Am I an Empath? What is an empath?

Empaths- well they always fascinate me. I am new to this forum and what drove me her the most is Empaths. I just wanted to ask IF I am one of them. Following traits sometimes make me feel that I'm one of them: (I always want to be an empath, I'll love being an Empath! )
1. I am very gullible and often agree to decisions taken by others that might otherwise be against my own beliefs.
2. I am very , very , very helpful. I love to find ways in which I can help others and often go out of my way to do so.
3. I can stand in other's shoes and view world as they might view it.
4. Not so happy going.
5. Sometimes kind of depressed.
6. Sun sign is Taurus.

Would be great if you guys can help me here. Thank you so much.

3302

Empath is a word usually used by someone diagnosed with sociopath, or sociopathic traits.

Someone, through no fault of their own, hasn't been able to develop emotions, perhaps due to frontal lobe damage, or more often, lack of emotional connection from their parents at an early stage. So compassion, guilt, remorse and shame is often alien to a sociopath or pshychopath. So Empath is a word used by people who cannot exprerience emotions to explain the rest of us that do experience a range of emotions such as empathy, guilt, shame remorse, affection, etc.

So if you haven't got sociopathic traits, then you are an empath.

You are EMPATHETIC. You are confusing having empathy with being an empath. Two completely different things.

An empath is more spiritual who intuits the feelings and thinking of others on an alternate plane. Some would associate being an empath with things like ESP and psychics and the paranormal.

(forgive me if I've interpeted this wrong)

Maybe if you explained what you mean by help. I can't think of any reasons that most people would want to help you to become the things you listed. Most of them are negative traits.

All are negative? Maybe I have low self esteem. And I accept it That I am empathetic (a little painfully(. I do sense energies around me. And wierdish pains when I look someone else is in pain. I feel strong emotions somewhere that I feel nowhere else.

What does that mean?

And definitely, it's no neuro disorder I guess.

Thank you all.

3302

I have ADHD , sense energy around me and feel others pain whom I see suffering. They come from nowhere especially when I sleep. I am coming out of severe depression and am an HSP.

What does that mean?

No neuro disorders are related to empaths.

Thanks,

3302

This is being empathetic. Key words, you sense the pain of those you SEE suffering. An empath would sense the pain of someone showing no suffering or outer indicators of doing so.

I have a very negative response to what you are saying, because I don't believe being an "Empath" exists. I will leave it at that.

Again I am talking about being an "Empath" as a separate being that can see energy. That is opposed to being "empathic" which is a positive personality trait.

Ok I thank you all for spending your valuable time. I hope you have a nice day.

3302

Hiya Cicada.

You might like to check out this article.

Empath Traits: Signs Of A Highly Sensitive Person

I would be interested to know the source of your thinking. Can you please post a link to this information?

http://humansarefree.com/2014/04/emp...ychopaths.html

Sorry I got it wrong, after reading a lovely article that you previously put a link up to - I am one of these empath's, however, i hate labels, and I just think some people are more sensitive than other people.

I had never heard of the label empath before, however, on another mental health forum, a lot of people diagnosed with ASPD used the label empath a lot, not just one person, but most with that diagnosis used it and it seemed they used the label empath to explain everyone else not like them. So I left thinking that it was a word used by people who lacked emotions, that needed to create some sort of disorder for people who don't, who have a normal range of emotions. So I disliked the word empath from that, because, for me I think it's normal, and I think we are all empath's but we are so used to suppressing the emotions, and we consume so much tv as a form of escapsim that it is now seen as some sort of fault if you sit around discussing your emotions or having a reaction to stuff, I disagree.

Even though the article was lovely, i still disagree on the label empath, and I am right in thinking that some (or a lot) of people with ASPD will use the word empath more than people without the label of ASPD, because if you struggle to experience empathy, you don't understand it, but not see yourself as disordered, you'd want to label people that do experience it and give them a label, so for me, empath is a derogatory term for something, I believe is very normal and natural and part of being a human.

A psychotherapist told me that I was an Empath. I had never heard of it before he said it a couple of years ago. It was a relief to know that I wasn't the only one who felt the same way. Once I read up on the term I more understood it. I don't have ASPD. I see it the term Empath as a point of reference that I can understand. Personally I find the ability to pick up on other peoples emotions as very draining and confusing.

Empath is not in the DSM. So for me, it's just another label.

I reguarly go to Buddhist retreats, and I know monks that meditate 24/7 who are more sensitive to others emotions as in pick up on them, sense them and recognise your emotions quicker than you can, are not afraid to cry and see your pain, and this, in a Buddhist community is seen as normal and healthy, I think the issue is not with an empath, rather I feel the issue is that we suppress our emotions too much that we are not aware of even our own emotions, and often cannot recognise the emotions in others, in a Buddhist community it's called mindfulness or unmindfulness, not normal or empath. For me empath does not exist, but I'm glad it has meaning to you.

It's a metaphysical thing. I have a friend who calls herself a green witch and she believes I am an empath. By the description, and if it existed, I probably would be. Do I believe it? I don't know. Do I believe there are things about this world/universe which exceed our senses and current understanding? I know there are. Maybe this is one of those things. But I don't know.