Has anyone ever said you are super sensitive or emotional? Do you always feel overwhelmed when hanging around people? Do you sense your friends' and families’ emotions and feelings without even trying? There is nothing wrong with answering yes to all of these questions.
Psychologists have come up with a term that describes emotionally or highly sensitive people (HSP). They are called empaths. They are much more responsive to the senses including light, smells, energy, temperature, and sound. It’s a superpower that should be embraced, really.
Empath’s can sense and absorb others' emotions and have a unique ability to feel and understand other people's emotions at a deeper level. This makes them naturally kind-hearted, gracious, and considerate.
There are a lot of misunderstandings about the characteristics of an empath.
Some may assume it’s a matter of over-sensitivity. In reality, this ability to empathize with others is a superpower that can be both a blessing and a curse.
Empaths Find it Difficult to be Uncaring
Empaths don’t just listen to other people's circumstances. The empath can support a situation even when it’s not relatable to them personally and this truly sets them apart. They carry the burden and experience its weight.
Once exposed to a situation, it is hard for empaths to ignore. They become proactive in finding solutions. Inaction can sometimes bring anxiety and unsettledness.
Empaths Can Get Overwhelmed
Constantly experiencing another person's feelings and emotions can become overwhelming and mentally exhausting at times. Empaths are in a constant state of awareness and being mindful comes more naturally to them. Therefore, they have constant stimulation on the brain regions mediating emotions.
Empaths are Intuitive
Empaths can tell when someone is a fake. They can discern another person's emotions and feelings and can sense when a person is pretending or not being authentic with their thoughts, feelings, or ideas. Known as human lie detectors, empaths have an innate ability to quickly detect the truth.
Empaths Prioritize Solitude
Empaths can fall into both categories, introverted or extroverted. Since they are constantly charged when around individuals, they value their alone time. They regroup during this period and find the strength to keep up with their compassionate abilities.
Empaths tend to avoid crowds, social gatherings, or events to prevent their emotional systems from operating on over-drive. Their ideal time is not at parties. It is usually spent alone, in the park or on a hiking trail, meditating or relaxing at home. Anywhere with minimal human activity usually suits them best.
Empaths are Approachable
The kindness and caring heart of an empath make them likable and approachable. Empaths are gentle, soft-spoken, and introverted. Their quiet persona makes them observant, taking note of issues and reactions that go unnoticed.
Since they are eager to help, they let people know their conscious or unconscious behaviors and experiences. Consequently, people find it easy to open up to empaths. People feel validated, accepted, and more understood by empaths.
Empaths are Peacemakers
An empath's ability to show mercy and deal graciously with people make them instruments of peace. They understand everybody's supposition and are not too quick to judge or form opinions.
Their peace-loving ways make them bridge the gap between loved ones who may be at loggerhead. They help quell down quarrels and fights with their insights and their proactive nature in problem- solving pushes them to compel the parties involved to seek peace.
Empaths get Overwhelmed When Someone Turns Against Them.
Empaths can become overwhelmed when someone confronts them angrily. They can read another person's emotions and can feel the other individual's disappointment, anger, disgust, or fear to a greater degree. The magnitude of emotions can overpower their mood and emotion regulation, impacting their physical health and emotional well-being.
Entertainment Triggers their Sensations
Empaths pick on the emotions and feelings of characters in films or devastating social media posts. The images or scenes in movies with intense sensations can trigger their response systems. They prefer to watch a comedy or light drama over horror movies, thrillers, or sad stories. Each empath has a different level of tolerance that play into their superpower.
An empath’s ability to deeply feel and absorb the emotions of others is an amazing trait that cannot be altered. This is not a matter of being “too sensitive”, rather resides in their human nature and is deeply etched into their inner-being.