Calling all Empaths

[JediKaren]

I'm doing a survey for all empaths, natural or taught, to write up an article on what it is like to be an empath and how to live with empathy. So it is important you be truthful and explain as much as you can.

1) Are you a natural empath?

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.

3) How long have you known you were an empath?

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?

[lilmoe15]

Should we pm it to you?

[JediKaren]

if you want, or answer them here

[idzuna]

1) Are you a natural empath?

yes

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.

3) How long have you known you were an empath?

I did not call it that back them but as a child I was a born empath. one ability I have lost as a empath is to feel emotional setings in a room. sometimes I can do so when I focus on it but when I was a child it came naturaly. as I grew older empathy turned from second nature to somthing I had to focus on. today I can experience empathy when focusing on my heart chakra.

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?

as a child I did not call it empathy.... I thought it was normal as many children do... as I believe that the heart chakra governs over empathy when you grow older trama in life will cause it to close up. this is a natural defence mechanism to stop you from feeling intense emotional pains.

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?

when I figured out that I actualy was a empath I was reading about it on psipog. once I was done reading I realized that I have always bin one and it was compleatly natural.

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?

well... niether.... I wasent much suprised at all. the way it changed me is that I realized that the heart chakra governed over this.

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?

yes I can shield... I do not need to shield from empathy because I have control over my heart chakra. if I do not wish to feel other people emotion I slow it down.

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?

all of my friends I natural become close to. I dont tend to like having alot of friends but instead just a few good ones. Yes I do think that empathy factors in this because I have always naturaly projected emotion.

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?

yes suprisingly... people will open up to me out of random some times when they hardly know my name. I just help them with it and dont mind it. I explain to them how they can stop feeling emotional pain and then give them encouragement

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?

some of my friends are natural empath... they don't call it that. they can tell what mood im in without me having to give a hint to them.

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?

I dont normaly do much about them... I can simply will them away if I want to.

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?

yes a little.

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?

it tends to make my a naturally good person.

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.

I dont mind it.

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?

I would explain to them that empathy is human nature and the people that arnt natural empaths have experienced emotional trama.

[Mr.Experiment]

1= Yes

2=

3= Not sure, but years

4=Not sure, but I was very young

5=I knew the term already, and it kind of just came to me.

6=Not really shocked or anything, I am not suprised easily

7=I can shield, I do not need shields to block empathy though, exept from this one certain person whos able to get through me 'shutting off' empathy

8=I have alot of friends, and I like most of the people I meet. I do not think Empathy effects that, I like most of the people I meet because...well not enitley sure.

9= Yes I get alot of people, I do not mind it I am basiclly open to the public

10=Im friends with many empaths, but I am friends with many people who aren't

11=I do not get overload.

12=Not really, I just understood the ability

13= Doesn't affect it much, since I do not know life without it.

14=Yea, it helps me understand and relate with people. Makes me more social then I already am

15=I would tell them to learn the basics of shielding, and try to have one up for as long as they can. To learn how to understand there ability, and to use it to help not to find out things people wouldn't want you to know

~Jano

[Lady Takara]

1) Are you a natural empath?
Yes I am.

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.

3) How long have you known you were an empath?
About 4 years or so.

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?
Around 14.

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?
All I know was that I finally came to understand from finding out online.

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?
Not really anything, I just acknowledge the fact.

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?
I can shield and I shield all the time. I live in a negative situation at home, cities and crowds are really bothersome for me.

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this? You could say I have a lot of friends, I have a closer inner group of friends. I'm "apathetic" or so when I meet a first person too, I don't have any expectations or judgement, and depending upon how they interact with me and the people around them, will make me decide, if I like them or not. But sometimes I get a really bad feeling about someone and just leave them alone ^_^

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this? Yeah. Not really, most of the time I love helping people, but sometimes I'm not really in the mood for all the poop.

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?
I have one friend who is, I actually talk and hang out with a lot of guys....dunno lol.

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?
I go and have alone time.

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are? Yeah it did a bit, it gave me an understanding why I deal with what I do, but mostly it was my own experiences of discovering that gave me a deeper understanding.

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?
It drives me up the wall. I can't stand large gatherings of people, generally younger energtic pre-teens and early teenagers, their emotions are hay wire. It is a struggle for me when I am in school and especially in cities. Everyone is on the go, so I have to try to filter it out. At work and my home situation is even worse, I have to heavily sheild because there is always such negative energy around and it really affects people

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.
Eh, it's so-so. I have empathic bonds with my friends and those part of my inner circle, so when something is wrong, I know it's wrong and able to get them help or at least be there for them = )

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?
Be sure of yourself and who are you are, because that is what helps to know what is yourself and what is others and keeps the confusion down. Also learn to shield and shield well, as well as program the shields. Possibly even learn how to ground and get rid of the negative energy, it can really affect people.

[lilmoe15]

admin said:

I'm doing a survey for all empaths, natural or taught, to write up an article on what it is like to be an empath and how to live with empathy. So it is important you be truthful and explain as much as you can.

1) Are you a natural empath?Yes

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.

3) How long have you known you were an empath?It took 14 years for me to figure out what I can do.

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?14

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?Online

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?Very curious.

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?I don't shield,I have the fear that it might block out something important.


8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?I have alot of friends young and old.Yes most I meet are very cool people.I think empathy does factor who I pick as my friends.

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?Yes I do.Not at all,I feel that its my duty to help people.

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?I am friends with empaths on line.But I haven't meet one off line.

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?I don't have empathy overloads.

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?I allowed me to understand how to deal with this great gift,even though sometimes I wanted to get rid of it.I always thought of the people that I have helped with this gift.

