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floatingleafFound this on Tumblr. How to determine if one is an empath. Not all of it applies to me, but a hell of a lot does. I have bolded each sentence that evoked a feeling of recognition. I have never thought of myself as an empath, btw... just as a wimp unfit to deal with life, for the most part.;) So here's another way of looking at it. Food for thought, at any rate.
Have you ever walked in to a room and felt like a wave of negative energy washed over you? Have you had a conversation with a stranger and could tell, without them having to say a word that they were deeply troubled or sad? Do you ever feel so profoundly moved by something beautiful that you start to cry? If any of these ring true for you, you might be an empath which is a highly sensitive person who has a more heightened awareness to subtle stimuli. There is nothing wrong with you, you do not have an emotional disorder.
If you’ve been told all your life that you are too sensitive, overly emotional, or wear your heart on your sleeve and you have also been told that you pick up on cues or feelings that other people don’t even notice. If other people point this trait out in you, chances are you might be an empath.
If you’ve noticed how sensitive you are to the emotions of others. Even before they tell you how they are feeling and you can enter a room and have a sense of the general mood of the environment, in other words you can feel other people’s feeling, then you might be an empath.
Where others can tolerate raised voices, conflict or anger that kind of negative energy can make you feel physically sick or in pain as a result. You have a strong desire to have peace and calm in your life. If this sounds like you then chances are you are an empath.
If being in over crowded places over whelms you, chances are you are an empath.
If you seem to know things without being told. You sense what needs to be done or what’s about to happen. Your gut feelings nearly always prove to be correct, this means you have a strong intuition. You might be an empath.
If you have a strong intolerance for pain or the pain of others and can’t stand watching violence in the media (this includes the news or animal cruelty) you may be an empath.
If you feel like you need time alone, to withdraw to your room or another quiet place to recharge every day after having spent lots of time around people, you might be an empath.
If you can tell when someone is lying just by looking at their face or listening to their tone of voice you may be an empath.
If you are more sensitive to medications you might be an empath. (example: if you drink coffee before bed and can’t sleep no matter what you try or if you are taking medications and seem to experience side effects/reactions more easily than others)
If someone close to you is sick or depressed and find yourself developing the same ailments, you might be an empath.
If You frequently have lower back and digestive problems due to dealing with negative/stressful situations, you might be an empath. Your feelings show up as your physical symptoms.
If people around you seem to naturally gravitate towards you and unload all of their pain and problems on to you, you might be an empath. (empaths always feel compelled to help others, even at their own expense/happiness/health) this also leads to feeling fatigued all the time like your being drained of energy by others. You might even develop chronic fatigue syndrome if you’re not careful.
If you are highly creative, imaginative and loving and you may be involved in the arts or other creative pursuits. You feel close to animals and especially enjoy the relationship you have with your pets. You might be an empath.
If loud noises or sudden dramatic movements startle you. You also feel overwhelmed by bright lights, rough fabrics and strong smells. You also notice very delicate smells, touch or sounds. You might be an empath.
If you’re having to multi-task and there is too much coming at you at once, you start to feel over whelmed by all the activity surrounding you then you might be an empath.
If you have a strong need to create a comfortable living and/or working environment to accommodate your sensitivities, to arrange your schedule and commitments to avoid unpleasant, chaotic, or overly stimulating situations, you might be an empath.
If you are particularly bothered by people who put themselves first all the time and aren’t sensitive to the feelings of others, you might be an empath.
That last one in particular is a very sore spot. In fact, it's the one thing anybody needs to do if they want me out of their life. Show a distinct lack of empathy - either towards me, or towards someone else I care about (or even a total stranger who doesn't look like they deserved such treatment). Act like my/their feelings don't matter. The result is guaranteed, regardless of how awesome I may have thought you were before. Take one step forward over someone's metaphorical dead body, and we're done.:P
On the other hand, if you do show kindness and consideration, I never forget that either. I am inclined to forgive a hell of a lot in exchange for one small act of kindness, or a genuine apology. But it has to feel real to me, or to my damnable "gut instinct". If it looks like an empty gesture, or a manipulative trick, it's useless. I may not always recognize manipulation right away, because my strong desire for peace and harmony tends to create a semblance of it even where there is none - but the "gut feeling" that something is wrong will still be there, and it will manifest itself through various psychosomatic symptoms (insomnia, anxiety, "digestive problems" etc.). The problem is, there are so many things potentially causing those symptoms for me, I may be totally clueless as to the actual reason at hand. And so I may tend to rationalize those "gut feelings" away. Only to regret it later, when I realize I have let someone play me for a fool. So if I take my sweet time to get close to people and allow them to see "the real me", this would be why. And if I find that those I have opened up to aren't being honest with me, then, well... we're done.
