I don't mean empathetic, because I have to be empathetic for my job as a healthcare professional. I'm talking about being an empath.

Years ago, I had a friend in a meetup group I was in tell me that she believed I was an empath. I had to look it up because I'd never heard of it, and I have to say that pretty much all of the traits fit. Since then, I've had others, including near strangers, say the same thing. I had a massage therapist I went to ask if I knew what it was and tell me she felt that I may be one, I had a coworker say it, and a friend of a friend. The most recent was a month ago when I decided to try reiki for fun (because she was running a FB special at her studio, haha) and she asked me if I knew about it and said the same thing.

If you know about it, I'm curious what you know. I would consider myself to be a pretty impaired empath at this point, and don't know how not to be impaired.

[MiddayNap]

I have never heard of the term before, but, upon researching it, I have come to find it fits me like a glove. I always knew I tend to be rather sensitive to others' emotions-despite not having many of my own-but I never knew there was a term for it. My, is it annoying! If I was a more emotional creature, it wouldn't be an issue I don't think, but I "feel" my own emotions with my mind. It is more of a "this situation is bad/good. Let's dissect it and discover why." When I absorb the emotions of others, they-the emotions-are felt in the body and I generally have no idea what they are and it is just a bizarre, horrid sensation. There are a lot of things I can sense-people have a...well, it's a smell but not a smell. It is like heat in that you can smell heat, but feel it as well, if that makes sense. I'm sorry to go on like this, but whenever I attempt to tell others of this, they act as though I am a fool.
I can sense other things as well, which I will list as concisely as possible:
1) Acquaintanceships. I feel a "pull" towards a person and will be compelled to stare. Sooner or later, they always initiate a conversation or we simply end up paired together for a project or what-have-you. We always become acquaintances.
2) I know whether someone is in a "good" or "bad" mood even without looking at them. They feel differently. Not literally-I don't go about touching people. Their air feels different. Not in a farting sort of way....I can also tell whether someone is dishonest or not.
3) When another and I are seeing each other for the last time, the atmosphere changes and it feels sort of like when you are close to rising and are vaguely aware you are dreaming. Sometimes they move, sometimes we simply drift apart.
4) I have yet to incorrectly predict what others will say or do. A lot of the time, I will plan out entire conversations before engaging in them. And they always go according to plan.
5) I often respond to things with "I already knew you would do that" which tends to aggravate people. They take it to mean "I have little faith in your abilities; you've disappointed me", I've been told, when really, I am neither happy or upset. I simply know it is, and what will be, will be
6) If I want to know whether something will happen, I think on it and if I can see it, it will happen. This is a difficult one to explain. Things that won't happen are much blurrier.
7) Sometimes, I can predict the future. It is usually very mundane things, save the break-in.
8) Those who are ill have a distinct scent
9) When I was younger and had my own room, I could smell/sense when someone had been in my room. The air smelt/felt different. No, not body odor.
10) Everyone has an air about them, which has a scent that is really more of a scent one smells with their body.
Again, I apologize for rambling. I would like to know if you experience any of the above.

I consider myself an empath, there is a lot of information out there and some is based within certain spiritual and religious beliefs, the term was coined when new-age beliefs started emerging in the 1960/70's but empaths and people of similar ilk are well documented within ancient esoteric beliefs.

It is my understanding that as an empath you are open and will often take on the energy of people, places and sometimes things you come into contact with - good, bad and all other shades of energy . This can be a gift! but you really need learn to protect your own energy and psyche for your own well being. Unfortunately the most common down side to being an empath is that often we encounter people who are known as "psychic vampires" highly dramatic name for what can often be a persons unintentional or unaware ability to latch on and drain your own good energy as being in your company can often make themselves feel better. I think you have probably encountered some people in you life who after spending any time with them have just left you tired or feeling off, sometimes the feeling can linger for days after. Sadly we sometimes end up being very close with these people and it becomes hard to recognise where your feelings end and theirs begins.

