Any Empaths or Highly Empathetic Ppl Out There?

[epic]

I've always felt different, not really able to put my finger on it, but I've always cared about living things: people, bugs, animals. You would be hard pressed to find me not picking up spiders & moving them outside, or avoiding worms on the street after the rain bc their lives were important too.

As I got older, towards people I started to feel like John Coffee from the Green Mile. Felt like I could help people come to terms with things that were bothering them & metaphorically carry their problems so they wouldn't have to- or at the very least, help them not to feel so alone.

Now, I can't take it anymore. Talking with others is now draining instead of fulfilling.

The other day, I had the opportunity IRL to save someone who was showing signs of wanting to CTB, every fiber of my being was screaming, "what are you waiting for, do something." & I couldn't move. I myself am planning on CTB, how can I stop someone else.

In the end, after grappling with the idea for a few minutes, I spoke with them. They felt alone & abandoned/shunned by their family, friends & a recent opportunity that could have turned their life around fell through- they were devastated. Immediately breaking down but quickly regaining composure, a switch turned in them & their mindset changed.

Two weeks later, the opportunity came to fruition & they've begun the journey to get back what they lost.

——————​

Anyone else experience something similar to this?

You seem to be very kind, I saw your previous thread where you talked about about volunteering for a suicide hotline . Kudos to you :) .

I am also an empath . Maybe with average or slightly above average empathy. I am not a big fan of bugs and insects though but I don't kill them (except for mosquitos , cockroaches) .

 

[NodusTollens]

You seem to be very kind, I saw your previous thread where you talked about about volunteering for a suicide hotline . Kudos to you :) .

I am also an empath . Maybe with average or slightly above average empathy. I am not a big fan of bugs and insects though but I don't kill them (except for mosquitos , cockroaches) .

Thank you. :)

It was exhausting work, never knowing if your words helped, or made people feel worse. There's a lot of responsibility & emotional currency invested in working (volunteering in my case) in an environment where you're trying to support someone with one hand tied behind your back (liability/legislation).

Glad to hear there are more like us out there in SS land. & well, we all come in different shapes & sizes, from all walks of life, you don't need to do it all (plus roaches are disgusting, haha). I mean, I'm empathetic towards animal, but I'm not vegan.

 

[Deleted member 23885]

I'm a highly sensitive person, I scored pretty highly on the quiz on the website. I am also an empath. But, I find life to be full of suffering- though a few distractions make it somewhat bearable.

 

[NodusTollens]

I'm a highly sensitive person, I scored pretty highly on the quiz on the website. I am also an empath. But, I find life to be full of suffering- though a few distractions make it somewhat bearable.

I'm glad to hear you have ways to make life somewhat bearable. I find that I burn through things that make life bearable... after a while, nothing really helps.

 

[Deleted member 23885]

I just stick with music and reality TV.

 

[NodusTollens]

I just stick with music and reality TV.

Music & Netflix for me at the moment, but I watch everything with my phone in my hand as an additional distraction. Everything feels too much & has been making me cry lately.

 

[Deleted member 23885]

I have netflix but only really use it watch cooking shows or movies with my mum. I barely watch series. I have a quite a short attention span so I stick to watching reality tv shows with lots of music/dancing. Sometimes, it lifts my mood. It's good talking to you, by the way.

 

[NodusTollens]

Sometimes.
—hugs—

 

[wordsonscreen]

Everything you said resonates so so so much. I'm too tired so I am glad you said it so I dont have to. It is exhuasting. I can feel everyone's emotions and its amazing because I help everyone around me. But people dont often return the favor. Who heals the healer? I feel like I absorb everything around me.

 

[NodusTollens]

Everything you said resonates so so so much. I'm too tired so I am glad you said it so I dont have to. It is exhuasting. I can feel everyone's emotions and its amazing because I help everyone around me. But people dont often return the favor. Who heals the healer? I feel like I absorb everything around me.

Mhmm. HUGS. The plight of the healer. I'm sorry you're feeling so exhausted, it's a isolating feeling when you turn around & no ones there. You PM me if you'd like, we can definitely chat. :)

It's unfortunate because I feel this happens to all of us- humans in general, but in this case I'm referring to empaths. I find at some point we develop compassion fatigue.

I'm living with compassion fatigue atm & sometimes I just can't allow myself to give my emotions space to be. It sucks because I'll come off cold/uncaring which is the opposite of my character. I just find that I'm losing the capacity to take on any more.

 

[wordsonscreen]

Mhmm. HUGS. The plight of the healer. I'm sorry you're feeling so exhausted, it's a isolating feeling when you turn around & no ones there. You PM me if you'd like, we can definitely chat. :)

It's unfortunate because I feel this happens to all of us- humans in general, but in this case I'm referring to empaths. I find at some point we develop compassion fatigue.

I'm living with compassion fatigue atm & sometimes I just can't allow myself to give my emotions space to be. It sucks because I'll come off cold/uncaring which is the opposite of my character. I just find that I'm losing the capacity to take on any more.

wow, SAME, SAME, SAME. You're speaking my mind. Compassion fatigue is real and it makes me feel like I am not myself.