Are you an empath? 8 tell-tale signs

Are you oversensitive? Do you often struggle to fit in, even though you’re not an introvert? Do you feel emotionally exhausted and drained after meeting people? If you find yourself nodding to all of the above, then you might be an empath. The term empath comes from the word ‘empathy,’ which refers to the ability to absorb and tune in with the emotions of others. It defines the human nature of putting yourself in someone’s shoes and feeling the pain and happiness of others’ as your own. That being said, being an empathetic person comes at a price as it can lead to emotional exhaustion, and sometimes, even depression.

According to a study published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, those who put themselves in others’ shoes show a higher “fight or flight” response, as if it’s their life at stake. The study further states, “Imagine-Self Perspective Taking (ISPT) has been shown to lead to greater levels of personal distress than merely thinking about the other’s feelings.”

ISPT is a form of empathic perspective-talking that—according to Ezra Stotland, Department of Psychology, University of Washington Seattle means, “imagining what one’s own thoughts and emotions would be if one were in the situation of the other person.”

Recognising that you’re an empathetic person is the first step to managing your emotions better and finding your inner balance. So, how do you figure out if you’re an empath? Here are eight primary signs.

Emotional exhaustion

Empaths are highly sensitive to emotions, which makes them caring and compassionate towards others. As a result, such people often find themselves lending others an ear to listen or a shoulder to cry on. While being empathetic is considered a virtue, it can take a toll on your mental health.

Empaths can feel overwhelmed and knocked down by emotions that they constantly deal with. It leads to emotional burnout and exhaustion. While anybody can be susceptible to emotional depletion, it can be especially hard for empaths, since they absorb emotions from everyone around them.

Self-sacrifice

If you always go on a guilt trip for saying ‘no’ or refusing to help someone, you might be an empath. Empaths go out of their way to help others, even if it means compromising with their own time and priorities. When you put others’ needs first, you stop paying attention to your own life, which leads to self-neglect. You can’t live a happy and fulfilling life if your tendency to sacrifice for others is stopping you from living in peace.

Avoiding crowded places

Although empaths tend to connect well with people, their ability to absorb emotions can often magnify in places that are too crowded. According to Psychotherapist Kim Egel, “Empaths can be easily overwhelmed by feeling everything more intensely” when they are surrounded by a lot of people. In some cases, this surge of emotion can manifest itself in the form of physical distress like fatigue, headaches, and sleep deprivation. For this reason, empaths prefer to spend time alone to unwind and recharge.

Empaths are highly sensitive to the emotions of others—an attribute that makes them a sought-after friend and confidante.