What is an Empath or HSP?

 

An empath is a person highly attuned to the feelings and emotions of those around them. Their ability to discern what others are feeling goes beyond empathy (defined simply as the ability to understand the feelings of others) and extends to actually taking those feelings on; feeling what another person is feeling at a deep emotional level.

 

In the late 1990’s the Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS) trait (also known as Highly Sensitive Person or HSP) was identified by Dr. Elaine Aron and colleagues. Affecting 15-20% of the population, this trait has a strong influence on the ability to interact and thrive in the everyday world as common stimuli from the environment produce uncommon reactivity in the nervous system of HSPs, resulting in biological and psychological challenges. Many clients are being treated for depression and anxiety without acknowledgment or treatment of their underlying SPS/HSP trait.  This is crucial to their overall psychological health and recovery.

 

Mirror Neurons

Researchers have discovered a particular set of brain cells that are responsible for compassion. These cells enable people to imitate and share emotions, such as joy and sadness, from other people.

These mirror neurons are triggered by outside events, so when your partner is sad, you feel sad too, and when your children are happy, you feel happy as well. In contrast, psychopaths are labeled “empathy deficient,” which may be caused by mirror neurons that aren’t working at full capacity.

Electromagnetic Fields

According to the HeartMath Institute, your brain and heart produce electromagnetic fields that transmit information about your thoughts and emotions.

Empaths may be more sensitive to these fields than the average person, and are also known to be more sensitive to the changes of the Earth and the sun, as both transmit electromagnetic energy.

Emotional Contagion 

Studies have shown that a lot of people pick up the emotions of those around them. For example, a worker having a stressful day and showing signs of anxiety can affect their workmates. This ability to synchronize emotions can be crucial to maintaining good relationships. Empaths, having more sensitivity, have a need to center themselves before confronting any powerful emotion.

Being an Empath or HSP is not a mental disorder.  ​However, there are real challenges that come with being so empathetic. Empaths often feel misunderstood because of how deeply they feel. They can also become overwhelmed easily as they juggle all the emotions they experience — from themselves and others.  Feeling your own emotions can be exhausting enough. But as an empath who picks up on what everyone around you is feeling, it can quickly become way too much. This includes strong emotions of any kind — from deep sadness to excitement and joy. Empaths have to carefully manage their emotions and practice a lot of self-care to avoid constant emotional fatigue and exhaustion.

Increased Dopamine Sensitivity 

Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that increases the activity of neurons and is commonly associated with our pleasure response.

According to Dr. Marti Olsen Laney, introverted empaths are more sensitive to dopamine than extroverted empaths. This can explain why most empaths are content with reading, meditating, and spending time alone.

Synesthesia 

Synesthesia is the neurological condition where two different senses are paired in your brain. For example, you might see colors while listening to music, or taste words.

Mirror-touch synesthesia is a particular type where you can actually feel the emotions and sensations of other people in your body as if they were your own. It’s been shown that this ability has a direct correlation to heightened emphatic abilities. So, though not every empath has this ability, their chances of having it are higher.

Understanding Empaths

Empaths can be the medicine that our world needs. They can have a profound impact on how we understand and relate to the hardships and joys that other people feel, leading to a more closely linked society that recognizes the importance of considering others.

 

Although not true of every empath, it’s not uncommon for them to struggle with their mental health. Because they are so sensitive to emotions — their own included — they may deal with a lot of self-doubt, stress, and anxiety. Receiving anger or disappointment from other people can feel like getting hit with a ton of bricks.
 

Empaths are people who have a heightened sensitivity to the emotions and energy of those around them, often experiencing a deep sense of empathy and connection with others. While this can be a gift, it can also be overwhelming and draining, resulting in feelings of anxiety, depression, and burnout.

 

Empath support can take many forms, including therapy, coaching, energy healing, and spiritual guidance. The goal is to help empaths understand and embrace their unique gifts while learning how to protect their energy and set healthy boundaries.

 Some strategies that may be used in intuitive empath support include:

 

Mindfulness practices: Empaths can benefit from mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing, and yoga to help them stay grounded and centered.  Meditation and grounding techniques can help empaths center themselves and release any negative energy they may have absorbed. Taking a few minutes each day to practice meditation or grounding can help empaths feel more balanced and centered.

