Are You an Empath?

Empath: noun – a person with the ability to feel and take on the emotions and physical sensations of others, most often without conscious thought. That is to say that s/he may begin to experience feelings with no known origin that actually belong to someone else.

The unpleasant energies currently engulfing the U.S. are daunting. These energies of anger, disappointment and sadness can take a person down, especially empaths. And even if you are not an empath, you are still affected by the reactions of others who are driving aggressively, pushing ahead in line, talking over you, and otherwise being rude.

Empaths are sensitive, intuitive people regarding emotions, not only our own, but we also pick up the feelings and even sensations in the bodies of others. In her book “The Empath’s Survival Guide,” Dr. Judith Orloff calls empaths “angst-sucking sponges.” We can often feel exhausted, taking on the cares of the world. Without eating extra, we may gain weight as a buffer. We can appear aloof, moody, and disconnected when overwhelmed with the intensity of others’ emotions.

How to protect your self

Don’t become a victim. It took me years to realize that I was an empath, and then longer to collect these various techniques of protection, and I am pleased to share them with you now. They work whether or not you are an empath.

  1. Overwhelmed? Take Bach’s Rescue Remedy. A drop will do you. Rescue Remedy is a powerful, non-toxic homeopathic remedy on the market for 60 years to ease emotional, physical and spiritual pain. I keep it at my desk, in my purse, and in my bedroom. You can find it in any health food store.
  2. Are you feeling physical pain, with no good explanation for it? Ask out loud or to yourself “Who does this belong to?” three times. If it goes away, it’s not yours. If it stays, it is yours. Ask yourself what you need to do for your body. Then listen and act.
  3. Stay out of crowds. The more people swirling around you, the more emotions are available for you to pick up. When you must go into masses of people, eat protein beforehand to ground you, stay to the side of the group, and have your own transportation so you can leave when you need to, not at another’s whim.
  4. Don’t expose yourself to horror or violent movies and TV shows. Avoid too much political rhetoric. It may sound strange, but they take a toll on a person. Personally, I stick mainly to PBS. They have 4 channels and lots of interesting programs to watch. I also read a lot.
  5. Refuse to go non-stop. Take little mini-breaks throughout the day to stretch or breathe deep or take a short walk around the block to regenerate your energy. This will strengthen your energy field to help protect you.
  6. Be vigilant. Make sure you don’t overeat to stuff those feelings of anxiety and pain. Instead, get rid of them daily with Rescue Remedy, a shower, a walk in the park, or by requesting help from your angels and guides.
  7. Dive into nature. Head out for the greenbelt or a park or a creek, river or ocean. Work in your garden. If you don’t have one, start one or help an elder weed her or his garden.
  8. Take alone time daily. Truly. If you need to lock yourself in the bathroom for down time, just do it.

Most of all, be kind to yourself and others. These are trying times.

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