Empaths

**Brit** · 04-21-2005, 03:22 PM

I have always had a strong empathy for people and have always had out-of-the-ordinary things happen to me, but I always just figured I was extremely sensitive, but recently, it has been getting out of control. Last month, my auntie called me on the phone to say that she was coming by my house and as I was talking to her, I started to break out in hives all over for no reason. I could actually watch them appear. When she knocked on my door, she had the same exact hives everywhere. And once she left, the hives went away within a few hours. And she did not mention that she had hives to me. Strange, right? Then for the past weeks, I started exhibiting a lot of early pregnancy symptoms. Such as morning sickness, lack of energy, bloating, and I started fretting about "oh god what if I am pregnant?" though I really logically didn't think that I was as I am very aware of my cycle (I always know when I am ovulating or about to) I had so many of the symptoms for the past days that my hubby asked me if I thought I was carrying even though I hadn't said anything to him about it. Last night, my sister called me and told me she was pregnant and articulated everything that I had been feeling. The even stranger part is that she is a month pregnant which is when I started to feel the symptoms and I am NOT pregnant. On a regular basis, I physically feel when something is wrong with my husband and vice versa even when I am thousands of miles away.

My point is that this is starting to happen a lot. I am getting to the point now where I can sometimes walk by a complete stranger and literally feel their emotions. I am saying this because I know they are not my feelings and as soon as the person is gone, I feel normal again. I do not like this feeling especially the physical aspect of it.

So I guess, in my longwinded way, I am wondering if anyone here considers themselves to be an empath and if so what your expereiences have been or if you just have anything to add the conversation.

**delightfulflame** · 04-21-2005, 06:57 PM

I experience this, but only with those close to me.

**emerald06** · 04-21-2005, 08:30 PM

This is very interesting. I'm sorry it's getting to a point where it causes you considerable discomfort.

I have never had these experiences nor have I known anyone with anyone close to what you have described (besides stories of the stigmata).

If you don't want to post about this, that's fine, but maybe you should ask yourself what has been going on with you on a spiritual level lately. Has there been some change in your spiritual life since you've been experiencing this more frequently?

I hope you find the answers you seek.

**Sacral** · 04-22-2005, 04:35 AM

This happens to me with family members and people that I love dearly in my life.

It's beginning to happen with people that just plain resonate in my soul for some reason. I have to learn to both develop it and control it because I am in training to be an Ifa Priestess (of Oshun), and I can't let it overwhelm me. Otherwise, I won't be able to properly counsel spiritually because I let myself drown in these physical manistifations of emotional and spiritual origin.

I'm learning to react to them in the proper way, instead of dwelling on and/or holding on to them. I sure don't mind when my grandma is thinking of me or there's a sign that something is going on with her :wub: .

- Sacral

**Urbanite** · 04-22-2005, 04:45 AM

I have experienced this a few times, but not as strong as you have. I also had symptoms of pregnancy for a few weeks and later found out that my friend was pregnant at the time I had these symptons. I have gone to church and have sat next to a person and just knew they were really depressed, even though they looked okay.

So sorry that your gift is causing you pain...but obviously you have it for a reason. :wub:

**sunnysmile751** · 04-22-2005, 04:48 AM

Whoa an empath thread!

Yeah I'm empathic too, and there were points where it seemed really overwhelming, but I think empathy is a sense a lot like hearing. We might not be able to turn it off, but we can choose to tune some things out. It takes practice and it won't come quickly but it can be done.

For you empaths out there here is a site which might help: http://www.geocities.com/christabelle67/Th...pathIndex1.html The creator of the website is Christel, one of my best friends. ( :wub: She's a real good person.) She's got a lot of good info on there. She's Maori by the way which is why she got the some Maori links up. And there is a messageboard there where you can ask questions.
HTH

**Midoria** · 04-22-2005, 01:42 PM

Peace

Empathic is actually my screen name on another site!

I have mild empathic abilities that I haven't really fine tuned (don't really want to, but that's another story). I have a strong sense of when someone is a bad person. I mean, they may not look mean, but there have been many times when I can't stand to be around someone or feel physical jittery when they come around. Later come to find out they are NOT nice people at all. Also, I suffer feelings close or equal to my loved ones. Sometimes they are scared at how much I seem to understand them ("it's like you're in my head" one friend told me). It's because I tend to suffer with them.

Like Karim, I also have a hard time with people who are suffering. The worst is when someone died. The berieved gives off a strong feeling. It's like emotial heat. If you get to close, it becomes unbearable.

I used to think I was just super-sensative or crazy. It was actually a counselor who suggested that I may be an empath. But I will admit it's a fine line between being sensative or being an empath.

**Midoria** · 04-22-2005, 01:43 PM

Originally posted by sunnysmile751@Apr 21 2005, 11:48 PM
For you empaths out there here is a site which might help: http://www.geocities.com/christabelle67/Th...pathIndex1.html The creator of the website is Christel, one of my best friends. ( :wub: She's a real good person.) She's got a lot of good info on there. She's Maori by the way which is why she got the some Maori links up. And there is a messageboard there where you can ask questions.
HTH

[snapback]818308[/snapback]

Maori? Like "Whale Rider" Maori?

If so, totally kewl.

**Brit** · 04-22-2005, 01:58 PM

Thanks for all of the replies. It makes me feel a little better that you guys are validating that these things do happen and exist and I am not the only one. I have never really spoken to anyone about my experiences so it is also nice to get it off my chest. When I read the link last night that sunnysmile751 left, the writer stated that empathy is a genetic trait, which may explain why I have such strong abilities. All of the women on my mother's side of the family have spiritual (for lack of a better term) abilities though each is a little different and some stronger than others (I think because some of us accept them and some of us pretend they don't exist). Ever since I can remember I have had very strong psychic abilities and been able to see auras, and I have always had empathic things happening to a degree, but like I said not as strongly and frequently as they do now. Maybe this is just a progression of some sort. Hmm. .. I can't believe I am admitting this. I sound crazy, but it's seriously all true.

Anyway, it's not always a bad thing to be empathic. It makes me a good listener even when no one is speaking to me. Meaning my husband cannot tell me he is okay when he is not. I know when something is wrong with him or anyone that I am close to and that's good, I think. It's the physical symptoms and me picking up on stranger's "vibes" that is troublesome. I believe that God gives us each special gifts for his/her own reasons so maybe this is one of them and it is something that I just need to learn to control better.

**sunnysmile751** · 04-22-2005, 02:18 PM

Originally posted by Midoria@Apr 22 2005, 08:43 AM
Maori? Like "Whale Rider" Maori?

If so, totally kewl.

[snapback]818696[/snapback]

:smil3f9cf95099cff:

Yup, like Whale Rider lol, although the iwi (tribe) in the movie is not her iwi, she is Tainui, another tribe. But her husband (who is Ngati Porou like the tribe in the movie.) and sons are descendants of Paikea.

Although I used to hate it and wish to be "normal" I'm glad i'm empathic, because it keeps me away from negative people. And LISTEN to your empathy. I remember one time where I didn't listen to what my empathy was telling me about this girl and we became friends because since my other friends where friends with her i thought, "hmm, maybe I'm mistaken, maybe she's a good person." WRONG! I should've have followed my instinct cuz a couple of months later she started causing trouble with me and this guy I was dating. And she betrayed me real bad. Follow your instincts.

I was wondering if any of you can tell when other people are empathic? I can tell a lot of times. Most of my closest friends are empaths too, cuz when I met them we just understood each other so well.