The ability to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and experience things as if you were them is the gift of empathy. Empaths are the healers, nurturers, and extremely sensitive partners in your life who give endlessly, frequently to the point of fatigue.
Even though they are rare, 15-20% of people are empaths, therefore there’s a potential that you may be one of them.
What Is An Empath?
Empath (n): a person who possesses the paranormal capacity to discern another person’s mental or emotional condition.
Empaths are people who are extremely sensitive to other people’s emotions and energies. They have an easy time adopting other people’s feelings as their own. When they have weak boundaries and find themselves taking on other people’s suffering and stress, this may be difficult.
Empaths have keen intuition and are skilled at interpreting people and circumstances beyond first impressions. They frequently have a natural healing ability because of their caring nature and strong understanding of the human mind.
According to psychiatrist and author of The Empath’s Survival Guide Judith Orloff, MD, “being empathic is when your heart goes out to someone whether they feel pleasure or grief.” But if you’re an empath, you might literally experience their joy or fear in your own body.
Despite the fact that most people can empathize, Dr. Elaine Aron (1991) found that the population’s share of extremely sensitive people is between 15% and 20%. As a result, you could be an empath if you’ve ever noticed that people who need direction and support in life are drawn to you virtually always.
The Main Empath Traits
- Highly sensitive
- Introverted
- Intuitive
- Giving
- Committed
- Good Listener
- Self-sufficient
- Easily Overwhelmed
Am I An Empath? Questions To Ask Yourself If You Think You Are An Empath:
- Is it common to describe myself as overly sensitive or emotional?
- Do I begin to feel wounded or overwhelmed when a buddy does?
- Do I quickly get offended?
- Do crowds exhaust me both physically and emotionally?
- Do I require alone to recover when I’m exhausted?
- Do I use unhealthy coping mechanisms to deal with my emotions, such as binge eating or promiscuity?
- Am I worried that intimate relationships will completely consume me?
You are partially empathic if you can say “yes” to one to three of these questions. You are a highly sensitive person and have identified your personality type if you can affirm three or more of these statements with a yes.
Empath Traits Explained – 38 Signs You Are An Empath
1. You experience an inner sense of knowing.
Empaths possess a solid, unshakeable sense of knowing that is beyond doubt. Without visible signals, they can read people and convey what is actually going on behind the surface. They are able to tell when someone is lying or not being honest. The knowing and reading talents will be stronger and more frequent the more attuned they are to their empathy.
2. You’re an effective listener and communicator.
Empaths naturally have the capacity to listen with all of their senses, giving the subject of their attention a sensation of being heard and understood. Even the most reticent individual may reply and convey their deepest and even most painful thoughts and feelings that they wouldn’t normally disclose thanks to their ability to instinctively manage a discussion with real compassion.
3. You feel easily overwhelmed in public places.
Shopping centers, supermarkets, and stadiums with large crowds of people can be stressful and can cause panic attacks or anxiety because of the wide range of emotions that an empath can detect. An empath will avoid being in such situations until they can learn to manage their sensations.
4. You feel others’ emotions, pains, illness, and stresses.
An empath frequently intensely absorbs the feelings, etc., of others without even realizing it because of their heightened sensitivity to emotional and physical energy. Empaths will express the emotions in the same way as if they were their own.
Empaths thus struggle to discern between what they connected with and took up from another and what is their own. Because of this, life is really daunting. However, when an empath develops and gains self-awareness, they may be able to exercise more control and distinguish between whose feelings, etc., are whose.
5. You experience mood swings and can come across as unpredictable / needy.
Empaths are unpredictable since they are prone to experiencing strong highs and lows. They may be joyful one minute and quite depressed and withdrawn the next. They may find it strange as this is often not the outcome of how they genuinely feel but rather what they have observed in others.
Whether for good or bad, empaths can also be quite needy of attention. They will act out and appear needy or even narcissistic if they don’t feel like their needs are being met since they are so overwhelmed with emotion.
6. You’re sensitive to TV, movies and real life chaos.
An empath may cry due to violence, brutality, stunning instances of physical or mental suffering, or abuse. They could even experience bodily discomfort, bewilderment, and difficulty understanding how such crimes could be justified.
