Empathic Ability: Part One — What is an Empath?
An Empath is a person who can tune in to the emotional experience of a person, place or animal. In the paranormal and in some works of science fiction and fantasy, highly developed empathy is a psychic ability to sense the emotions of others and often highly aware of the health and state of mind of their loved ones, no matter how physically near or far away the individuals may be.
It can be challenging for an Empath to function healthily in society if they are unaware that they have this sensitivity and often opt to be alone.
Empaths are born being just that. They’re born unskilled and are generally very understanding of others and their positions, and often times will ask questions rather than make snap judgments, or intuitively seem to ‘know’ there is more to a story than what meets the eye. They are sensitive to TV, videos, movies, news and broadcasts. Violence or emotional dramas depicting shocking scenes of physical or emotional pain inflicted on adults, children or animals can bring an empath easily to tears.
Empaths are people who don’t “read” the future, or predict it … they “read” and feel people, and their energy although sometimes it depends on the person being read, too. They’re often problem solvers, thinkers, and studier’s of many things. They are the psychic sponges of the world, soaking up all the psychic and emotional static that other people give off. Being an Empath is one of the most common and most challenging of all the psychic gifts.
- Want to know how to parent an empath?
- Are you an empath that wants to plug in, switch on and off?
Jennifer Aniston and John Travolta are Empaths. This is why they have the ability to truly convey emotions on screen. Be it that of anger or sympathy. John Travolta is a feeler, he takes on other people’s stuff? A sucker for a sob story. He has a busy mind, he thinks and thinks which brings up doubt and other issues and feels bad when he can’t help everyone.
Do you recognize yourself in the above description? Are you an Empath? Please share your personal story here for others to learn and grow from.
Who do you think are Empathic in the celebrity world?
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I recently spoke with a psychic who told me I was an empath. I have always been extremely sensitive to the feelings of others and have often carried pain that did not belong to me, without understanding why and not being able to control it. I could not be in crowds, the emotional energy was just too intense. I would get intensely connected to people at a soul level, without wanting to and then not knowing how to unhook. I could not watch violence on television or graphic news stories. Even the sound of an ambulance could start the tears flowing! I now understand this gift and have learned to fly in spirit! I can plug in or turn off, I know how to protect myself and I can now use my gift intentionally to genuinely help others without exhausting myself. What an amazing discovery!
I think its human nature to have empathy at least at some degree I hate it sometimes but it feels good being able to comfort someone and vise versa I sometimes wish I knew how to shut my psychic ability off thanks for posting this it helped me understand I’m not the only one out there its good we can all lean on each other for support
I just discovered in the past couple years or so that I am empathic. I didn’t realize that all the emotions and feelings I was having were actually coming from other people,I just thought I had major issues! It could at times feel like a curse. Sometimes just going through your own emotions and life issues can be hard enough, then add other peoples issues to the mix, it can be quite overwhelming. Knowing that I am empathic and learning how to protect myself have really helped me in every aspect of my life and even though it was hard before I knew, I wouldn’t change it for the world. I consider it a blessing, what better way is there to help people than if you know how they are feeling?
Definitely empath!! And it really helped in my former career in HR as a recruiter. I feel energies and could tell if a person was a right fit for the company. I am now going into the health care industry. I love helping people!! I can feel peoples emotions and sometimes it is really bad because I feel their stress, tension, sadness. I feel the stress of the whole world right now. All of the on-goings in the middle east, Japan, etc. I feel a huge weight on my chest which makes it hard to breathe. Is this normal? I feel terrible stress of my family with a lot of different things going on.
Great blog entry! Thank You Barb! I will definitely be watching for more on this. I was physically sick last Thursday evening and began sobbing like I was grieving. I have had this happen many times and anxiety about who is involved usually compounds the feelings. I mentioned to my daughter that it wouldn’t surprise me if I vanished into thin air from the vibration of the energy. I really need to find that on/off switch and learn how to re-focus the energy for healing and help.
Being empathic is both a blessing and a curse. On one hand, being able to feel someone’s emotions/intentions has saved me, family and friends from dangerous situations. On the other hand, involuntarily taking on someone’s physical/mental pain can be confusing and exhausting. I once felt a relative’s asthma attack from 3000 miles away, and a few years ago, a very close friend went through a major depression, and had some very horrible thoughts. When I first started getting her feelings, I didn’t know what was wrong with ME, as I was very happy with every part of my life. Then I went, Oh, this isn’t me…” It was the worst empathic experience I’ve ever had.
