Are You Empathic?

Have you ever gone into a room feeling wonderful and within minutes become agitated, stressed or suddenly developed some strange pain in your body without any real obvious reason? If you answered yes to this question, you are very likely an empath.

Being empathic is not some strange mystical thing that happens to only a few but the level of empathy and how open you are to it does vary.

It is my belief that most people are empathic but some carry a larger burden than others. Empathy like any other psychic or intuitive ability can be both a blessing but it can often feel like a curse if you don't know how to handle it and recognize it.

If you look in the dictionary many will make reference to an empath as a fictional character. Many know of the character Deanna Troi on Star Trek:The Next Generation that is an empath. She is molded to be something out of the ordinary, something odd. The truth is empathy is very common and can sometimes be the cause of unknown or unexplained illness.

Empath's are often diagnosed with things such as depression and hypochondria and upon discovering that they have empathic abilities and how to deal with them, many of the symptoms seem to "magically" clear up.

There are many different types of empaths but for the sake of this article we will stick to the two most common. Physical empaths and emotional empaths. It is very common that one will have at least two forms of empathy and physical and emotional often tie in together.

Physical Empathy: physical empathy is the ability to feel how another is feeling physically. This applies to all life forms including your pets. Do you have a close friend or spouse who has their back go out on a constant basis and it seems if you are around them your back hurts? You are empathically picking up on their physical feelings and now you have to get rid of the pain for yourself. For most this is not limited to those with whom you have a close bond, but you are more aware of the things you pick up from those closest to you.

Emotional Empathy: While physical empathy can be painful, emotional empathy can be crippling when dealing with someone who has a heavy load on their shoulders. If someone is experiencing heartache you are liking to feel unloved, abandoned and just downright unhappy for no reason. The same applies to happier moods as well.

It is my belief that empathy is so common because we are all energy and energy travels. Some are just a little more sensitive to it than others and we become a psychic sponge for those around us. Taking on others emotions or pains is not a good way to live, understanding what is happening, addressing it and then moving forward from that point is always the best plan of attack.

The next time you notice you are suddenly feeling down or suffering from an unexplained pain, check yourself. Is this really mine? Does it belong to another? To find out if physical pain is coming from another, simply touch that area. Does it really hurt? Is there soreness, a pulled muscle? If not, then it very likely belongs to another. For emotional empathy, do a quick check with yourself. Was I sad a few minutes ago? Is there any reason that I am feeling sad? Again, if the answer is no, then you are probably picking up from another. If it belongs to another simply say thank you to whatever higher power you believe in for the message and ask that it is released from you. Knowing that it is not yours is the first step in managing your empathy and in time even being able to appreciate this ability that you have. It is wonderful tool for being able to identify those who are really honest with you and those who are not.