7. You’re prone to illness, disease, and physical pain.
The barrage of emotional energy that an empath absorbs might become troublesome and show up as various diseases or illnesses. It is crucial for an empath to understand how to manage their emotional energy, identify where it comes from, and use the techniques that will enable them to advance with balanced wellbeing.
8. You embody a magnetic pull of trust.
Strangers especially are drawn to empaths like a magnet and are able to express themselves with ease. People often feel as though they have known each other for many years even though they may have only met empaths on a deep and meaningful level.
Even though empaths are frequently the reticent or closed-off kind, people have this intuitive sense of trust and feel calm and at ease in their presence. Even the hardest shells can be broken wide open by an empath.
9. You are constantly fatigued.
Empaths are naturally drawn to helping others, and as a result, they often take on more than they should. As a result, they occasionally struggle to emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually handle this flood of output. They thus endure persistent weariness as a result of this. They might need to go on regular getaways or naps merely to refuel and feel refreshed.
10. You are prone to addictive behavior.
Addictive behavior may be displayed by an empath who needs to feel connected and heard or who wants to escape the constant barrage of information. They frequently don’t know how to deal with their heightened sensitivity, so they resort to addictive behaviors to drown it out, numb it, and distract them, including binge eating, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, gambling, etc. Unfortunately, for some people, this can make their sensitivities even worse and lead to more problems.
11. You are drawn to healing and holistic health and wellness.
People with tremendous empathy from an early age are frequently driven to these professions because they want to help people and/or animals heal, whether they are nurses, doctors, physiotherapists, neurosurgeons, psychologists, massage therapists, homeopaths, naturopaths, social workers, or veterinarians.
12. You are inherently curious and a seeker of truth.
Empaths are motivated by their desire to comprehend the complexities of life. They have a strong desire to find the truth and will frequently ask questions until they feel understood.
13. You are interested in spirituality.
Empaths have a strong sense of spirituality and are frequently drawn to the strange and otherworldly (not necessarily religion even though they may lean towards such in order to find a sense of belonging). They will experiment with a variety of things until they find their specialty, which they will then actively pursue for the rest of their lives.
14. You are drawn to ancient / indigenous cultures.
As they embody innate logic, common sense, and straightforward, practical methods for doing all manner of things, they are drawn to ancient cultures that uphold long-held traditions that are cloaked in universal laws. When people act in ways that go against universal rules, they frequently shake their heads in bewilderment.
15. You are interested in your ancestral lineage.
They are the youngster that has always listened to the legends that have been passed down through the ages. They will grow up to be custodians of the family tree and own a collection of picture albums and artifacts because they genuinely want to know where they came from, who their ancestors were, and what they did in their lives. Being linked to others is really important, and when people understand this, they will be the ones to teach it to their offspring.
16. You are a quiet achiever and /or a strong leader.
Because of their ability to be focused, organized, and supportive, quick thinkers, and capable of inspiring and motivating others with magnificent poise, empaths will frequently be found in positions of leadership—despite the fact that they are quiet achievers who prefer to do the hard work behind the scenes. They frequently act as mediators to keep peace and harmony in the world because they find it more pleasant to bestow real praise on others than to take it.
17. You are creatively talented.
Empaths enjoy to express their creativity via painting, music, singing, dancing, performing arts, acting, poetry, and other creative endeavors. They like telling stories and can hold an audience’s attention with their vivid imaginations and effortless ability to transport you into the action as though you were there in person.
18. You have a love of nature and animals.
inclined to own a pet because they like giving and receiving the unconditional affection that dogs, cats, rabbits, and other animals can provide, and they frequently support or advocate for the prevention of animal abuse. They are satisfied being linked to the land and prefer being outside, whether it’s in a forest or high in the mountains. They frequently flee the hectic world to refresh their senses.
19. You believe in the cleansing powers of water
Empaths tend to perceive the healing characteristics of water and always feel most at ease and at peace in it, whether they are swimming in the sea, floating in the pool, walking in the rain, taking a lengthy bath, or taking a hot shower to wash away the worries of the day.
20. You need solitude.
Although empaths are often highly outgoing, they often appreciate solitude and the peace that comes with being in a quiet place, whether they are reading a book, watching a movie, painting a picture, engaging in a favorite pastime, or simply unwinding. This inclination will be present in them from early on in life.
