Are you too sensitive?

An empath is often misunderstood
Have you been told you are too sensitive by family, friends, teachers, co-workers? This is often our experience when we are an empath, E.G. particularly sensitive to subtle energy.

Being an empath is different from being empathic. We can be empathic, understanding another’s distress or situation and having compassion for them and not be an empath. An empath experiences things profoundly and can feel others emotions, be deeply affected by others mental and physical state– as if it were theirs and at times without being told about it!

Being an empath requires certain skills to remain centered, calm and healthy
Everyone has the capacity to sense energy, but some of us are more sensitive and tuned in either because of our basic energetic signature or because of the impact of life events. For me, it seems that I was born that way and have also had life experiences that heightened my sensitivity. One of the ways I used to describe how this felt was to say that it felt like I was born without skin! As a child, and even as an adult until I learned what was this was about and how to manage it, I was often on overload, stressed and confused about my experience.

Until we recognize what is really occurring in our life experience and learn some skills for clearing and managing energy, being energy-sensitive can be difficult, stressful and debilitating mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Happily we now have a name for being energy sensitive, several actually: emotional empath, energy sensitive, highly sensitive person, and intuitive empath are some common labels. To name something and recognize its characteristics is to begin to be able to understand and deal with it.

So how do you know if you are an empath?
Here are some questions to help identify and recognize this challenging gift.

Have you often been labeled as overly or too sensitive?

Are you extraordinarily sensitive to others’ emotions?

Do you tend to feel others mental distress, or their physical or emotional pain as if it is yours?

Are you hypersensitive to noise?

Do you have a pattern of putting others’ needs before yours€¦often without awareness?

Are large groups, crowded or noisy places overwhelming, draining or exhausting for you?

Do you become overly stimulated easily?

Are you easily overloaded or overwhelmed by others’ issues, pain or circumstances?

Do you feel things deeply… much more so than those around you seem to?

Are you sensitive to negativity, bad news, or violence from others, in movies or newscasts?

Do you try to avoid large groups, noisy or crowded places?

Do you make sure you take your own car if you can so you are free to leave places when you have had enough?

Do you find it hard to disengage from someone who is going on and on about their troubles?

Do you find it difficult to say “NO”?

The greater the number of yes answers to these questions, the greater likelihood that you are an empath. It is both a challenge and a gift. The gift becomes more apparent as you learn to manage your energy in a way that strengthens, builds and maintains healthy boundaries.

Empaths are often highly intuitive, have healing ability and are “spiritual warriors”. Empaths are often a source of great help and solace to others, but typically end up running on empty and begin to suffer themselves in ways that are not helpful or positive. Negative habits, addictions, and stress related issues can all be the outcome of unrecognized or managed energy sensitivity.

Without the full ownership of our energy field and the means to effectively inhabit and direct it, we tend to be disorganized, tense, on emotional and metal overload and even ill and limited in the full expression of our best self. Learning to be in touch with and mange our energy puts us in alignment with our core/soul and be able to live with more ease, peace and love. 

 

Related articles

• In Praise of the Highly Sensitive Man