What is an Empath?

Did you stumble upon this word recently: Empath. What is an empath? Are empaths real or something made up? I had the same questions over 15 years ago. However, I realized there was nothing “solid” about this experience.

As a result, I started to write everything I had learned about the real life experiences of empaths. I also wrote my PhD thesis on the scientific basis of the Empath Experience^©.

And then I realized that I wanted to help. So I started to share my solutions to debilitating empath side-effects that I had been experiencing. So here is my Everything About Being an Empath!

What is an Empath?

Definition of an Empath

Empaths are emotionally sensitive people who sponge up the emotions of others.

**We feel what they feel.**

How Do I Know If I’m an Empath?

The most common experience of empaths is that we can sense how other people feel. That skill usually manifests as a mirror emotion within us. We start to feel how they feel.

I’ve had a lot of people ask me if they are an empath. And I think this question reflect our self-doubt: we’re looking for confirmation that we’re not crazy or weird. But being an empath is like being in love: only you can know for sure. Read on to see if these description resonate with you…

Am I an Empath? Take the quiz!

COMMON EMPATH SKILL

You can easily “guess” how other people feel
People want to confide in you and tell you their problems
You’re very sensitive (others might say “too” sensitive)

COMMON EMPATH SIDE EFFECTS

You feel drained or tired when interacting with people
You are overwhelmed or emotionally activated in crowds
You feel the urge to help people who are suffering
You have random mood swings (angry, sad, scared) that are unrelated to what’s happening in your life

Disclaimer: Some side effects are similar to serious mental health issues. Contact a physician if you have questions about your health. The contents of this web site do not constitute diagnostic or treatment.

What Kind of Empath am I?

Impaired Empaths^© struggle to control their skills, especially in crowds or when interacting with someone who is upset. They can suffer from debilitating side effects, like headaches, exhaustion or unexplainable sadness. However, Impaired Empaths^© can learn to manage these issues and resolve these side effects.

Balanced Empaths have learned to manage the emotions they sponge up from other and don’t feel overwhelmed by them. Most importantly, they have developed an appropriate outlet to their skills and successful coping mechanisms when they are faces with difficult emotional situations.

Professional Empaths have finely tuned skills that allow them to accurately receive and interpret the complex emotional signals they can perceive from other people. They can use their skills as part of their career or provide readings to clients.

It’s such a relief when you finally understand what’s going on. But now what?
If you’ve just found out that you’re an empath, here’s my short list of helpful resources.