What is Agoraphobia-and-Social-Anxiety
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder, often precipitated by the fear of having a panic attack in a setting from which there is no easy means of escape. As a result, sufferers of agor...
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Empathic?
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First off let me start with a disclaimer; I'm not a New Age hippy freak that chants to crystals and candles, lol. :o) I'm having a hard time with understanding this and hoping someone on here may be familiar with the experience and know some coping skills.
My therapist stated that he believes I am an empath. Now mind you he's a very logical and non-alternative kind of guy, so for him to suggest this was a little strange to me. After doing some research online I'm starting to see myself in a new light, but I'm a little wary of "psychic" things as I feel it will make me sound hokey if I try to talk about it with people I know. I am by no means a clairvoyant or mind reader, but I do feel and "know" things very deeply. For me agoraphobia has always felt different from what we all talk about here. When I go out I'm not afraid of what others are thinking or saying about me, I just get so overwhelmingly tired and anxious that I avoid it at all costs. I literally feel what others are feeling; anger, frustration, sadness, annoyance, elation.... it's just too much. As I've looked back over the last 10 years or so I've noticed a definite pattern to this theory. When I worked in group homes with non-verbal autistic adults I always knew whay they were feeling or needed. I always know when a friend, loved one or even a co-worker was having a hard time. Even on here I can feel what you all are going through; my heart breaks when things are hard, I feel your happiness when things go well etc. I've always brushed this off as nothing much, but I'm seeing the pattern more clearly now and it makes sense. I guess I'm just a little embarrassed as I've never really been into the whole "psychic" thing. I've always been a more logical person and looked for black and white answers to everything. Anyone know about this or have any suggestions on how to block other people's energies so I don't get so bogged down? Feel free to laugh at me too if you want, I won't blame you and will probably laugh right along with you! ;o) Posted on 10/24/09, 05:10 pm |
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I think I partly understand what you mean although I have never heard the term empath. Years ago I worked at a psychiatric crisis center. Often when I was listening or interacting with a patient I would become aware of something about this pt. or their past or another person in their life. There would be no way I could know the fact. It would realy amaze me and sometimes scare me. After a while I came to accept it as a gift. I also learned to trust that what I felt or sensed was true and would follow through on it in what ever way was appropriate.
I also heard a minister of mine describe feeling others pain and feeling overwhelmed with pain himself. I know he was a very Christan man and prayed a lot for those he ministered to. I trust that his guidance came from his God. I wish you the best with your gift and find a way to cope with it as it will be a gift to others too. Okiegirl 
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I would develop my skills more. what you have is a real gift and I think once you become better at it, it won't bog you down so much.
You can actually really help people with your gift.
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Empathy is not unusual at all really. There are those who are adept are reading or sensing another persons feelings or emotional state through tone of voice, non-verbal communication, etc. and may be able to interpret it in a meaningful way. (or maybe not if you're bad at it. LOL)
Now the term "empath" is usually reserved for comic book heroes or Diana Troy from Star Trek where they are more of a mind reader. Did your therapist give you an idea why this is relevant to you? Maybe you are worrying about how others feel about you or how they are reacting to a certain situation?
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In evolutionary terms, think of how long humans walked around without language! We are social creatures down to our core. The fact that you are sensitive to non-verbal communication isn't anything paranormal -- in my opinion.
From my point of view, it may be painful right now to feel the anxiety of others, but, in the long run, this helps you to identify with your own innate compassion. This could be a very powerful gift that you have uncovered. There is a Tibetan practice called tong-len, it might be of interest to you: http://www.shambhala.org/teachers/...
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I also can SENSE things like this. I worked in a group home also and I feel like I just wrote your post. Cld this be because we are sick we empathize to another????
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I know what you mean too... I often consider myself 'empathic', but when i tell people they think i'm trying to be an x-man or something... when i refer to myself as 'empathic', i don't mean i can read peoples thoughts or anything like that.... I just feel what others are feeling, and that often overwhelms me...
I see 'empathy' not as a psychic ability or anything, but sort of a throw-back sense we use to have as early man, living during the stone ages... its a sense that can help use feel others are around us, and i read somewhere that 'caveman' had this to escape from preditory aniamls
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I totally understand what you saying.and it has nothing to do with being a hippie or any new age stuff.I am an empath to.I found out about it several years ago,even though it is something a person is born with.Im still learning about at this point but I am also a very highly sensitive person(HSP)which often comes with being an empath.I not only feel my own feelings deeply but I also obsorb other people thoughts and feeling.I DO NOT read minds or anything like that,I just read emotions,very strongly,which makes people some times THINK you read minds.There much information out now about empaths and HSP and it has been interesting learning about it and how to direct it.
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Were you by chance born under the sign of Cancer? I was and I know what you are talking about. I am very in tune with how other people are feeling and have even taken on other's emotions before...because the energy is so strong.
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i understand your point, and instead of calling it some psychic link or something new age (believe me, we're in agreement on that one)
i prefer to just figure 10% of us are super-sensitive, 10% of the pop. is completely removed from any feelings for others, (psychopath, sociopath), and most are centered on self almost completely, but generally decent people. good post though. thanks.
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"empath" doesn't have to be a psychic thing. It is often used to describe somebody with really high empathy. Sometimes empath's seem psychic to non-empaths because they pick up on lots of little cues (body language, inflection, changes in routine, etc.) that other people miss. There are logical ways of thinking about this if that is the path you want to go down.
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