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Empath Psychology

 

Empath Psychology

The concept of being an empath has been very popular lately but is not well understood. Have people told you often that you are too emotional or sensitive? Or do you feel drained around certain people? Do you feel stressed in crowds, or you feel like people are not telling you the whole truth? In case your answer to most of these questions is “yes,” you might be an empath person. In this article, I am going to talk about “empath psychology” so that you can better understand it and know how you can deal with your empath nature. So let’s get started.  

What does it mean to be an empath?

If you are wondering, what does it mean to be an empath? You are in the right place. I am going to give you an answer to all of your questions. First of all, you need to know the dictionary empath meaning, and then we will move forward:

“A person who has an unusually strong ability to feel other people’s mental or emotional states.”

Empath meaning

What does it mean to be an empath? Basically, Empath individuals are highly sensitive. They can sense the feelings and thoughts of the people around them. Psychologists use the term empath for people experiencing a big deal of empathy, to the point that they take other’s pain at their own expense. In addition to this term, an empath can also be used in the spiritual meaning that describes a person with psychic abilities to sense others’ energies and emotions.

Being an empath can be beneficial. Empaths prove good friends and are excellent listeners. They are always there to help friends in need. But it can be hard sometimes for empaths, and they can literally feel the pain of their friends.

A licensed psychotherapist Lisa Hutchison, LMHC, tells Bustle:

“Empaths are like sponges who absorb the thoughts, feelings, and sensations around them. If you are talking to someone [who is] depressed, then you may notice you feel down afterward.” 

 

Opposite of empath

Now you know empath meaning, but you can understand it better when you also know what the opposite of empath is. An empath person feels the pain of others in the same way, so what would be the opposite? Probably a person who does not care about others but only his own pain or happiness can be the opposite of an empath person. 

In simple words, a narcissist is the opposite of an empath. A narcissist is a person who is diagnosed with Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD). People who are suffering from NPD may remain undiagnosed because a narcissist never seeks help. But that does not mean they are not making the life of others a living hell.

Empath Narcissist relationships are very common. Both narcissists and empaths have been impacted with childhood trauma. But results are unfortunate for a narcissist. Their relationship can be good sometimes as empath people always loving and helping to change their partner in a good way. But it can be toxic sometimes when people try to take advantage and use an empath for their own personal benefits.  

Are empaths real?

If you are wondering, are empaths real? Here is what you need to know. The concept of feeling what other people feel and think may seem weird and a bit conspiracy. But new research supports the existence of empaths. According to research, about 1 to 2% of the population has reported experiencing this kind of condition. The research was carried out by a post-doctoral researcher, Dr. Natalie Bowling, and Dr. Michael Banissy, a Professor of Psychology at Goldsmiths. They have spent many years looking into empathy and, most importantly, into mirror-touch synesthesia.

So, if you ask me, are empaths real? I would say, yes, they are. The intensity of empathy can vary from person to person, but yes, they do exist I have encountered so many empaths at work and my personal life.  

Is it rare to be an empath?

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Empaths in your life are those who are highly sensitive; they are nurturers, healers, and extremely sensitive lovers. They give, give, and give to the point that they get exhausted sometimes. Such people are difficult to find out. So, is it rare to be an empath? Yes, it can be. On a broader scale, about 15-20% population comprise of empaths. There is a chance that you are one of them if you care too much about your friends or loved ones. 

 

What are the signs of an empath

Being an empath can be a blessing, but it can be really hard sometimes. It is not easy to find empaths around you as they are rare. But sometimes we are an empath, but we do not know about it and are unaware of this.  So what are the signs of an empath? How to know if you are an empath or not? Well, some clear signs can indicate you are an empath. Let’s have a look at some of the signs: 

You experience mood swings.

Empaths may experience extreme lows and highs, which makes them highly unpredictable. Empaths and anxiety have a close relationship. One minute you will see them happy, and the very next minute, they will appear to be sad. This is not always how they feel, but it is because they have picked emotions from their surroundings.

You are sensitive to even movies and dramas.

Empaths are sensitive, no doubt, but the level of their sensitivity is so high that emotional or physical pain, violence, and cruelty, even in movies and dramas, can bring tears in their eyes. They may have to struggle a lot to deal with this situation.

