Do you feel emotions so intensely that it always leaves you feeling drained? If so, there’s a very good chance that you’re an empath. Just to be sure, here are some signs you’re an empath and how to manage your feelings in a healthy way.
Physical Symptoms
You may not realize it, but your body acts as a well-designed indicator of your mental state. Stomach aches, muscle tension, and food sensitivity are all signs that you could be a physical empath. Psychology Today says that boundary setting and releasing secondary energy can help protect your energy.
Increased Sensitivity
In a busy room, you can easily get overwhelmed by all the noise. This is because of all the energies and stimuli that you can pick up on, which affect your senses. You may also tend to have strong intuition, often being able to feel when something bad is going to happen before it does.
Boundary Issues
Do you find it easier to say yes even when you don’t want to? Are the lines blurred when it comes to your feelings and someone else’s? You may have some issues setting boundaries when interacting with emotionally needy people. It can be hard, but make sure that you put yourself first and make your needs clear and concise.
Emotional Absorption
Being a great listener is a great quality, but if it comes at the cost of your own emotions, it can become a problem. While you can still be a loving friend, try to be more cautious by listening and then letting go of their energy to ensure that it doesn’t mix with your own.
Energy Vampires
Identifying these energy suckers isn’t easy, at least for the first few interactions, but once you notice your social battery depleting around them, it might be time to set a boundary or avoid them altogether. We’re not sure if garlic will protect you here, but we guess it won’t hurt.
Creative Expression
As an empath, expressing yourself or appreciating creativity can be an extremely useful outlet. You may find that it helps you to process your feelings and connect with other creative beings without even being in direct contact. Give it a go as your new self-care activity.
Emotional Intelligence
Everybody strives to be more emotionally intelligent, but to empaths, it comes naturally. Go them! Resolving social conflict comes pretty easily, and they are the first that their friends turn to for emotional support and guidance. As Ellevate Network suggests, those with high EI are usually active listeners.
Compassionate Nature
If helping people makes you feel like you’re on cloud nine, you’re most definitely a natural when it comes to empathy and compassion. If it appeals to you, why not pursue a career or a volunteer position that revolves around helping others in need? We’re sure you’ll thrive.
Difficulty Letting Go
When it comes to letting go of those pesky negative emotions or things that have hurt them in the past, empaths are the last to say goodbye. Practicing healthy coping mechanisms, such as mindfulness or therapy, is a key part of releasing. If this is a problem that you suffer from, try it out today.
Self-Reflection
Not only is self-reflection a worthy practice for everyone to participate in, but empaths will also find it useful in understanding and, therefore, managing their emotional well-being. If you need physical activity, journaling or meditation could be ideal for you.
Intuitive Abilities
Whether you believe in spiritual practice or not, if you experience or predict things that you can’t explain, you might just be an empath. This can materialize in wildly vivid dreams that you feel are trying to tell you something or simply that you can sense when one of your closest friends is having a hard time.
Connection to Nature
Just like the Romantics of the 19th century, you may have ‘a deepened appreciation of the beauties of nature’ as explained by Britannica. When you’re having a bad day, a walk in the park can center you and bring a feeling of peace. You may also notice that animals tend to gravitate towards you.
Absorbing Collective Emotions
Empaths are required to set boundaries, not only with people but also with their media consumption. World events tend to greatly impact their emotions, leading to obsessive behaviors such as constantly checking for updates. If you can relate, we recommend seeking out positive actions or events where you can channel your empathy alongside a community.
Overactive Empathy
When boundaries become blurry, empaths may take on other people’s issues and go out of their way to alleviate their pain. This can often be too much to cope with, and while it is important to support those around you, a healthy boundary or two can help protect your well-being.
Strong Connections
Have you ever wondered why people tell you that you understand them so well, even when you’ve only just met them? We think we might have your answer. Those with empathic abilities tend to create meaningful connections with others very quickly and can make people feel seen without even knowing how they do it.
Emotional Exhaustion
Feeling burnt out after any form of social interaction is a common feeling amongst the empathic community. Due to becoming overwhelmed, they will need some time post-hangout to recharge their batteries, and this is often done in isolation as a form of self-care. Healthline suggests that extroverted empaths may need to be extra cautious to ‘strike the right balance’.
Avoidance of Conflict
Arguments aren’t fun at the best of times, but for empaths, they are to be avoided at all costs, even small disagreements. As a result of emotional absorption, empaths confront not only their own emotions but also those of the person they are fighting with, which can take a huge toll on their minds.
Overwhelmed by Intimacy
While empathy makes a romantic relationship flourish, empaths and their partners need to be aware of its downsides. Constant close contact and too much quality time can be tricky for empaths. They may often feel like it is just too much and may develop feelings of losing themselves within the connection.
Up Next: 19 Signs That Say You’ve Officially Entered Old Age
Old age comes for us all, though we do our best to resist it for as long as possible. But aging isn’t only gray hair, wrinkled skin, and yelling at kids to get off your lawn. Here are 19 signs you’ve realized you’re no longer the young stud you once were!
19 SIGNS THAT SAY YOU’VE OFFICIALLY ENTERED OLD AGE
17 Things That Are Too Woke For Boomers
Our society is so different from what it was decades ago, and boomers don’t like much of what everyone considers normal in today’s society. In this light, here are 17 things about ‘woke culture’ that particularly make boomers uncomfortable.
17 THINGS THAT ARE TOO WOKE FOR BOOMERS
17 Things You’re Just Too Old To Be Doing Anymore
The older you get, the more fragile you are physically and mentally, so it’s important to prioritize your well-being every day. Whether you still feel young at 50 or are closer to 80, we’ve compiled 17 things you’re too old to be doing anymore.