21. You are easily bored or distracted and frequently daydream.
Empaths want stimulation and constant attention, and they will devote all of their energy to any given endeavor, whether it be related to their studies, employment, or personal lives. If the work doesn’t engage their senses, they grow bored, get distracted, start fidgeting, doodling, or start daydreaming in their heads.
22. You seek adventure through travel or spontaneous acts.
Empaths value unpredictability in their lives and will look for experiences, travel to exotic locations, or engage in fun local activities. If they don’t get to be as free-spirited and leave the limitations of the world behind them as much as they would want, they feel restless and upset.
23. Your sensitivity to energy flow makes you sensitive to clutter.
An empath will automatically be aware of energy and feel overwhelmed by commotion and clutter. Despite the fact that they may accumulate stuff, everything has a place and is in order, and they regularly clear out clutter to maintain a healthy relationship with the environment. Empaths may arrange furnishings or even grow gardens such that energy flows through and around everything.
24. You are a rule breaker.
For the creative empath who is constantly looking for new ways to communicate their love and their enjoyment of life, routine, repetition, and regulations might become boring. If they are told they cannot do something, they will, within reason, find a way to do it since spontaneity and the willingness to push oneself go hand in hand.
25. You demonstrate great enthusiasm and appreciation of life.
An empath is always brimming with enthusiasm and a passion for life and enjoying it to the fullest. The drawback is that they might use so much energy that they exhaust themselves and need to rest. An empath is all or nothing when it comes to everything they do, and they frequently become frustrated when those around them don’t have the same zeal for life as they do.
26. You are a humanitarian, a peacemaker and a meditator at heart.
Conflict is very upsetting for an empath, whether it is with family, friends, or coworkers, and whether it is direct or indirect. As a result, an empath will work exceedingly hard to mediate a peaceful outcome amongst parties in order to maintain control and achieve harmony. As a result, they are innate peacemakers.
27. You value antiques (vintage or second-hand).
Holding items like rings, jewelry, clothes, or decorations, touching doorknobs on ancient buildings, going inside historic homes, etc., might cause the owner to provide extremely evocative and accurate stories of their history and experiences. Those who are sensitive to taking up energies may find this to be exceedingly intimidating and repellant, but those who are more conscious of and in control of their empathy will feel at comfortable with and drawn to such.
28. You are given to lucid dreaming.
From an early age, empaths frequently experience vivid dreams. They also frequently experience lucid dreams, in which they are awake in their dreams and have the power to alter specific parts only by conscious thinking. Empaths are able to vividly describe the contents of dreams. Additionally, empaths have a great desire to interpret their dreams because they believe that doing so would help them find the solutions they need to live effectively while they are physically awake.
29. You are a lover, not a fighter.
Empaths seek fulfilling relationships throughout their whole lives because they really want to love people and get love in return. But since they tend to give freely of themselves to others and because they may learn in society that loving oneself is selfish, empaths are not always good at loving themselves.
Since they are good at communicating, they do not enjoy getting into arguments, whether they are verbal or physical. Nevertheless, they will not remain inactive and will instead work to find a peaceful settlement as soon as possible. If the other party is unwilling to properly resolve the disagreement, they will become quite upset since they don’t understand the point of continuing the argument.
30. You are a visionary, an entrepreneur, and /or a problem solver.
Empaths are intensely imaginative, and this quality, along with their adventurous spirit and excitement, gives them numerous opportunity to develop their full potential, nurture their creative spirits, and pursue their passions. Empaths continually think outside the box and push through any barriers (sometimes against the odds) with concentrated and determined energy because they have an innate confidence that they are capable of doing bigger things.
31. You are forgiving, sometimes to a fault.
The people in their life often receive an excessive amount of forgiveness from empaths. Empaths aren’t the sort of individuals that retain grudges since they are able to connect with others on an emotional level and feel so profoundly. Instead, they always understand the other person’s perspective. This implies, however, that empaths occasionally attract people who could abuse their kindness, and sometimes this can result in poisonous friendships and partnerships.
