You must have heard about people being empaths, but who are they? Are you the one of them too but you don’t even know it?
If you are under enormous amount of stress most of the time, and can’t pinpoint reason why…if you suffer from sudden mood swings…if you are bursting into tears or feel sincere compassion toward suffering of others…if you crave alone time particularly when in a noisy or technologically polluted place…if you have felt different or lonely most of your life…guess what? You might be an empath!
And although being empath may sometimes feel like a curse few expert approved skills might turn it into a gift and help you to finally live a happy and less stressful life!
But let’s start from the beginning!
According to Dr. Judith Orloff, a psychiatrist, an empath, and a NY Times best-selling author (The Empath’s Survival Guide):
“Empaths are emotional sponges who absorb other peoples’ stress into their own bodies.”
She states that being an empath herself, she knows how exhausting and confusing this can be, so she unselfishly offers different “survival” techniques for people who are absorbing the stress or symptoms of others and need ways to release them.
Here just a few of them:
1.Be free to step away from what’s disturbing you
Dr.Orloff believes that empaths are highly intuitive people and when they tune in and observe how they feel round someone or something (being human or even animal) they can make a wise decision based on their inner feeling to stay or move away.
She explains that if you feel sudden discomfort near someone, you should move at least twenty feet from him and see if you feel relief.
If you feel better and calmer, stay away, use polite words, excuse yourself do what comes to your mind, but protect your energy from being drained.
According to Dr.Orloff :
“Giving yourself permission to move is an act of self-care.”
So, be free to say no to certain people or situations because it is not selfish, and it is needed as a survival strategy so that empath can replenish its energy and decrease accumulated stress.
2.Limit physical contact. Who you touch or hug is your choice!
As written in her book “Energy transfers through the eyes and touch. If you’re uncomfortable with someone, limit eye contact and touch, including hugs and hand-holding”.
So, calm your mind, tune in, notice how you feel and if it feels good do it, if it doesn’t just do not! Love yourself, protect your well- being and health and stay away.
- Relax by immersing yourself in water
Empaths adore water, and it is amazing how calm you can feel when immersing your body in water.
If you do not have an option to soak in a mineral spring, sea or a lake, you can even do it in your own home, all you need is a bath tub and an Epsom salt!
According to some who have tried them, Epsom baths are excellent way to de-stress and recharge because they also provide magnesium, which is the most calming mineral.
Essential oils added to water can make it even more calming, especially lavender.
- Set healthy and firm boundaries with people
To survive and have a peaceful and happy life, an empath must set firm and healthy limits with people.
For example, if you have noticed that someone is draining, or have negative influence on you, distance yourself completely or control how much time you spend listening to that person.
If someone is hurting your emotions, or even yelling at you, say it loudly that it bothers you and if he or she does not change the way or communication or behavior, you have all the right to move away from that person for good!
- Spend more time in nature and practice ‘grounding’
There is not an empath who does not love nature and feel at ease there.
So, do it as much as you can, and to de-stress even more efficiently try “grounding” by walking barefoot or even lying down on the green grass and soaking up earth’s healing energy with your entire body.
- Last but not least: do not forget to take breaks from being online!
Everybody but specially highly sensitive people must have regular time-out from technology, because it is very easy to pick up negative energy, and stress even from virtual word. According to Dr.Orloff “complete technology fast once in a while will do wonders for your sense of well-being”.
So, what are you waiting for? Now when you know why and how you should protect your well-being and get rid of all that stress that has been bothering you since forever, try it and see how calmer you will become!