 

Emotional regulation: Learning how to identify and regulate emotions can help empaths manage feelings of overwhelm and prevent burnout.

 

Energy protection: Empaths can learn techniques for protecting their energy, such as visualizations, shielding, and grounding.

 

Set boundaries: Empaths often absorb the emotions and energy of others, leading to emotional exhaustion. Setting boundaries is essential for empaths to protect their energy. This can include limiting the amount of time spent with people who drain your energy, saying no to social events or activities that feel overwhelming, and taking time for yourself to recharge.

 

Self-care: Prioritizing self-care is essential for empaths. This may include activities such as taking breaks, spending time in nature, and engaging in creative hobbies.

 

Spiritual practices: Many empaths find comfort and support in spiritual practices such as prayer, meditation, and connecting with a higher power.

 

Connect with nature: Spending time in nature can be healing for empaths. Nature is a grounding force and can help empaths feel more connected to their own energy. This can include taking a walk in the park, hiking, or spending time at the beach.

 

Practice self-compassion: Empaths often feel the emotions of others deeply, which can lead to self-criticism and negative self-talk. Practicing self-compassion can help empaths be more gentle with themselves and reduce negative self-talk. This can include talking to yourself as you would talk to a friend, practicing gratitude, and engaging in self-care activities that bring you joy.

 

Engage in creative activities: Creative activities such as painting, drawing, or writing can be therapeutic for empaths. Engaging in creative activities can help empaths process their emotions and connect with their intuition.

 

Seek support: Empaths can benefit from seeking support from others who understand their experience. 

 

Intuitive empath support can be a valuable tool for empaths who are struggling to manage their emotions and energy. With the right guidance and support, empaths can learn to embrace their gifts and live a balanced and fulfilling life.

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How to Determine If You're An Empath

You can start by asking yourself some questions about how well you relate to others and how you physically and emotionally respond to big emotional events taking place in your presence. If you find that you answer "yes" to most or all of these questions, there's a good chance you're an empath:

Do you find yourself taking on others’ stress?
Have you been accused of being too sensitive in the past?
Do you feel overwhelmed in crowded spaces?
Would others describe you as empathetic?

 

I have listed several free assessments below you can take online and book recommendations to learn more.

 

ASSESSMENTS

Dr. Aron's "Are You Highly Sensitive" Self-Test:  https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/

 

Are You an Empath? 20 Question Self-Assessment Test:  https://drjudithorloff.com/quizzes/empath-self-assessment-test/

 

Am I a Highly Sensitive Person?:  https://sensitiveandstrong.com/highly-sensitive-person-quiz/

The Empath Self-Test for Teens:  https://www.empathdiary.com/quiz

16 Personalities Self-Test:  https://www.16personalities.com/free-personality-test

The 3 Sources of Sensitivity Self-Test:  https://www.empathdiary.com/quiz

Learning Style Questionnaire:  https://www.webtools.ncsu.edu/learningstyles/

Dr. Aron's "Is Your Child Highly Sensitive": https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-child-test/

Sensation Seeking Scale Self-Test:  http://wsm.wsu.edu/s/we.php?id=%20200

 

This is from Psychology Today 

The trademark of an empath is feeling and absorbing other people’s emotions and, or, physical symptoms because of their high sensitivities. These people filter the world through their intuition and have a difficult time intellectualizing their feelings.

This is from Healthline 

The term empath comes from empathy, which is the ability to understand the experiences and feelings of others outside of your own perspective.

Say your friend just lost their dog of 15 years. Empathy is what allows you to understand the level of pain she’s going through, even if you’ve never lost a beloved pet.

But as an empath, you take things a step further. You actually sense and feel emotions as if they’re part of your own experience. In other words, someone else’s pain and happiness become your pain and happiness.
 

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Book Recommendations

The Empath’s Survival Guide by Judith Orloff, MD

The Highly Sensitive Person by Elaine N. Aron, PhD

Thriving as an Empath by Judith Orloff
Sensitive Is the New Strong by Anita Moorjani
Dodging Energy Vampires by Christiane Northrup
Energy Strands by Denise Linn

Energetic Boundaries – How to Stay Protected and Connected in Work, Love, and Life by Cyndi Dale

The Highly Sensitive Parent by Elaine N. Aron, PhD

The Highly Sensitive Person in Love by Elaine N. Aron, PhD
The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine N. Aron, PhD