For as long as I can remember, my family has described me as a sensitive soul. It’s not just about shedding tears easily; I genuinely connect with the emotions of those around me. Like a sponge, I absorb the feelings of others, be they joy or sorrow. This heightened sensitivity has been part of my life since childhood.
I vividly recall a moment in kindergarten when my friend, Lily, fell on the playground and scraped her knee. The sight of her bleeding terrified her, and she burst into tears. In that moment, I felt her fear and pain so intensely that I struggled to comfort her. My heart raced as I wished I could ease her distress, but nothing seemed to work. Feeling utterly helpless, I lay down beside her, took her hand, and started crying, too. When the teachers arrived, they assumed we had collided and took us both to the nurse for care. The nurse later informed my mother about the “incident” and how upset I appeared, even though I had no physical injuries to show.
My mother, familiar with my emotional landscape, simply smiled and thanked the nurse. On our way home, she treated me to ice cream, asking how I felt after witnessing Lily’s fall. She understood that, in many ways, that injury felt personal to me. She recognized that I was more than just sensitive; I was an empath.
According to Judith Orloff, MD, author of The Empath’s Survival Guide, human sensitivity exists on a spectrum. At one end are empaths, who are the most sensitive individuals, while the other end encompasses those with “empath-deficient disorders,” such as narcissists and sociopaths.
As a child, I didn’t grasp why my friend’s pain affected me so deeply. Now, I understand that empaths have an innate ability to absorb the emotional and physical energies around us. This phenomenon, often dismissed as mere sentimentality, has roots in ancient Eastern healing traditions. These traditions speak of energies, known as shakti or prana, that flow between individuals. Modern science has begun to validate these concepts, revealing that emotions can indeed be contagious.
Empaths not only empathize with others; we absorb their feelings, making it difficult to differentiate between their discomfort and our own. Eastern healers would refer to this transfer as shakti; I prefer to call it superhuman empathy.
However, while this ability can feel like a superpower, it comes with significant challenges. In a world rife with suffering, empaths often experience fatigue and sadness. News stories and distressing social media images weigh heavily on us, making it hard to compartmentalize our emotions. We forge deep connections with everyone we encounter, and our capacity to care extends to all.
Empaths are frequently labeled as overly sensitive or dramatic, but that characterization misses the essence of our experience. Writer Alex Thompson articulates our reality perfectly: “Empaths aren’t ‘too’ emotional; instead, we’re simply in tune with the feelings of others.”
If you find yourself nodding along, you might be an empath, too. Perhaps people naturally confide in you or share their life stories shortly after meeting. If that resonates, know that you are not alone in this journey. There are many of us who share this unique gift—and the accompanying struggles. We feel your pain, sometimes even literally.
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Summary
Empaths possess a unique sensitivity that allows them to deeply connect with others’ emotions, but this gift can also lead to exhaustion and sadness in a troubled world. Recognizing the struggles and joys of being an empath can foster a sense of community among those who share this experience.