empathy troubles...

[danman85]

Hey guys,
I have been coming to the realization that I may be an empath. If I am in a conversation with someone or focus my thoughts on that person, I know everything they're thinking, feeling, even sometimes what they did the night before, their past, ect. It's really crazy, but I can even do it talking on the phone to people, or reading emails by them. Sometimes, I feel like it may be a little like evading, but it's so natural that I can't do anything about the intuitions I receive, so, to hell with that notion. In the end, it ends up coming in handy, I have a huge problem with spending time with people who are not genuine (I can't really describe what I mean when I say genuine, that's just the best word for it), and I can pick up on it instantly, from a mile away.

While these feelings have brought some really amazing people into my life, I have another problem. There are some people (or types of people), who are not "genuine" who literally suck everything out of me, whether unknowingly or not. Sometimes, I can tell when another person knows or not what they are doing to me, sometimes I am just entirely wrapped up. These people can lead me to question my thoughts, feelings, things I have said and done in the past, and my self-worth. Sometimes they just plain make me look like an idiot. When I am done interacting with these people, my insides are spinning and I am thinking "WOAH! WHAT JUST HAPPENED!" This also happens in large groups, but it's a little different than when I have someone literally doing something to me. I try to stay aware, but I can't control when I "turn the empath on or off."

I'm wondering if anyone reading this feels or has felt this way, conquered it, and can offer a little help. I don't want to be a walking psychic, I just want to have a little control over myself in large groups or others. I looked up a few things on shielding, but I just keep reading "imagine a shield around yourself," and I don't think that works for me.

[Erin Pavlina]

I have experienced all that you've described. As my psychic abilities increased I found that when I walked through a mall I would start to pick up little tidbits of information on everyone I passed.

"She's cheating on her husband"
"He is abusing his girlfriend"
"She's struggling with bulimia"
"They're trying to have a baby."
Etc.

I realized I was being bombarded with other people's stuff and their emotions as well. Sometimes these emotions would even stick to me and I would take them home and act on them even though they weren't mine.

Shielding can work, but what works better for me is shrinking my chakras when I'm out in public and don't want to be "working." I bring my chakras in very close to my body so they're not brushing up against people when I'm walking near them. To some, I probably seem very distant and even aloof. That just means its working.

When I actually want to be interacting and open and picking up on the vibes, I just open the chakras back up so they're spinning a foot out from my body. This works well when I'm playing poker. Poor schlubs don't have a chance!

As for the people who are stealing your energy, you want to avoid them when at all possible. No need to interact with them whatsoever. When it's unavoidable, however, draw your chakras inward, and imagine a mirror in front of you reflecting the energy vampire's drain back on him. Refuse to give him your power. Sometimes when you're doing the empathy thing your openness actually creates an opening for someone to take advantage of you, so watch out for that.

[danman85]

So THAT'S how people are so good at poker!! I am off to school for the day, I will try and see what happens!

[Lola]

danman - In addition to Erin's chakra minimizing technique, you can also utilize sea salt to counteract the effects of absorbing negative energy. I was once advised by a healer that if I felt I had absorbed too much from others, to run cool water in the sink, sprinkle in a little sea salt and bathe my hands and forearms in the water. Or you can add it to a bath and bathe your entire body. It does seem effective for cleansing my energy field.

[Erin Pavlina]

Oh speaking of what Lola just mentioned, I remember someone telling me that simply taking a shower or sitting in water or washing with water is a good way to release and remove negative energy. I didn't believe it until I tried it and darnit if I didn't feel better right away... Something about sitting in hot water or taking a hot shower just melts your cares away.

[Lola]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

...melts your cares away.

And the goblins!

[Erin Pavlina]

And apparently the Wicked Witch of the West

[mej023]

Originally Posted by Erin Pavlina

And apparently the Wicked Witch of the West

Ewe! and the smell!!

[Old Soul]

I totally understand

you have to make a conscience choice to protect yourself, by telling yourself that you will not recieve any negative energies internally.... know yourself , know your weakness ( sounds like yours is the same as mine), and distinguish the negative the moment it enters into your thoughts , reject it as NOT yours

get away from them, my father in law is a total sponge , he really does carry alot of negative energy, and if you are not aware and prepared he willl suck you dry and leave you emotionally exausted, not just that but also my anxiety level goes through the roof, and i litterally feel threatened by him


I found an article one day on the web about internal bounderies and i will do a search again , if i find it ( it was excellent), i will post the link for you

[Old Soul]

Sea salt with 1 tlb of baking soda

the 2 together have a chemical reaction which works even better, I use them both all the time

[danman85]

Interesting about the water comment. I have this strange affinity with water, it's very magical to me. The way it glistens when you look at it is amazing to me, I can actually see the energy in it, and feel the glistening when I drink it down or bathe or shower, so I will try the water stuff with happiness!

