Have you ever heard of the term empath? If not, an empath is, according to Google, “a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.” These individuals are highly attuned to others’ feelings and emotions, to the point where they feel those same feelings and emotions themselves. If you are wondering if you are an empath yourself, keep reading!
There are various signs that you are an empath. Here are some listed below:
- Closeness and intimacy can overwhelm you.
- You have good intuition.
- Crowded places cause you distress.
- You have difficulty not caring, no matter how hard you may try.
- You get mentally exhausted easily and need time alone to recharge.
- You are uncomfortable with and do not like conflict.
- You struggle in setting boundaries.
- You struggle in dealing with sensory and/or emotional overload.
Personally, I struggle with all of these things, and it can be extremely overwhelming. In my eyes, empaths feel the emotions of others so intensely that they tend to almost walk on eggshells around people or avoid any type of confrontation in order to maintain a sound mind. Confrontation often causes one to say hurtful things toward you, which, if you are an empath, you will be highly sensitive to. Empaths get their feelings hurt very easily and may dwell on a comment for multiple days.
In regards to relationships, empaths have difficulty with intimacy and closeness because they are constantly worrying if they are doing their part in the relationship. They may constantly wonder if their partner likes them, leading to even more insecurity. Empaths also struggle in setting boundaries in relationships. For example, if they need more space, they may be scared to communicate that with their partner in fear of upsetting them.
Being an empath sounds overwhelming, but it is also a special gift. Empaths are very helpful, compassionate, creative, and overall view the world differently. Having a unique view on the world and life can broaden your horizons and lead you to approach situations differently, and in an even better way.