[Keane]

Hi,
I'm posting here because I've been feeling empathy to such an extent that I don't even know if you can actually call that empathy.
I think I've always been over emotional on that point, but it's getting really bad.
As I said, I don't know if empathy is the word, but basically I feel pain, sadness and stuff for other people just way to strong.

Like, tonight my step dad made some diner while I was out and when I came back he asked me if I was hungry and I said no. Later my mum came home and asked me if I ate, and then said I could at least have eaten a bit, and it made me so sad it actually made me cry aha ... I felt just so horrible! Even though my brother ate so he didn't cook for nothing.
And it's not even as if I liked my step dad I really don't, especially these last months as he's been horrible to my mum.

So yeah basically if I'm related to something, even the stupidest thing, that MIGHT make someone feel not so good, I will feel devistated, horrible, and might even cry.
Like really.
I can't even listen, read or watch the news.

It's the same for embarrassing situations. Some people might not even be embarrassed about something but I will feel so sad for them!
And I sometimes have to pause a series or film cause it's just too embarrassing. But apparently that's because of social phobia (like my brain thinks other people will feel like I do).

What is this?? Why am I feeling this way? Why do I have this?
Does any of you have that??
What can I do to make it stop??
I could feel bad for my worst ennemy :'( even for f*cking Hitler

Thanks in advance

I've felt kind of like this before- being vulnerable and extremely sensitive to sad things around me. It seems to be when I am depressed. I think people notice things in others that they feel in themselves....so if you feel sad or embarrassed you will pick up on that in others who are feeling those things.... or view situations & people through a 'sad' lense.

Perhaps there are feelings inside you that need attention and compassion but they are being neglected so you are noticing them in other places?

[kim_johnson]

I think you have discovered why an awful lot of people out there take recreational drugs. Numb themselves with alcohol and / or cannibus or with tobacco or with psychiatric medications...

Some of the 'emotion regulation' kinds of skills might be able to help you. Not because I think you have borderline personality, or anything like that, but because there are some really good skills there around self-soothing and the like.

Are the people around you largely sad / unhappy? If so... Can be hard to know who started it (the feeling)...

Do you similarly catch positive emotions like joy or elation or excitement?

[peaceseeker63]

Originally Posted by kim_johnson

I think you have discovered why an awful lot of people out there take recreational drugs. Numb themselves with alcohol and / or cannibus or with tobacco or with psychiatric medications...

Some of the 'emotion regulation' kinds of skills might be able to help you. Not because I think you have borderline personality, or anything like that, but because there are some really good skills there around self-soothing and the like.

Are the people around you largely sad / unhappy? If so... Can be hard to know who started it (the feeling)...

Do you similarly catch positive emotions like joy or elation or excitement?

I would like to learn more about emotional regulation skills. Is this info available on this site? Thanks!

[kim_johnson]

Self-soothing | The Emotionally Sensitive Person

I found this about self soothing.

There is a whole forum here for emotion stuff...