Fifteen Signs you're an Empath
Ever wondered if you're an Empath? Maybe it's a term you’ve heard of recently and you're thinking… is that me? Well this article is going to help you decide .
It can take us time to realise we are highly sensitive. It wasn't until my late 20s when I started Shiatsu training that my teachers introduced me to the term and life started to make more sense. Before then I didn't understand why I was struggling in the world - seemingly more impacted by the day to day more than others. I just thought there was something wrong with me or I was failing.
When I understood I had a highly sensitive nature and I was an Empath, I knew I had different needs, so I started managing my life differently and nurturing the beneficial gifts of sensitivity more effectively so I felt able to flourish. This will be the same for you.
But first you need to know some of the signs that indicate you’re an Empath…
1. Told ‘You’re too sensitive’
Maybe your whole life you've been told ‘you're too sensitive’ like there's something wrong with you or if you share what you sense about someone ‘you’re just over thinking’. These are classic discouraging lines many Empaths hear. You're not too sensitive, you're just more sensitive than most but you’re not alone and when you find your tribe they will be grateful of the gifts it gives.
2. Sensitive to atmospheres in a room
You are sensitive to the mood in a room, for example, you can sense the tension in the air when you walk into a room and later find out there had been an argument. You are sensitive to the atmosphere of a place and buildings too, avoiding being in certain rooms or buildings as they feel uncomfortable, or uneasy some how.
3. Sudden strong emotions, sensations or thoughts that don’t feel like yours
You might suddenly feel ‘weird’, or dizzy or have a heaviness in your chest or turning in your stomach that appears seemingly out of nowhere. A few moments before you felt ok - maybe you’re aware you’re now feeling heartache, sudden sadness or anxiety with it. This can be a sign that you're picking up on the emotions of someone nearby - or even at a distance if you are energetically corded with someone. You could even have thoughts coming into your mind that feel unfamiliar and therefore confusing - why am I thinking that? You might even end up expressing a sentiment that doesn't feel like it’s yours.
4. Sensitive to the unsaid feelings and motivations of others
Even if somebody is smiling and telling you they're fine, you can sense something may not be right or is stirring underneath. You pick up on the feelings of others, perhaps when other people do not. Other times you may meet someone, say a friend's new boyfriend, and you just have this feeling you don't like them, although everyone is charmed. Then a couple of years later he cheats on her or he terms out to be manipulative. This is because you can sense the unseen motivation or intention of others. But if you express it you may be called paranoid, until it's evident.
5. Unofficial Counsellor
Sometimes you might feel like the unofficial ‘go to counsellor’ at work, with your family and friends. You've probably been told you are a great listener and people feel really understood or seen by you. Even strangers on the bus might start telling you their life story.
6. Duty to helping others
You may find a calling or a sense of duty to help others. You maybe even want to absorb their pain to take it away for them and ‘fix it’. Sometimes your awareness of the feelings of others may become a cause of frustration if they are unwilling to face the truth of what is alive for them (which you can sense) due to wanting to live in denial or they have a lack of self awareness or emotional maturity. This is when you can end up feeling overburdened, becoming an emotional caretaker for others, trying to manage situations in the hope of improving them, perhaps denying your own needs and boundaries to do so. This may lead to resentment, anger and burn out.
7. Mediator and peace keeper
You may become the mediator, the go between in a family, friendship group or at work. Explaining the feelings of others in a situation to help heal a rift or keep the peace. Even at work you may smooth out communications between difficult characters within your department and another one. It's easy for you to understand another person's point of view or experience, as you can sense their feelings which can lead to a struggle with personal healthy boundaries at times.
8. Precognitive experiences
You might have strangely accurate precognitive experiences. Such as start thinking about someone out of the blue and suddenly they send you an email or a text message. Or you have a dream that a friend is really upset and crying, you'll get in touch the next day only to find out that something has happened. Or you seem to sense something is not right with a couples relationship, when nothing obvious has happened or been said, however not long later they break up.
9. Need to retreat to recharge
Even if you love being around people, you might have a sense of feeling gradually drained in the presence of others - particularly if they're going through a hard time. It might even feel like you're being plugged into and zapped. In truth you need to retreat and be on your own, to recharge. This might feel disappointing or annoying at times if you just want to join in with the fun and go to a festival or gig or pub for example.
10. Strong connection to nature
Nature feels like an ally. You may have a strong connection to nature, it feels incredibly soothing and uplifting. Being in nature feels physically grounding and it fuels you. The peace and stillness gives you space to breathe. You feel like you've come home almost like nature speaks to you.
11. Too kind and understanding for your own good
You find it easier to have empathy for others as you understand or feel their pain. You can end up feeling guilty saying no to a request, even if that's what you need, instead of prioritising their feelings. This trait however can lead to a struggle to feel comfortable to set healthy reasonable boundaries and lead to a habit of attracting energy vampires, toxic friends or relationships and narcissists as they will take advantage of this. You may also find it hard to not be influenced by others at times and know what you think.
12. Crowds deplete you
Even if you're an extroverted empath, you will reach a point where being around groups of people deplete you. You may feel physically drained, suddenly have physical pains you don’t normally have, get a headache, brain fog, go blank or become overwhelmed. As an empath your nervous system can become overwhelmed with all the information you pick up from the people around you, even causing mild shock, leading to some of the symptoms described.
13. Strongly impacted by the pain of others
Seeing the pain of others, even in films can hit a nerve and feel unbearable. You might be unable to watch horror films or boxing matches for example and witnessing a fight, or an argument in real life can feel traumatic. It may take you longer to process events than others for this reason, as it has hit you hard. This sensitivity to the suffering of others may lead you to become vegetarian or vegan perhaps, or have a career where you are caring for, healing or protecting people, animals or nature in one way or another.
14. Sensitive to intense emotions
Intense emotions can really overwhelm you and feel all-consuming. Intense arguments or conversations can leave you feeling drained for days. Also even more subtle unprocessed emotions or events from the past that are alive in your subconscious mind-body, may surface strongly physically for you when triggered, seemingly for no reason in the present.
15. Struggling with anxiety and overwhelm
You might be struggling to keep overwhelm or chronic anxiety at bay day to day - or you have done in the past. Life can feel intense and easily full, even if it's quiet. As you are picking up so much subtle (as well as intense!) information from the world around you; from individual people, crowds, animals, interpersonal dynamics and the environment - (as well as potentially the unseen world! - entities, loved ones past, guides etc) this can all feel too much at times and overwhelming.
So are you an Empath?
Sensitivity like most things is on a spectrum and personality, so you may strongly experience some of the above signs but not others. Also it's not an exhaustive list. But if a larger majority of these signs ring true for you, congratulations you’re an Empath!
If this article felt helpful, leave me a comment below and let me know what was interesting to learn.
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