Now there is one thing that happens to me that no one has been able to explain to me. Out of the blue, I will get soooo angry…just so so mad, short-tempered, and I snap at everyone. This is the complete opposite of my nature. But over the years, I have come to understand that when this happens, it means that someone I know is going to die. And yes, every time this happens to me, someone does indeed pass away. What does this mean? That the person is angry that they are leaving this plane?
Thank you Barb for posting information on “Empaths”. I now understand why I have been so emotionally, why I feel the things I do with people or pets I know or just meet! I am not by all means physic but have felt things from people who are far away just ot find out that not all was well. I look foward to part 2 on your blog!
Have you thought of having a class on Empaths? I have meet your mother in law,I would love to learn more not to help me but maybe help or understand others, thanks again Barb so informative!
so i recognize myself in that description and often feel foolish when i hear or see things that could be emotionally charged and i feel the need to stifle feelings that sometimes show themselves regardless of my attempts. maybe that’s why i work in the social service field despite my degree in english literature. i have also have had many bizarre experiences–can anyone here pick up anything from just looking at someones picture? just curious.
I have been able to pick up things some times just by looking at a picture.
I have noticed when watching tv shows that have animals in them and they are getting taken away from he owners due to them not treating them appropriately and looking after them I should, or shows that have an high emotion when somone has died or been severely injured I start to cry, I have also noticed I do this when reading sad books I get emotional even though I know it’s not real.
Also when shopping at large shopping malls or places that have a lot of people present I tend to get headaches. I don’t know if this makes me empathic or not as when people get sick I don’t notice that I take on their own pain. If somone could tell me if this makes me empathic it would be a lot of help. Maybe I have just not fully developed my empathic abilities if I have them at all.
Thank you Barb for writing this it has been very interesting to read and am looking forward to reading more
Thanks for doing this blog series, Barb! Honestly, in all you have taught me about being empathic, I still didn’t understand exactly what it was. Thanks so much for clarifying it for so many of us. For anyone reading this, I am empathic and have always known that I was feeling the energy of other people. Sometimes I know exactly what to say to help them out, even if I am talking to them on chat. I am able to unconciously pick up on how they are feeling, and really want to work on enhancing the ability. Barb has great workshops to attend that deal with energy…I highly recommend them!
I have always been super sensitive and I feel things very strongly. I could never understand why other people didn’t have the same strong emotional reactions to things that I would find really upsetting like violence or poverty or death or cruelty to people or animals. I have also been told that I give off very strong energy. I remember one of my friends saying to me when we were teenagers, “Geeze, you have such strong energy! When you’re mad about something the air feels like you could cut it with a knife.” I had been sitting in the backseat being very quiet so I was really taken by surprise when she told me she could feel it in the front seat. My problem is in having a hard time letting the feelings go and also in shielding myself although I am practicing that.
I am interested in the turn off, turn on plug. I make sure I run alone and don’t let people get to close to me because I ‘feel’ and ‘know’ everything left unsaid. it gets to be to much. Its not that I even try, I will be in the middle of a conversation with someone and BAM I ‘know’ there lieing or leaving out something etc. A lot of the time I even know exactly what really happened. Empathic as to pain? Seems to me everyones eyes tells that story. No matter how cheery the face if there is pain, physical or emotional the eyes say it all. Also to be blunt if I may, I am not sure how you got on my friends list on facebook but things like that happen for a reason so I am going with the flow on this. I have ran into many people that claim to have your talents and most seem to just skim the surface of what they are really capable of. I think your the real deal. Doing the right thing is usually the hardest of ones choices. So far I have not been disappointed in what you do.
Do you think there is a connection with my having ulcers and surgery to remove my gall bladder and me being empathic? My “gut” feelings are sometimes so strong it hurts my stomach. I think from all the years of not knowing how to control it has actually caused me physical damage.
Being an empath can actually cause physical damage or even mental damage…the same with having stress can cause the body to react negatively. This is a good point to talk about in Part Two of the blog. Thank you!
~ Barb Powell
Yep, I sure agree, Barb.
Another thought to add to the blog: Sometimes I think, more often then not, that when I pick up on someone’s “stuff” it is for a reason? In example I brought it to the attention at work the other day someone had a physical issue, she admitted that she did but has not gone to the doctor. I talked to her and told her I would go with her to the doctor for moral support if that would help her go. Anything to make the pain go away, it really hurt!!!! LOL
Consider the word disease (dis-ease).