I took your advice, Erin, and it helped a lot (I didn't get a chance to read the others before I left for the day), I was getting all flustered, and then I thought to pull chakras in, and I wasn't empathing at all, it was really nice, but hard to keep focus. I will try and do this more, it's nice!!

[Lola]

Originally Posted by Old Soul

Sea salt with 1 tlb of baking soda

the 2 together have a chemical reaction which works even better, I use them both all the time

Excellent - I'll give it a try.

danman - I have an affinity for water, too. Especially sea water. (Perhaps I was a dolphin in a former life!)

Adding sea salt to bath water is a poor substitute for the sea but it has to do.

[px1]

A woman name Rose Rosetree wrote a book titled Empowered by Empathy that has helped me a lot. She has a very deep form of empathy referred to as molecular or cellular empathy. See response #23 that I posted in this thread:

Anybody have any experience/knowledge about clairsentinence?

[Old Soul]

I have an affinity for water, too. Especially sea water. (Perhaps I was a dolphin in a former life!)

Understood, when i was a little girl my dad said i should have been born a fish, he could never get me out of the water when i took my swimming lessons
and this infinity to water never left me

we have been pool owners for over 19 yrs !! and when we went to the grand caymans a few years ago , and i swam with the stingrays!!!!! it was heaven hehehehe!!,, Whereever there is a chance to swim , I am in the water i love it

[Lola]

Originally Posted by Old Soul

and when we went to the grand caymans a few years ago , and i swam with the stingrays!!!!! it was heaven hehehehe!!,, Whereever there is a chance to swim , I am in the water i love it

I love to swim as well but there's something almost metaphysical that occurs when I get to the ocean. Almost like getting a Rubik's cube to match the colors on all sides. That feeling that everything about me - body, mind,and soul - is in perfect, peaceful, meant-to-be alignment.

And I got to swim with the dolphins in Mexico a couple of years ago. Most blissful experience of my life!

[danman85]

Originally Posted by Lola

I love to swim as well but there's something almost metaphysical that occurs when I get to the ocean. Almost like getting a Rubik's cube to match the colors on all sides. That feeling that everything about me - body, mind,and soul - is in perfect, peaceful, meant-to-be alignment.

I feel the same way around large bodies of water. I was watching a documentary once on the creation of earth, and it said that way back when, this was a land of hot lava, and then all the lava cooled, and turned it into a water world, then granite rose from beneath the water (less dense) and formed land masses, and then trees began to form on the land with plants, and then life in the water....this is a very rough cut-down of what the documentary said, but it was just so awesome how everything here came from water...it's beautiful and mystical at the same time!

[Erin Pavlina]

Well let's not forget that we are made up of mostly water. I'm sure thats one of the reasons we resonate with water so much.

[Old Soul]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Well let's not forget that we are made up of mostly water.

yeah and we carry alot of water weight too! lol :-))

[danman85]

OK so Ive had a little time to try some of your advice, and it definitely helps!!! It ends up in me keeping a bit to myself, which I don't normally do, but I definitely pick up on some other things. It's like I am able to still be receptive while protected. It's very awesome. Thanks!

What's really crazy is that I noticed that there are a LOT of people close to me that I probably shouldn't be around for subtle reasons, but I will figure that out on my own.

[m18pak]

I know that this thread is old but I think that this problem could apply to me too. Erin could you go into a bit more detail about how the chakra-shrinking thing works?

And by the way I seem to have some sort of special relationship to water too. I can just sit and stare at a large body of water for hours on end - it makes me feel calmer and more at peace.

Also are any of you pisces?

[Masya]

Hmm. I seem to have the same problem. I do not like going out any more because of this. My co-worker has a headache, I end up getting one as well. I can not feel what is happening to me until after the fact. Eg- Like leaving the grocery store grumpy, when I entered happy. Or another is stress, I am okay after entering a building, but when I am done, I end up having a horrible back ache.

I do love water (born under the Aquarius sign). I will try those suggestions though. See if that helps

Thank you to everyone that answered:gives everyone a big hug


Blessings to you,
Masya

[Old Soul]

There are some people (or types of people), who are not "genuine" who literally suck everything out of me, whether unknowingly or not.

Yep!! I totally understand.... Sometime I have litterally felt like i could not breathe, or the feeling you get when you wear a turrtle neck and it is to tight
or a scarf wrapped around your neck to tight..........Yet you are not wearing anything around your neck.. it is very strange indeed

btw- I am Aquarian sign too. And I am a fish lol............ I love the water, swim every chance I get, I like the way water washes away my troubles

[Old Soul]

Also are any of you pisces?

Hi, No I am Aquarian

[danman85]

True Leo here, RAWR

[Erin Pavlina]

I'll go over chakra shrinking in a blog entry since I know a lot of people will benefit from that. Thanks for the idea.