What is your stance on "empaths"?

OK, so my fiancée suffers from depression, anxiety, and various other emotional problems. Her depression is clinical, diagnosed, and, when left untreated, can be highly debilitating. A few years ago a "psychic" acquaintance online saw a picture of her and immediately declared her problem wasn't so much depression as it was that she was a powerful empath. I dismissed that analysis and was almost insulted by the implication that her clinically verified depression could be explained away so glibly.

Lately, however, I've been reconsidering my thoughts on the subject. I mentioned that I thought she may be an empath to her and she agreed. She has always reacted VERY strongly to emotional occurrences. Deaths, even those far removed from her, can throw her off for weeks at a time. When someone is upset around her or angry her emotions absorb that and she easily becomes emotional in response.

So, my questions are fairly simple:

Do you believe these sorts of "abilities" exist? Is it something spiritual or "psychic" in nature or are empaths simply more fine-tuned to emotions than the rest of us?

How would one go about controlling this sort of thing so one's own health isn't affected by that of others?

Thank you for any input you have!

Isn't it possible that we're all "empaths"?

My belief is that there is no "special powers" that people have, but rather, have learned to communicate that which is true in their own special way. It's up to us to decide what to do with that information.

Unfortunately, that isn't very helpful in your dilemma. I think your depression problem stems from an unwillingness to be grounded.

Have her do this exercise:

Picture herself swinging on a swing set. Just back and forth, back and forth. Then, slowly, have that swing stop. Ever so slightly, feel what it is like to have that heaviness. The difference it feels from being swinging in the air. When she feels that "centered", grounded feeling, I doubt she'll be swayed by energies as much.

SOURCE: I have the same problem, and this is how I fix it.

Thanks Connor! I'll suggest that exercise to her!

Also, yes, I feel we all have the capacity to be empathic. However, I do feel some are more naturally inclined in that direction. I feels it's a talent that can certainly be developed and is more innately present in some. *Shrug* Great point though!

Lykeios wrote: OK, so my fiancée suffers from depression, anxiety, and various other emotional problems. Her depression is clinical, diagnosed, and, when left untreated, can be highly debilitating. A few years ago a "psychic" acquaintance online saw a picture of her and immediately declared her problem wasn't so much depression as it was that she was a powerful empath. I dismissed that analysis and was almost insulted by the implication that her clinically verified depression could be explained away so glibly.

Lately, however, I've been reconsidering my thoughts on the subject. I mentioned that I thought she may be an empath to her and she agreed. She has always reacted VERY strongly to emotional occurrences. Deaths, even those far removed from her, can throw her off for weeks at a time. When someone is upset around her or angry her emotions absorb that and she easily becomes emotional in response.

So, my questions are fairly simple:

Do you believe these sorts of "abilities" exist? Is it something spiritual or "psychic" in nature or are empaths simply more fine-tuned to emotions than the rest of us?

How would one go about controlling this sort of thing so one's own health isn't affected by that of others?

Thank you for any input you have!

It is probably that we are all empaths, however some are more attune to others than most people. And yes, empaths tend to unconsciously reach out and grab other's emotions and take them on as their own. I don't know why this is, but it seems to be how empaths gather information. One way to stop doing that and to stop feeling everyone elses emotions is to learn how to shield. You can look it up or ask someone on here (I do know various techniques but someone else might also). If you want to look it up you will have better luck looking up "shielding" associated with wicca or how to block psychic vampires.

Actually, I think empaths are just more sensitive to it than the rest of us. Once they feel it, they can't stop it from taking over or overshadowing the rest of their personal feelings. That's just my thought on it. (.02¢ added)

As I mentioned in my PM, I do think that being empathic might have an effect depression, but I dont believe it causes it. For me the trick has been to learn to distinguish between the unique "feeling" or signature of my own emotions and the feeling of other peoples. Something that has only come with time, stillness and stopping in the moment to really explore an emotion when it pops up.

Empathy is a perfectly natural phenomenon found in humans and other social species as it is beneficial to such for the most part. It is true that people have different degrees of empathy sometimes and it is conceivable that your fiancée is strongly empathic. The question is, if it is so (and that has to be established), just how far does this add to your fiancée's depressive states and what can be done about it and other factors. I wish the both of you good effort in getting to the root of it and control or cure it. And, please, don't rely on psychics.

Oh yea, that's why I was very skeptical about what that guy told me a few years ago Gisteron! I don't trust psychics at all. I don't know if I believe in psychic powers. I do know what my fiancée has experienced though, and some of it certainly seems supernatural. She has dreams of people we've known who passed away and sometimes hears them calling out for help (in her dreams, she's not schizophrenic) and sees the way they died. Now, this could all be explained away rationally, but she feels it might be something more. *shrug*

I'll be taking all of your advice and passing it on to her! Thank you all!

She sounds like a very sensitive person, empath or not, that sensitivity can be very stressfull to the point of pain. I'd try to mimimize stimuli and see my Dr regulary. Mild exercise is a great way to reduce mind and body tension.

We know we're empathic. We wouldn't have the word "empathy" if the concept didn't exist in some form. Are some people more sensitive? Sure, and some people are color blind, some are great at logic puzzles and some are world class swimmers.

I can't comment on your problem(I don't really know the people involved for one) but I can say the sentiments that last are the ones we feed, regardless of source. "Your focus determines your reality" as Qui Gonn put it.