Each of us gives off subtle energy, whether sad, angry, or happy. Empaths can pick up on these energy fields and translate them into a strong sensory experience. Other people's joy, pain, or frustration will dramatically affect an empath and leave them riding out others' emotional rollercoasters.
All empaths, but especially physical empaths, have the natural ability to heal other people through a technique called energy transfer. In an energy transfer the empath will “suck up” or absorb someone else's energy and run it through their own system.
Can we really 'absorb' other people's energy? It's possible. Everyone adopts other people's emotions or moods from time to time. If this happens constantly, though, you might have an inherited personality trait called sensory processing sensitivity (SPS).
A tip-off that you're absorbing someone's energy is to notice if you experience a sudden change of mood or physical state around that person. Most likely, if you didn't feel anxious, depressed, exhausted, or sick before, the discomfort is at least partially coming from him or her.
An curved arrow pointing right. Empaths and narcissists are often drawn to each other. This is because empaths have a lot of compassion and understanding to give, while narcissists thrive on someone worshipping them.
Empaths have a tendency to take on the problems of others as their own. It is often difficult for them to set boundaries for themselves and say no, even when too much is being asked of them. Additionally, it is common for empaths to feel drained after spending time around people.
Empathic Energy
People who are empathic tend to become addicted more easily than others. Many empaths are undiagnosed and don't realize overstimulation and high sensitivity to their environments drive this desire for drugs, substances, or other-worldly experiences to take them out of their bodies and minds.
Empaths are not just sensitive to emotions but tend to pick up on other aspects of the environment. This means they may be more aware of sights, sounds, smells, and other physical sensations that other people might not notice.
The positive side is that they easily understand what each other is feeling. The more challenging aspect is creating a life where you can define your own needs and set adequate boundaries with each other to feel safe and calm. Two empaths who are overwhelmed by the world at the same time can create anxiety at home.
Intellectuals can make good partners for certain empaths because their sense of logic compliments and grounds an empath's emotional intensity. Ask for help. Intellectuals love to solve problems. Be very specific about ways they can assist you with a problem or task.
Plenty of alone time (to center and recharge)
Peace is difficult to find when surrounded by other people, sounds, and various stimuli. So, empaths need regular alone time and mini-breaks throughout the day to refocus and recharge. It's not just about being alone — it's about self-preservation and self-care.
Personality types ENFP, ENFJ, INFJ, and INFPs are natural empaths per the MBTI Personality types. Empaths are also called Idealists & Diplomats. Highly Sensitive People belong to these MBTI types.
Both an empath and narcissist are very sensitive individuals but in different ways. Empaths may internalize what other people are going through, blaming themselves for being unable to make others feel better. And on the other hand, narcissists tend to intensely dislike criticism or feelings of inadequacy.
An empath is a particularly sensitive person, someone who is able to feel and experience exactly what others do. While empaths can make wonderful caring friends, in a romantic relationship they can often find it difficult because they tend to quickly become very intense.
1 Being an empath comes with a lot of positive traits. For one, Brown says, empaths are "highly intuitive and emotionally intelligent," so they can read the room, pick up on other people's energy, and be very aware of their own emotions, too.
When overwhelmed with stressful emotions, empaths can experience anxiety, panic attacks, depression, and fatigue and may even show physical symptoms such as an increased heart rate and headache. This is because they internalize the feelings and pain of others without the ability to distinguish it from their own.
Empathic illnesses are those in which you manifest symptoms that are not your own. Many patients have come to me labeled “agoraphobic” with panic disorders, chronic depression, fatigue, pain, or mysterious ailments that respond only partially to medications or psychotherapy.