I suggest looking up empath protection meditations to begin with, often these pages/video clips can lead you down a rabbit hole of information

Take care

I definitely experience 1, 2, not sure about 3 (though I have had certain other similar experiences similar to this which are too in-depth to explain), sometimes 5, sometimes 6 but mainly in silly small things like if I am in a situation where everyone else is freaking out (we're lost, someone loses their keys, I lose mine, etc) I don't freak out if the solution is right around the corner; can usually sense it, 8 is just true--I'm a nurse and that's common knowledge at the hospital, and I sometimes have 9 and 10 though those can also be just pheromones and you have a very sensitive nose.

1 & 2 I definitely experience, though, and those would fit. Or so I'm told. I'm just trying to learn how not to absorb everyone else's energy, at this point. My gosh, I was at a concert on Saturday night and, while we were wading through the crowd to get to our section (it was Garth Brooks, it was insane) I was having an internal meltdown. I mean, I'm an introvert and don't love crowds anyway, but it was just...uggghh. I can't explain how I feel sometimes. The only way I have been able to describe it to others is "buzzy." Not frustrated, not depressed, not sad, not angry, but like all of those things balled into one. I just want to run and scream and hide and cry all at the same time.

If I meditate daily, I can usually temper that buzzy feeling. But I'm not very disciplined.

[avlady]

sometimes i think i'm a bit psychic, if that's what a empath is too. i can zero in on others radar as i would call it. i think some people are on the same brainwave as me if you know what i mean. i often can predict certain sentences that will be said even if it's not right away, like sometimes i'll think of a sentence in my head and then i'll hear someone use it in the same day. i think this may be empath?

Originally Posted by soggyweetbix

I consider myself an empath, there is a lot of information out there and some is based within certain spiritual and religious beliefs, the term was coined when new-age beliefs started emerging in the 1960/70's but empaths and people of similar ilk are well documented within ancient esoteric beliefs.

It is my understanding that as an empath you are open and will often take on the energy of people, places and sometimes things you come into contact with - good, bad and all other shades of energy . This can be a gift! but you really need learn to protect your own energy and psyche for your own well being. Unfortunately the most common down side to being an empath is that often we encounter people who are known as "psychic vampires" highly dramatic name for what can often be a persons unintentional or unaware ability to latch on and drain your own good energy as being in your company can often make themselves feel better. I think you have probably encountered some people in you life who after spending any time with them have just left you tired or feeling off, sometimes the feeling can linger for days after. Sadly we sometimes end up being very close with these people and it becomes hard to recognise where your feelings end and theirs begins.

I suggest looking up empath protection meditations to begin with, often these pages/video clips can lead you down a rabbit hole of information

Take care

Sorry, I didn't see your post. Yes, this all sounds like what I've read. It's difficult because I work as an RN in a busy ER so it's hard to determine if I feel drained because of the job or because of other things. Or both. I have read about some meditations to do and have done a few. Even if they are just power of suggestion and there is nothing to them, hey, they help.

Thing is that, in medicine, we know that alternative therapies such as accupuncture work. They are evidence based. We know the energy meridians involved exist, we just don't know exactly what they are, or why they are. So I think there is more to life and biology and energy than we know. If that makes sense.

I can't even begin to imagine how draining your job is, I work withing a community service organisation and often feel drained by trying to help people in crisis of the mostly non-physical type but it is certainly no where near the pace of an ER.

There is certainly more to life than we know!, I have read about various philosophies and spiritual beliefs since I was young because I was always searching for something to give me hope or answers. That book the Celestine Prophecy was what started it for me in regards to "energy" when I was 14, it is fiction but brings up some ideas for a mind that has never thought of such things truly existing. I have always felt raw and drained in crowds but I think that has a lot to do with growing up in a combative environment and being an introvert like yourself. I have a number of avoidance issues to say the least I find a lot of Metaphysics resources to be of help in regards to empath/energy, it is just often a case of finding the right fit for you

[MiddayNap]

Originally Posted by Ruari

8 is just true--I'm a nurse and that's common knowledge at the hospital, and I sometimes have 9 and 10 though those can also be just pheromones and you have a very sensitive nose.