32. You have trouble standing up for yourself.
Empaths are the emotional personality type that attracts toxic relationships the most, as was already explained. Since they are always sympathetic and intimately involved in the sufferings of others, empaths struggle to know when to cut ties. They struggle to understand why they should go and perceive it as giving up on a person they can assist. An empath believes they can improve their relationship with someone who may not be treating them well if they simply listen a little longer, love a little more passionately, or give a bit more.
33. You give more than you receive.
An empath offers everything they have—sometimes much more than they realize they are giving. However, many empaths believe that when they want assistance, many of the individuals closest to them fall short of loving them in the same manner that they do others. Empaths who need assistance consequently turn inward and may suppress their feelings since they don’t think others close to them are concerned enough.
34. You are not a reactive human being.
Words carry power, and empaths are aware of this. They are aware that words spoken in a fit of rage or irritation cannot be changed or undone. They are virtually always masters of self-awareness and discipline when it comes to confrontations or unpleasant circumstances since they are aware that some remarks may wound deeply.
Because they don’t want to harm another person, empaths always select their words carefully and always consider the circumstances before letting their emotions get the better of them. They don’t want to make anyone feel depressed, dissatisfied, or misunderstood. Unfortunately, this quality comes with a lot of strain, and empaths can experience breakdowns or mood swings as a result of the intensity of their internal conflict.
35. You are a nurturer, but not an enabler.
Never would an empath give someone what they want to hear merely to make them feel better. They will always approach the talk with honesty and consideration if they were in the wrong or need to improve. Because empaths care so much about the people in their lives, they want to be sure that they are truly assisting those they care about rather just fostering complacency in them.
36. You are often accused of living in your head.
As an empath, you are preoccupied with the events taking on in the world. You tend to think about all the problems others have because you are so impacted by everything around you, or you use daydreaming as a way to get away from your own thoughts.
As a result, empaths are frequently accused of living in their heads. Additionally, since they are frequently engrossed in their own worlds, others may mistake them for narcissists. In actuality, they need to withdraw inside themselves to unwind, calm down, and regain their equilibrium since they are so preoccupied with other people’s thoughts and emotions.
37. Your moral compass is extremely strong.
Sticklers for the truth, empaths are. They hold the conviction that everything in life should be founded on honesty. When they learn that someone has been lying to them, they experience intense hurt as well as tremendous disappointment and perhaps disillusionment.
An empath frequently goes into a spiral when they are lied to or witness injustice in the world connected to anything immoral, and they find it difficult to not be sensitive to the possibility of someone being dishonest.
38. You have an extremely hard time breaking up with others.
Yes, as has already noted, empaths find it difficult to end unhealthy relationships. However, even in situations where they experience nurturing and affection, an empath will still find it very difficult to leave. Empaths are frequently the kind of individuals who would stay in relationships where they are not inspired or fulfilled because they never want to hurt those they care about and those they have strong feelings for.
However, owing to their high level of sensitivity, they will be driven to break up with the person they were dating and may do them more harm than necessary than if they had simply been honest from the beginning. An empath’s drive to protect might occasionally cause more harm than good.
The 9 Main Types Of Empaths
1. Claircognizant Empath
The term “claircognizant empath” refers to an empath who possesses qualities that come from both clairvoyance and clairaudience, making them appear to have distinct knowledge. These souls possess the potential to simply know certain things, and they are perpetually enlightened with knowledge and lucid concepts that confound and motivate others.
2. Emotional Empath
An empath who is particularly perceptive to the emotions of other people is said to be an emotional empath. Even before others open up, these empaths are able to relate to what others are experiencing.
3. Physical Empath
An empath who is particularly sensitive to the physical pain of other people is said to be a physical empath. These empaths are said to really feel and physically absorb the suffering that others experience because of their extraordinary receptivity to wounded souls. Physical empaths frequently feel worn out and burned out as a result. Because they have little influence over how someone else’s tension, anguish, and emotional output makes their body feel, they may even go through life feeling angry or used.
4. Fauna Empath
An empath who has the ability to connect with animals’ emotions and comprehend their mental states is referred to as a “fauna empath.” Animals are important to fauna empaths, as their energies are connected with theirs. These empaths are frequently ones that claim feeling strongly linked to all species and are known to prefer animals to people.