Have you ever walked in to a room and felt like a wave of negative energy washed over you? Have you had a conversation with a stranger and could tell, without them having to say a word that they were deeply troubled or sad? Do you ever feel so profoundly moved by something beautiful that you start to cry? If any of these ring true for you, you might be an empath which is a highly sensitive person who has a more heightened awareness to subtle stimuli. There is nothing wrong with you, you do not have an emotional disorder.
If you’ve been told all your life that you are too sensitive, overly emotional, or wear your heart on your sleeve and you have also been told that you pick up on cues or feelings that other people don’t even notice. If other people point this trait out in you, chances are you might be an empath.
If you’ve noticed how sensitive you are to the emotions of others. Even before they tell you how they are feeling and you can enter a room and have a sense of the general mood of the environment, in other words you can feel other people’s feeling, then you might be an empath.
Where others can tolerate raised voices, conflict or anger that kind of negative energy can make you feel physically sick or in pain as a result. You have a strong desire to have peace and calm in your life. If this sounds like you then chances are you are an empath.
If being in over crowded places over whelms you, chances are you are an empath.
If you seem to know things without being told. You sense what needs to be done or what’s about to happen. Your gut feelings nearly always prove to be correct, this means you have a strong intuition. You might be an empath.
If you have a strong intolerance for pain or the pain of others and can’t stand watching violence in the media (this includes the news or animal cruelty) you may be an empath.
If you feel like you need time alone, to withdraw to your room or another quiet place to recharge every day after having spent lots of time around people, you might be an empath.
If you can tell when someone is lying just by looking at their face or listening to their tone of voice you may be an empath.
If you are more sensitive to medications you might be an empath. (example: if you drink coffee before bed and can’t sleep no matter what you try or if you are taking medications and seem to experience side effects/reactions more easily than others)
If someone close to you is sick or depressed and find yourself developing the same ailments, you might be an empath.
If You frequently have lower back and digestive problems due to dealing with negative/stressful situations, you might be an empath. Your feelings show up as your physical symptoms.
If people around you seem to naturally gravitate towards you and unload all of their pain and problems on to you, you might be an empath. (empaths always feel compelled to help others, even at their own expense/happiness/health) this also leads to feeling fatigued all the time like your being drained of energy by others. You might even develop chronic fatigue syndrome if you’re not careful.
If you are highly creative, imaginative and loving and you may be involved in the arts or other creative pursuits. You feel close to animals and especially enjoy the relationship you have with your pets. You might be an empath.
If loud noises or sudden dramatic movements startle you. You also feel overwhelmed by bright lights, rough fabrics and strong smells. You also notice very delicate smells, touch or sounds. You might be an empath.
If you’re having to multi-task and there is too much coming at you at once, you start to feel over whelmed by all the activity surrounding you then you might be an empath.
If you have a strong need to create a comfortable living and/or working environment to accommodate your sensitivities, to arrange your schedule and commitments to avoid unpleasant, chaotic, or overly stimulating situations, you might be an empath.
If you are particularly bothered by people who put themselves first all the time and aren’t sensitive to the feelings of others, you might be an empath.
That last one in particular is a very sore spot. In fact, it's the one thing anybody needs to do if they want me out of their life. Show a distinct lack of empathy - either towards me, or towards someone else I care about (or even a total stranger who doesn't look like they deserved such treatment). Act like my/their feelings don't matter. The result is guaranteed, regardless of how awesome I may have thought you were before. Take one step forward over someone's metaphorical dead body, and we're done.:P
On the other hand, if you do show kindness and consideration, I never forget that either. I am inclined to forgive a hell of a lot in exchange for one small act of kindness, or a genuine apology. But it has to feel real to me, or to my damnable "gut instinct". If it looks like an empty gesture, or a manipulative trick, it's useless. I may not always recognize manipulation right away, because my strong desire for peace and harmony tends to create a semblance of it even where there is none - but the "gut feeling" that something is wrong will still be there, and it will manifest itself through various psychosomatic symptoms (insomnia, anxiety, "digestive problems" etc.). The problem is, there are so many things potentially causing those symptoms for me, I may be totally clueless as to the actual reason at hand. And so I may tend to rationalize those "gut feelings" away. Only to regret it later, when I realize I have let someone play me for a fool. So if I take my sweet time to get close to people and allow them to see "the real me", this would be why. And if I find that those I have opened up to aren't being honest with me, then, well... we're done.
