How do you cope with a gift of empathy?

Question

If youre empathic youre one of those people who can sense others emotions as if they were your own. Youd be walking down the street and look at someone by accident and all of a sudden feel like the whole world just came crashing into you. You realize that just because people look normal or happy doesnt mean they are. But sometimes the feelings just dont go away.

What do you do? How do you handle it all?

Answer 1

i am not sure that i could because i can barely handle my own let alone some elses.

Answer 2

It's definitely not a gift. It might feel that way when you're very young, but as you mature you'll realise it's a terrible burden that drives you literally crazy and sends you into terrible depression.

Genuine empathy is extremely rare and as you come to realise this fact you'll realise how alone you are in a world that genuinely doesn't give a sh*t about anyone or anything except themselves and their own agenda... this leads to bitterness and causes you to despise humanity.

So empathy is certainly not a gift - either become an incredibly saintly person who lives 'above' the rest of common society like the Dali Lama, or otherwise harden yourself to protect your own heart/sanity, or otherwise isolate yourself and get on with your own life with little contact with the world unless you want to suffer in pain all your life.

I sincerely wish you well dear, because a very hard road lies ahead of you. If the world was full of empaths we'd live in paradise, because we'd never cause anyone or anything pain, but unfortunately this world isn't like that.

Answer 3

Being empathetic means you are tuned into the world which is a good thing, feeling ones misery means you can send hope to that person, we are all energy and you just tuned into theirs and you can send your own good energy to them. If it does become too much tune out and think about something else, because sometimes it can. There is a lot of suffering out in the world and only those who have any empathy can help those who are suffering, everybody else is oblivious to them and are only worried about themselves. Be glad you are because that means you are not a selfish person.

Answer 4

I often feel like I'm carrying the weight of the world. It does help some when i realize, I'm not the only one with this weight in my heart.
It is a gift though, not a curse.

The abilaty to be able to feel other's pian ( litterally to the T)
gives you the gift of healing.
I can never have an enemie, as long as my foe feels pain.
Meditate, it will help you to zero in on key emotions, and give you the abilaty to help.

Answer 5

I'm pretty empathetic.. I think you just use your gift. Help people. If you can feel their pain as your pain, that makes you feel the need even more to help them.

I personally cannot pass by a hobo without giving them money, and when people cry, I tend to well up.

I don't see this as a 'problem' at all. How odd. It seems like the best way to live, understanding how much others ARE you, and are like you.

Answer 6

I realize that every person on earth has their own journey. We will all experience pain and suffering in our lives and we grow from it. Only with the contrast of happy and sad can we fully appreciate the happy times. I do not try and place myself in other people's shoes and feel their pain because it is not necessary. I do not need to internalize the emotions of every person I meet and they do not expect or require us to do so.

Answer 7

I am like that and you have to learn that one person cant change the world and all that is own it, So you give it to God or it will drive you stupid, to no that their is not much empathy left ,if their were then we would all be able to see it. Or can we all see it but just run from it, or don't let one another no we all fill like this, People don't talk no more, they are out for one person them, worldly consumed, Pray silent for them and that is all it takes...God bless you sweetie I can comprehend how you fill, God bless the USA and Israel and All

Answer 8

Maybe you are called to pray for others. When you feel these things just say a simple prayer for them and see what happens.
Have you ever heard of intercessory prayer? that is what it is all about. My wife is an intercessor and often she will feel burdened and have to pray and this can happen right at home. Often times the Lord will place someone in her thought process and she will call them and pray or what ever needs to be done.

Answer 9

Not all empaths are as bad as Deanna Troi.

Okay, joking aside...most people can simply "turn off the switch".

Answer 10

Learn to be compassionate with a sound dose of common sense.

Answer 11

Learn to balance this state of mind or it'll destroy you. Buddhism helped ME balance it because there were times, working in the medical world, it almost tore me to shreds. After you begin to learn how to balance it, then you can use it in whatever way you choose to altruistically.

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