You feel fatigued

Empaths are very helping in nature. They tend to help every person even if they have known them only for a short while. They try to understand others by going to their level. It is very exhausting not only emotionally but also physically. So they may need help for replenishing their energy. 

You are always in search of the truth.

Empaths have great compassion for truth. They are driven by curiosity and try to understand the intricacies of life. They don’t stop asking questions until they find out the truth. 

You are spiritually intense.

In some cases, people may describe them as paranormal or unexplainable. They have a deep sense of spirituality, and by this, I do not mean just religion. They will try to explore different areas until they find out the destination. And will always try to pursue in this direction.

You love nature

If you are wondering what are the signs of an empath? This one is a clear sign. You love to be in your garden, enjoying solitude and nature. You also like to have pets and probably have cats or dogs as a pet.  

What are the characteristics of an empath?

Empaths have the ability to draw others to themselves. They have a really charismatic personality and the kind of people who read the room. Your body language makes them understand your thoughts. You can hide from them as they can see through you. Empaths have some really unique characteristics that make them different from others. If you are wondering, what are the characteristics of an empath? Let’s have a look at some of the following: 

They are quite sensitive.

Whether you consider it as a quality or drawback, empaths are very sensitive. They are sensitive about your feelings and about certain lights, sounds, fragrances, people, and places. They can take up all the energy around, and sometimes it can be really exhausting.

Most empaths are introvert.

In crowds, empaths become overwhelmed. It can amplify their empathy towards people. It makes them feel drained. So they are introverted and prefer a small group of people. Even if an empath is extrovert, he tends to spend limited time in crowds.

They are intuitive

The key to observing the world is for empaths is their intuition. It is significant for them to develop intuition and focus on their gut feelings about the surrounding people. This way, they can find positive relationships. And can avoid energy drainers. 

They are great advisors.

They observe the people and understand their struggles. In their imagination, they find themselves doing all things other people are doing to feel what will be the consequences of a certain act. So they give excellent advice if you ask about something.

They are great listeners.

If you are wondering, what are the characteristics of an empath? This is one very clear trait. This quality is very beneficial for others. Empaths are all ears when someone wants to share their feelings or experiences, whether good or bad. This quality makes them a better friend. The best thing is they will not judge you but will understand you.  

They are easy targets for narcissists.

A narcissist is a person who does not care about the emotion of others. They use others to feel superior and fulfill their need to get admiration and attention. Empaths are an easy target for them as they forgive others easily.

13 types of an empath

13 types of empath

Not all signs and traits will be found in an empath. According to my experience and knowledge, empaths can have different traits and show different signs. Based on this, they are classified into several types. Here are the most common 13 types of an empath:

Claircognizant Empath

A Claircognizant Empath is a person who has characteristics derived from clairvoyance and clairaudience. As a result, he is an empath who has perceived clear knowing. They have the ability to know certain things.

Emotional Empath

An emotional empath is one of the most common among 13 types of empath. This individual is the one who is extremely sensitive towards the feelings of others. They can effectively connect with what others are going through.

Physical Empath

A physical empath is a person who is more sensitive towards physical pains, wounds, and others’ suffering.

Fauna Empath

Fauna empath is a person who can understand the emotions and feelings of animals. They share a stronger bond with animals than others.

Geomantic Empath

A geomantic Empath is a person having a deep connection with the environment they are living in. They can feel sorrow and happiness regarding a certain place. 

Medium Empath

Medium Empath is one who has made a deep connection with the deceased or supernatural force. They can feel the emotional output of the spiritual world. 

Psychometric Empath

A psychometric empath is someone who can receive detailed information, energy, and memories from physical objects. They can gather emotions and information from things like clothing, photographs, and jewelry. 

Precognitive Empath

A precognitive empath is a person having a powerful sense of intuition. They can have visions about the events that can possibly occur in the future.  

 

Telepathic Empath

A telepathic empath is someone who can read and decipher inner thoughts of others. 

Dream Empath

Dream empaths can capture intuitive information from others’ dreams, which help not only them but also others. They have a strong ability to remember dreams. 

Plant Empath

Plant Empath is a person who can understand and feel the needs of plants. They can effectively connect with their essence. You can also call them Plant Moms. 

Traveling empath

Traveling empath has dreams of traveling the world. They are basically in denial about their feelings and changing what their body is experiencing. 

