[NoIdeaWhatToDo]

I routinely internalize other people's emotions. Even when I don't want to, I'm extremely susceptible to the emotions around me. If my husband is irritated with something (a project he's working on, something at work), I get irritated. If a friend is angry, I get angry. I'm hyper-sensitive to it, too; even if someone doesn't specifically share what they're feeling, if I'm particularly attuned to them (like my husband, kids, close friends), I can sense immediately what's going on inside them. I can't seem to insulate myself from others in this way - is this common?

I think the only time I'm not like this is when I'm in that magic space in depression where apathy kicks in for a bit; I call it magic because it's such a relief sometimes to feel numb after feeling all the other horrid feelings that can come.

I'm sure there must be a way to learn how to let others feel and share their emotions without becoming the same way myself...any else have any success with that and care to share?

[Icare dixit]

Yes I believe we're all very good at it. I believe it's very much a core feature.

Those more to the SZ end of things are better at it but might think they are even better at it than they are. It goes wrong when forming thoughts from emotions and is (therefore, arguably) a formal thought disorder.

I can literally read minds (as apposed to the emotional reading) from time to time. I don't trust anyone who tries to convince me I can't. Same can happen when manic.

Others might think we are bad at it, reading emotions, but I don't ever believe we are.

Another more SZ-like ability is to shield yourself from feeling it intensely. So it can be done. It's like Stoicism.

[gina_re]

I do this with my mom sometimes. I remember if she would complain about a coworker, then I automatically hated that coworker. And if I ever met that person...let's just say I'm not good with hiding my feelings and so that person automatically gets the cold shoulder from me. When my mom would be stressed over something, I take on her stress about whatever it is. We were too codependent. I had to separate myself from her and keep some distance between us. My life is fine, I can't be stressed with her anymore.

[MusicLover82]

If you believe in energy, learning to protect yourself and channel energy, you may benefit from learning from someone like a Reiki Master. I have a Reiki 2 "attunement" and I can channel energy to assist people in healing. I still haven't learned how to completely protect myself from others' emotions (I can totally relate to the feelings of being empathic), but I think if you talked to a Reiki Master, they might be able to help you. Good luck!

[Blaire]

I can definitely relate. Sometimes I avoid being around people specifically for this reason. I have really weak boundaries sometimes and can't handle what other people are feeling.

[~Christina]

I remember when I first joined PC , I had just been diagnosed and was starving for first hand knowledge. I was like a dry sponge soaking it up and deciding what was helpful and not so much.

Anyway .. I became closer to a few people and we did lots of PM's.. What I now refer to as " emotional vampires" is what resulted with a couple people. I had virtually no boundaries, I didn't even know how to assemble them.

I got so caught up in things that I was making myself mentally and physically sick over things.

One of the first people I met here gave me a huge heads up and I did have to make some changes in how I related to people.. Since then I have learned ways to set boundaries and not let them fold under the weight.

In real life it is a bit harder. I can't just log out and take a break like I can here when needed.

What I have learned is I can be supportive and helpful etc etc .. But Its like the drill you learn before a plane takes off ,, First you put your oxygen mask on .. then you can help others.

Currently life has really slapped me and those closest to me around so much that some days I am not sure what to do that can really help... I do know that I have to be supportive but I cant allow everything around me to drag me into a hellish place.

[kkrrhh]

I definitely get this. It used to be really bad, to the point that it was so draining and sometimes painful it made it hard to function. The only thing that's really helped with it is meds, because fighting it myself I just end up in a constant battle with my emotions and make it worse. Lamictal seemed to help this for me, I think, and now that I'm tapering that it's been getting worse again. Other than that I just try to mentally detach myself sometimes in situations where it's getting to me.
I feel like mindfulness could probably help with this in some way, but I've only started practicing that really recently so I can't give any personal experience.

[fairydustgirl]

I have most definitely experienced this...living with my type A intense,driven, workaholic husband made life hell for me. I sucked up all of his anxiety and it took me a really long time to figure out that it wasn't MY anxiety I was feeling. He never would talk about work, it was an atmosphere he would bring into the house with him. But I do this with others, I connect at a very deep level with people where I can feel their distress even at a distance.

After all these years, I ended up divorcing my husband because the anxiety he induced in me made the bipolar disorder worse and I was continually unstable. I haven't had an episode in two years now where I was having two major ones every year before that which lasted months.

I live alone and I try very hard to limit my interactions with other people, especially the vampires. My boundary building needs work though

I took a strengths test (it is an online test that you get the code from buying a book StrengthsFinder 2.0) and I scored extremely high for empathy. So I look at that as both a gift and a curse.