Empaths: Have You Absorbed Too Much Energy?

If you are following this blog because you are an empath you will already understand what this is about. For those who do not know, an empath is someone who is sensitive to energies other people cannot feel. Often times it is the emotional energy of others.

People are generally drawn to empaths because they are excellent listeners and usually can offer advice on life situations. It is not unusual for an empath to have lived through some of the same issues in his or her own life. I like to think that as an empath I am an emotional healer.

But, being sensitive to these energies leaves an empath open to greater risk of burning out and becoming overwhelmed from things that do not belong to him or her. Or, which is also common, the empath uses the problems of others to distract from the issues in his own life that need addressing. It is a type of avoidance.

In order to help others, it is important that we take care of ourselves. The old saying “you can’t pour from an empty pitcher” applies here. If you don’t take care of yourself in all ways, you will be too weak to help anyone else.

Taking care of ourselves involves more than just eating right and exercising. Those are extremely important for an empath. But it also includes taking care of our mental and emotional state. We can be easily burned out trying fix everyone else.

I am just as guilty as another in this situation. In cases where someone needs my help I am always happy to jump in and be of service. It is why God put me here. But I have learned that sometimes I have to take a step back and wait a little before jumping right in to help. It isn’t because I don’t want to help, but because I’m too weak yet from helping someone else. I need to recover first.

When a situation arises while I’m still weak, I ask myself a pertinent question: Does this need to be addressed today or can it wait a day or two? If it isn’t life or death (which I haven’t yet run into), it can wait until you have time to recover from a recent drain of your energy. Take some time to step away from the outside life and turn inward.

Each of us have different ways to unwind and heal. For myself, I am a writer and an artist. When things become too intense for me, I withdraw into a world of words or images. I unplug from my electronics – phone, computer, radio and television – and plug into my creative mind. It also helps a lot to take some time out in nature, walking barefoot, meditating in quiet … or in my case, talking to the roses I have in my front yard. Warm baths with Epsom salt before bed is also extremely beneficial.

Taking time out to unwind and recharge is very important, not only for empaths, but especially for empaths. If you find yourself overwhelmed make the time to step back and recharge. Walk away from life, even if it’s just for a few minutes and come into the present moment.

Fully feel your senses for fifteen minutes. Consciously see what your eyes are viewing. Don’t look past or through items. Really LOOK at things around you. Hear with presence what your ears are listening to. Take notice of sounds that you generally filter out. Is there a ticking clock? Can you hear the refrigerator running? Use your senses of smell, taste and touch the same way. Take the time to be IN this moment. It will help clear your head and reboot your spirit.

It’s a great feeling knowing that you can help another person. It’s rewarding to feel the relief that you give to someone else and know that you could bring them that feeling. But in doing so, we must make sure we do not take their emotions from them and keep them within ourselves. This can lead to health conditions of our own, even physical ones.

Take care of yourself to take care of others. It’s hard for us to do, but as necessary as breathing. What do you do to clear your energies? How do you recharge when you feel overwhelmed? Can you offer new suggestions to others who may need some ideas?