Professional Empath

A professional empath is one who has made his empathic abilities an income source. They help others listen to them and earn from them. 

Triggers of empath

Triggered is a very common word used these days and thrown carelessly in every situation. Mostly it is used on the internet when a person responds to trolls emotionally. But it has a more profound meaning. Empaths and anxiety are closely linked. An empath person can easily develop certain types of triggers after witnessing some sensitive events. You need to know that it is not intentional.

These triggers of empaths can affect empaths badly, so they should find a way to deal with them. Below I am going to mention some emotional triggers of an empath and how to deal with them: 

Desire to feel understood

People don’t understand others, especially empaths. They mostly misunderstood empaths, and that is what triggers them. If you are an empath, you probably face such situations. But you need to know it is not necessary everyone understands you the way you are and you must learn to accept this.

 

Desire to feel wanted

You are always there for others to help them. You are there to listen to everyone. You try to heal people. But when you need someone, they are not there. You desire to feel wanted, but when this does not happen, it triggers you. But you should not feel them this way there are those that want you the way you are. So do not feel unwanted.  

Desire to feel valued

Sometimes you may feel that people take you for granted. It normally happens with everyone when they feel unvalued. But in the case of empaths, it is a trigger. So it is important to understand that you are valued. You have a special power that others do not have or understand, so you should not feel unvalued.

Desire to feel loved

To feel loved is a very beautiful feeling, and we all have a desire to feel love. Empaths feel the pain of others deeply, and when they see someone going through the pain of a breakup, they feel it on the same level. So they avoid being with someone else and isolate themselves. But you need to understand that you are loveable. If there are chances of bad things to happen, there are also chances that good things will happen.

Empath test

You have read about empaths; you know empath, meaning you have learned about their characteristics, but just reading about them cannot confirm whether someone is an empath or not. There is no surety so that the empath test can prove helpful in this regard. There are plenty of online empath tests available online asking you a certain question, but they are also not a clear indication. Only a professional can decide it for you. Here are some questions that a professional will ask you: 

  • Do you deeply feel other’s pain?
  • Is it easy for you to figure out the intentions of others?
  • Do arguments or yelling make you ill?
  • Do you have a low pain threshold?
  • Do you like crowded places or cherish private time?

There are different types of empath tests you can try on the suggestion of a professional. So if you think that you or one of your friends has empath signs, it would be better to consult a professional.  

How do I stop being an empath?

Empath psychology is very difficult to understand sometimes. Being an empath is overwhelming, and you feel drained. Some people live in denial even if they know something is wrong. So the first step towards betterment is acceptance. When you understand your emotions, accept them, and want to improve yourself, it means you are already on the path of improvement. If you are an empath person and wondering how do I stop being an empath? Here are some suggestions for you:

Self-awareness

Self-awareness is very important when you are too sensitive to the feelings of others. You need to acknowledge your alone time. Understand your own feelings, what makes you happy, and what makes you sad. Understand your moods, what triggers you. If you are more aware of your emotions, you can better process other’s emotions.  

Set boundaries

If you are an empath and show sympathy to others all the time, you need to make strong boundaries. It is natural for you to understand the feelings of others, but it can drain your energy. You can become a dumping ground for people to leave their negative emotions. So, you need to understand that you can not do this all the time. So you better set some healthy boundaries for yourself so that you do not feel drained all the time.  

Release your emotions

If you are wondering, how do I stop being an empath? This is the best you can do. You care and you are naturally sensitive and show sympathy towards others. But you should also process your own emotions too. Find a way to release your emotions so that you do not feel overwhelmed all the time. You can write them out, talk to a friend, or seek professional help. Therapy and counseling can help you in dealing with your emotions.

Conclusion

Empath psychology is complicated. An empath person can understand others’ emotions, intentions, and thoughts, but other people find it difficult to understand them. This can be a trigger for empaths and can ruin their life. But you need to understand that you have a special power that others do not have. So instead of making your weakness by showing unnecessary sympathy or get depressed because of others, you can make it your strength. I know it is difficult but not impossible. I hope this article will prove helpful for you in dealing with your empathic behavior. If you are an empath or you are experiencing any personal issue call 03333443853 today for a free consultation now 

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