Ever since I was a kid, I have been really sensitive to things most people aren’t; overhead lights, certain textures, food touching on my plate, a change in my routine, etc. This is something known as being a ‘Highly Sensitive Person’ and for me, it goes hand-in-hand with being an empath. Being an empath is usually seen as a good thing, and I’m constantly told that it’s what makes me, me. I’ve grown up being kind to everyone, even if I don’t know them, and I take pride in being a kind person. As an empath I notice everyone’s behavior and I take into account others’ emotions before my own. I have always known I was an empath, but I didn’t know I was a highly sensitive person until starting off my freshman year in college, when I really started to notice my sensitivity for certain things. For me, being an empath and a highly sensitive person collided with each other and I didn’t know how to handle it, so I began to read a book about it.
As a society we have always given props to empaths, but it is important to know that it isn’t always a positive thing in their lives. It is also very common to be called a sensitive person as an insult, but it is extremely important to know that sometimes people can’t control their sensitivity. While I didn’t know I was considered a highly sensitive person until recently, I always knew I was sensitive. Everything would make me emotional, and I take everything extremely personally. As a young adult, I am still struggling with how to handle all of these new emotions, but I have started to really dig deep into ways to cope with my empathy and sensitivity. I read books with coping skills, and I try really hard to not absorb the feelings of those around me. I avoid situations that enhance my sensitivity, like big crowds, or groups of people I don’t know very well.
As I began an entirely different routine, with entirely different people, I’ve come to realize how sensitive I am to a lot of different things. The slightest change in my routine, or having a lot of assignments due really affects my stress levels. I live in a constant state of anxiety and stress, and it is extremely exhausting. Because I am an empath, I tend to absorb the feelings of those around me, and I notice when the mood has changed, even slightly. Having a roommate means that I feel not only my emotions, but also theirs. As I go through life, I feel everything at intense levels, something others don’t fully understand. This makes it hard for me to understand what I am feeling, and why.
Although I am not finished with the book yet, I recently started to read “The Empath’s Survival Guide” By Judith Orloff, MD, which has taught me that being an empath is a lot harder than people realize. I highly recommend this book to anyone who thinks they might be an empath, or a highly sensitive person. It gives extremely helpful coping skills, and reasoning behind why you might feel a certain way, or do a certain thing.