I'm just trying to learn how not to absorb everyone else's energy, at this point. My gosh, I was at a concert on Saturday night and, while we were wading through the crowd to get to our section (it was Garth Brooks, it was insane) I was having an internal meltdown. I mean, I'm an introvert and don't love crowds anyway, but it was just...uggghh. I can't explain how I feel sometimes. The only way I have been able to describe it to others is "buzzy." Not frustrated, not depressed, not sad, not angry, but like all of those things balled into one. I just want to run and scream and hide and cry all at the same time.

If I meditate daily, I can usually temper that buzzy feeling. But I'm not very disciplined.

Firstly, a-ha! I knew ill people smelt distinctly! And I know this is rather difficult to explain, but it is both a "smell" and a "feel". A bit like how heat can be felt and smelt-cold can as well, but heat is much more intense. I certainly would not consider my nose "sensitive", though it has been accused of being so.
Secondly, I definitely understand your aggravated feeling, for lack of a stronger word, upon entering public places. I often describe my "feelings" in crowded areas as such: It is the sensation of claustrophobia and of a fly flying round and round your head, buzzing endlessly. It is like drinking too much coffee during a rather PMS-heavy menstruation. It is aggravating. That is the closest word I can think of. It is the motion that aggravates me the most. I can feel it everywhere-coming from every direction. Behind me, approaching from around the corner, this way and that. Bah! And the noises! Is your experience similar? You mentioned a tinge of sadness mingled with the various other negative emotions, so perhaps it is a bit different.

[pppp3]

It sounds very exhausting being an "empath".

Seems logical that an empath (somebody very sensitive to what others are thinking and feeling) would choose a helping profession.,
but being around others in extreme pain (physical and emotional), must be very draining for you.
What's your secret to protect yourself?

Before hearing this term (today),
I used to think of people like you as very intuitive and kinda psychic ;

When I googled "empath" I came across this,
Have your read it?:

Title: 30 traits of empaths.
30 traits of an Empath (How to know if you?re an Empath) | The Mind Unleashed

Very interesting.

Don't you think many people would fall in this category of "empath"? There are many items out of the 30 listed above that are the most natural thing in the world to me. I figure many other people as well, no?

[apples_]

People have already explained perfectly what an empath is. I'm gonna tell you you should look into protecting yourself. You don't want to take the energy from other people and put it on yourself. Someone who's in a bad mood could put you in a bad mood. Look into crystals I have a few that I keep on my person wherever I go it's like a forcefield it protects you. You can still be an empath just don't take the baggage home with you.

[pppp3]

Originally Posted by 0T8und3R

Don't you think many people would fall in this category of "empath"? There are many items out of the 30 listed above that are the most natural thing in the world to me. I figure many other people as well, no?

I agree, so I did some more research, and just found something that clearly explained the difference between most of us (HSP) and empaths.
(HSP= Highly Sensitive People).

Good or bad, the HSP FOCUS remains more on themselves, (their own interpretation), than the other person's actual feelings/thoughts/condition.

(Even with my very limited contact here, that article clearly explains why people like Ruari, are not empaths, but rather a HSP).

https://chakracenter.org/tag/unhealthy-relationships/

Excerpts:
"For empaths, the challenge is separating ourselves from other people’s emotions long enough to recognize our own...Empathic abilities are extrasensory in nature...".

"...Someone who is HSP, is extremely sensitive to the energy around them, but typically is not able to completely connect to what another is literally/actually feeling because their own reactive/sensitive nature is what they primarily experience...".

[Fuzzybear]

[Wild Coyote]

There is at least one psychiatrist specializing in how to survive as an "empath."

Judith Orloff MD | Intuition, Empath Support, Traditional and Alternative Medicine, Emotions & Energy Healing

Informative free site, free blog, emails, etc.
Lots of info.


WC

[nicoleflynn]

It means being able to understand another person's feelings.