Thank Barb ! I’m really looking forward to the next one ! This really explains a lot, I felt like I was being lost for awhile ! I thought I was really being emotional, and felt like a cry baby, I searched up some other information also. It helped me a lot to understand it. It’s kind of hard to control it, because all I want to do is cry or get really frustrated ! I’m only eighteen, still young, so maybe I could have some help on controlling it. Do you have any ideas or suggestions ? Thanks !
Yes Kayla, I will post in my 2nd or 3rd part of the blog ways to ‘control’ this. I hope it helps many.
Thanks for leaving a comment!
xoxo
~ Barb Powell
Great topic Barb! I always thought everybody was able to do this, but as I am realizing now, no, not everyone.
What really struck me was a few months ago how I was listening to a friend whom I did not know well, but really like. I was sitting beside him as a large group of us friends went out for dinner. When I left the dinner and returned home I was overtaken by heavy depression. It made no sense, I couldn’t figure it out. It took 24 hours to shake it. Then I found out that, indeed, this friend was going through some heavy depression. Wow! I took it on without even knowing it!? I then realized I had better start shielding myself. I can still be supportive without being so open I pick up everything!
Also, how often do you hear it, when you meet with someone, old friend or new, that they feel “energized” or so much better, after being with you? I had one new friend comment they felt pumped for days afterwards, after opening up about some very difficult times they were having. It took me about three days to process that one. Don’t get me wrong, I was VERY happy to help, but it taught me that I need to protect myself at the same time. Emotions are very real energies!
“Psychic sponge”… what an excellent description! Yes, I was born an empath. Few people have ever understood what that means and why I react to things the way I do. Any TV/commercial/movie that shows negativity toward animals or people suffering loss just turns me into a blob of mush instantly.
It has caused MANY issues in my life because it’s very unnerving to people when I know something they’re feeling that they didn’t volunteer. It’s also alarming when they TRY to lie to me and I call them on it. I have chosen solitude for most of my life because the mass of emotion I take on in a crowd can be debilitating, especially if they’re people I know and/or care about. I feel everything, everywhere, everyday and have recently learned that sometimes if I don’t remove myself from a situation I can get lost in the emotional shuffle.
I had a close relationship with someone who suffers from depression and the constant contact with them pulled me so far down I almost disappeared into it myself. Literally the day I left I felt like a different person… me. It’s been almost a year and I’m still struggling to get back to who I was before that relationship.
I have also found myself ‘attached’ to people for reasons I don’t understand. One in particular that just makes NO sense to me at all. It almost feels like a piece of my soul doesn’t belong to me anymore and I have to bargain with it to come back.
Several people have called me psychic because I can look into their eyes and tell them exactly what they’re thinking based on what I’m feeling from them. A lot of times I’ll hear or see something (like a flash) depending on the intensity of the emotion they’re giving. Many people have walked out of my life because I’ve scared them with that ability. I honestly don’t know if I’m psychic (I certainly can’t control it if so) but I know without question that I am an incredibly strong empath… with VERY little control over turning it off.
I’m REALLY looking forward to ‘part II’. =)
As an empath…(I’ve only known this for the past 10 years or so), I’m still stuggling with how to manage it.
My sister had surgery this week, and I’m experiencing her nausea, dizziness & headaches. When I phoned her she felt great, and I told her my symptoms & she said that is exactly what her Dr. told her her symptoms would be, but she was not experiencing any of them. . .and she thanked me for taking it on.
I am taking it on because I am committed to her focusing on her healing. She too is aligned with healing perfectly.
Looking forward to your next article.
Blessings,
Cali
PS: This past week I was looking at Wildflowers in my yard, and even said to myself “Wildflowers Productions would be a great name for a company”. When I went into the house I checked my emails & the email at the top had a subject line “WILDFLOWERS” casting. I sent my link & shot the film this past weekend. So, Empath’s do not read the future? I will list many more incidences that have happened to me soon. . .xox
Empaths do not usually ‘read’ the future like a psychic does, but they feel. Empaths are intuitive but in a different way than seeing or hearing…they FEEL! Which can help in an intuitive way.
If we ‘listen’ to those feelings it can help push us, move us or lead us to the future.
~ Barb Powell