ability to feel them and send them some kind of spiritual strength.
I have heard the term 'empath' but never looked into it.

Yes, I am this way. I can feel other people's pain.

[Trippin2.0]

Yes, I'm naturally empathetic, and more so when hypomanic, not fun when someone's having a tough time as I feel like a raw exposed nerve and have nothing to cover myself with.

[middlepath]

absolutely. I am like that in all states, but i feel least empathetic when i am stable. It is hard being that raw and that vunerable, but the truth is i wouldn't change even it if I could. The world has enough cold people, I am glad i fall on the side of too warm, feeling, giving. I would rather be a doormat than it's inverse.

[Jcon614]

Originally Posted by middlepath

absolutely. I am like that in all states, but i feel least empathetic when i am stable. It is hard being that raw and that vunerable, but the truth is i wouldn't change even it if I could. The world has enough cold people, I am glad i fall on the side of too warm, feeling, giving. I would rather be a doormat than it's inverse.

Love your post. It is profound, absolutely love it and relate.

That being said, I always am empathetic (don't like that word, it has pathetic in it). I do not see this as a symptom of bipolar or anything else. This is just me from the day I was born. I like this part of me. It is a wonderful thing to be empathetic if you don't compromIse yourself in doing so.

[BlueInanna]

Yes very much, empathic, but I don't think it's bp related. It's a good thing, not easy, can always be learned as a skill & much needed on this planet.

[manicplanet]

Originally Posted by noshadows

Yes I do. I feel intensely desperate for people's pain to be healed. Sometimes people I don't even know. It doesn't feel like the same desire I have for myself to be healed, it actually feels completely selfle
ss. Today, and I wasn't feeling manic or even good, I found myself praying for a shop keeper on the side walk outside his cell phone or whatever shop, while driving past. My heart went out for him so completely as if for someone I love and care for deeply. I don't know if it's a judgement on my part that he needed prayer although I didn't pity him. I hoped for him the kind of good business, prosperity and a really good, easy day, that any hard-working man deserves.
I've felt the same a long while ago while looking into the eyes of a young child staring through the window of a passing vehicle. I find it interesting how some people just grabs me and illicit that feeling of connection and the perceived ability to feel them and send them some kind of spiritual strength.
I have heard the term 'empath' but never looked into it.

I have heard the term empath also..

[manicplanet]

Originally Posted by BlueInanna

Yes very much, empathic, but I don't think it's bp related. It's a good thing, not easy, can always be learned as a skill & much needed on this planet.

Agreed. The world would be a much better place if people would simply open their hearts a bit more.. At least that's what I believe

[possum220]

There are people around who are called Empaths. Check out the link and read the 30 traits and see if it fits. You are not alone by any means. I feel others pain and often have difficulty knowing if it is mine or not. I have worked out some strategies to help me cope.

30 traits of an Empath (How to know if you're an Empath) - The Mind Unleashed

[dubblemonkey]

Originally Posted by manicplanet

Has anyone every felt that they have a severely heightened sense of emphatic skills while manic, or even sometimes while stable? I just recently reviewed some of my writings from a manic period and I kept mentioning that I was feeling others pain. Am I alone on this one? Please let me know. Thanks.

you are not alone

[Samanthagreene]

People with mirror-touch synesthesia feel like this. That's probably not what you're talking about, but maybe?

[A Red Panda]

Yeah, I'm quite empathetic all the time... but it does get heightened when I'm manic. Sometimes when depressed too.

Empathy. Yes. Empathy and guilt.

[venusss]

I have the connected with the world thing. feel its pains and joys /and there is joys... always...)

I feed off the energy of crowds too. I realized that when I am in the city, I am generally more happier and motivated to do things (well tbh what is there to do in countryside, if your hobby is not gardening, farming, or smoking weed at the bus stop? outside of summer there's really little to do). I get down and apathetic when away from the energy of cities. i am not extrovert either... i just need to feel presence of others like me... chances of which are higher when there is more people

[manicplanet]

talked to my therapist about empaths today. interesting convo...

[venusss]

how it went?

[manicplanet]

i wrote all about it in my blog.. he basically told me that its real but like in a science-y way

[Ash89]

I don't know if it has anything to do with my BP II, but I certainly consider myself more empathetic than most. When I was very young I was incredibly quiet, and I would constantly observe the behavior of those around me. Almost like I would try to 'read' and 'understand' people and their actions/feelings/thoughts from a distance. Now when I get into a conversation with someone, at the beginning of the conversation I can usually tell that something's wrong and gear the conversation in the direction of me being able to 'extract' exactly what's wrong and approach the situation with comfort.

So I guess because I hyperfocused on everyone but me all the time, I have a better understanding of psychology and it's easy for me to dig into someone else's head.

It's kind of a curse, I feel for everyone and I wish sometimes I didn't. Because of this I was always the 'counselor' friend and put my own feelings on the backburner. Now here I am trying to cope with and understand my own feelings, irony. (Makin' progress though.) But like I said, I don't know if it has anything to do with my BP II, but it wouldn't surprise me one bit because I was always a little different.