5. Geomantic Empath
One who is recognized to have a strong bond with the settings they are in is referred to as a geomantic empath. Geomantic empaths are unconsciously drawn to particular locations because they are able to sense the energy or soul of such locations. An empath with geomantic inclinations typically connects with ancient locations like churches and cemeteries and may truly sense the happiness or sadness that a place bears.
6. Medium Empath
An empath who has developed a strong, lasting connection with a supernatural entity or the dead is referred to be a medium. These empaths can hear and feel the emotional output of the spiritual realm in addition to connecting with energies they may not be able to see.
7. Psychometric Empath
An empath that has the capacity to pick up memories, energy, and specific information from tangible items is referred to as a psychometric empath. They can learn this knowledge or feel this way by seeing items like jewelry, pictures, clothes, and other things.
8. Precognitive Empath
The type of empath with a very strong sense of intuition is known as a precognitive empath. These individuals will see visions of future occurrences. These empaths have the ability to anticipate or foretell the future thanks to precognition, and they frequently get these visions in their own dreams. It is vital to keep in mind that precognitive empaths occasionally dream about things that will not actually happen, but rather about signals and symbols that will.
9. Telepathic Empath
An empath who has telepathic abilities may understand and read the thoughts of others.
The Main Struggles You May Deal With As An Empath
1. You have a tendency to isolate yourself.
An empath will continuously avoid places that may easily overwhelm them and will feel drawn to quiet, peaceful settings. But most locations in the world are noisy and crowded, which is a challenge for empaths. On the one hand, they prefer being by themselves and feeling secure in their own company, but that may quickly lead to isolation.
Empaths don’t have many friends as a result of this. They may struggle to build solid, new relationships because of their brittle nature and propensity to withdraw into their shells when the world becomes too overstimulating, unlike most people these days.
2. You get hurt very easily.
Hearts are pinned to the sleeves of empaths. Sadly, this is typically the cause of their injuries. Because of their susceptibility to being taken advantage of, empaths frequently become targets in relationships and friendships.
Even though they love profoundly and give everything they have, empaths often feel that they will never find someone who fully knows what it means to be them since they have a history of getting wounded in relationships and find it difficult to pursue new ones.
3. People are highly critical of your sensitivity.
Empaths will experience constant pressure from others to stop being so sensitive and to learn to detach from their feelings for the most of their life. But because empaths disagree that their sensitivity is a problem, they get weary of constantly hearing these judgments, which are unpleasant and damaging.
An empath, on the other hand, would never advise someone to just get over their feelings or to develop a thicker skin. Hearing the contrary from someone they care about can occasionally cause great pain for highly sensitive people since they urge others to feel as much as they possibly can and believe in them.
4. You often feel emotionally imbalanced.
Empaths are predisposed to anxiety and despair because they reside inside of their own hearts. Their emotions rule them, and their sentiments take center stage in their lives. An empath may frequently experience overwhelming and unbalanced sentiments as a result of this, and occasionally these strong emotions show themselves as stress and physical sickness.
How To Protect Yourself As An Empath
1. Allow quiet time to emotionally decompress. Make it a practice to relax during brief intervals throughout the day. Inhale some clean air. Stretch. Go for a quick lap around the workplace. These breaks will lessen the overstimulating effects of continuous activity.
2. Practice meditation. Take quick action and practice some meditation to overcome emotional excess. By focusing your energy, you may avoid absorbing it from other people.
3. Safeguard your sensitivities.
- Tell someone nicely “no” if they ask for too much. Why is not essential to be said. No is a whole sentence, as they say.
- Even if you enjoy the people, if you can only spend three hours socializing, bring your own car or have a backup plan for transportation so you won’t get lost.
- If crowds are too much for you, eat a high-protein meal in before (this grounds you) and choose a seat in the far corner, not the middle, of anything like a theater or party.
- Ask your pals politely not to use perfume around you if it makes you feel naked by it. If you must, stand close to a window or take regular breaks to breathe fresh air from the outside.
- Practice the guerrilla meditation described above before you are drawn to the refrigerator, a possible source of temptation, if you overeat to dull unpleasant feelings. Keep a cushion beside the refrigerator as a backup plan so you’ll be prepared to meditate rather than overeat. Create a personal place at home. So you won’t get an overwhelming sense of closeness.