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?I "feel" other people to make sure they are doing okay and if they are not to help them.

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.Yes.Before I didn't want to be different,but after i discovered that I'm am different in a very special way I wanted to improve on my gift and make the world a better place.

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?

Calm down.Your gift may seem like a curse,but its not you can help so many people in the world.You're very special and you should take some time out of your day to just be by yourself and to meditate.I know most don't want to but you should.And take it slowly because you don't to burn yourself out.

God Bless.

-Lil Moe15

[Locke]

1: yes
2:see above
3:2 years
4:7years
5: online by seeing the deffinition on this site
6:relived because it was always a problem getting overloaded having other peoples emotions overwhelm mine i still have a problem with that even with shielding and grounding i seem to start acting like whoever i'm with
7:Yes i can sheild. Yes i do sheild especially in school. In school mot emotions you know how high school drama is emotional.
8:I hve a lot of friends. I like most people alwyas something new to learn from people but there are expceptions. Yes is does because everyone acts one way weather it is what they are really feeling or not is a different matter people cover it up and put on a different emotions for everyone else to see while there real ones are the exact oppisite.
9:OH yes because everyone knows i can alwyas relate to how they feel and i'm an insomniac so i'm alwyas up for them to talk. I don't mind it makes me feel like the curse of being a natural empath is worth something.
10:Not really maybe 1 or 2 i seem to be the only one that is a noticable empath
11:find a secluded area ground myself put up a sheild mediate and try to get rid of the extra energy and mediatae to tell which emotions are really mine.
12:Yes it did so much it helped me not get overloads good bye migrane medicine.
13:It helps me relate to my friends and identify if they are not feeling ok and it helps me if i'm in a bad mood i just go hang out with one of friends who is in a good mood and put all my sheilds down and soak up the good emotions.
14:Yes and no. Yes because it helps me help my friends and myself when i'm not having a good day. No becasue of overloads and trying to figure out which emotiuons are mine and the fact i start acting like the people i'm with makes other people think i'm a fake and just trying to fit in.
15:Learn how to sheild and tie sheilding into grounding like program the sheild to filter all outside emotions into grounding and learn to mediatate in order if you can't sheild to be able to tell which emotions are yours.

[Intrigue]

1) Are you a natural empath?
Yes

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.
Not applicable

3) How long have you known you were an empath?
Give or take 5-6 years

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?
Between 10-11

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?
From a book.

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?
Relieved that I finally understood what it was, and curious to find out more.

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?
Yes, fairly well. Generally I only use it when I'm around a large group of people and begin being overburdened, or by several very emotional individuals. Otherwise, I keep my own emotions separate when possible through self-control. Shielding is a final defense tactic.

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?
I like most people I meet, and I have a fair amount of friends. Generally I'm fair at knowing the kind of person someone is. Empathy most certainly factors in, simply because it allows me that much more insight into how they act or behave.

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?
Sometimes, I like to listen to people and share whatever troubles they may have, it lessens their load and I have no trouble helping them.

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?
I cannot say for certain.

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?
My last bad overload happened in the middle of an arcade when I was celebrating my 12 birthday, I ended up with an incredible migraine and was nearly unable to move. After having left, and lying down for a few minutes at home, I was up and active within minutes. Since then, I shield in crowded, emotional areas and (try to) keep a tight reign on my own feelings when I'm around people. Otherwise, a few moments of meditation and a dispersal of built up energy is enough to stop side effects.

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?
Oh yes.

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?
A lot, it allows me to keep tabs on how other people are feeling and avoid 'unpleasant' situations.

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.
Yes, I do. It gives me somewhat of a purpose, I can use it to benefit myself and others.

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?
Getting help from others is a wonderful thing, but when it comes down to it, you're on your own, and you need to be able to learn from your mistakes and be willing to try something new.

[Empath]

1) Are you a natural empath?
yes I am

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.
N/A

3) How long have you known you were an empath?
Quite a while

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?
13

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?
Online

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?
I always felt that I was very attune with my empathic nature so there for I wasn't scared.

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?
I don't know what "Shield" is but if you mean blocking unwanted emotions, no I can't shield.

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?
I have loads of friends but I hang out with just small group of people. I do try and take first impression of people through empathy and my sense are usually very good at judging.

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?
Yes actually I do attract a lot of people and no I don't mind.

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?
Nope

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?
I'm still working on that. Sometimes when I get an empathic overload I completely shut down and become apathic and moody for a while until I gain control and return to my normal self. I try meditation which helps me calm down and relieves alot of the pressure from the overload.

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?
Yes.

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?
It makes me more open to others and made me feel what others are going through and be there to help and heal them.

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.
I love the fact that I'm an Empath. The people who say it is a curse are, IMO, wrong. I think it's a gift and like any other gift, it needs to be taken care of and used properly.

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?
Be careful in geting overloads like mine, if you do get them, because when it happens it is a stage that is painful but if you don't let it get the better of you, you will be just fine with your gift.

[snowangel]

1) Yep.

2)

3) About 4-5 yrs

4) I'm guessing about 13-14.

5) I found out what it was called from a book, but I had a rough idea what was going on sometime before that.

6) Very annoyed, since I made the connection between what I was reading and what was going on as I was picking up on something I wished at the time to be ignorant of.

7) Yes, in the way that my nonpsionic, Hannah Montana-worshipping cousin can. In other words, rarely when I really need it and never on purpose. Generally if the issue is too many people my best bet is to feign cramps and use it as an excuse to beat feet.

8) I had a mess of them in high school but I've lost touch with a lot of them since. Right now I have a few really good ones but that'll turn into a lot when college starts up. I make friends really easy. Most people are at least understandable, if not likeable. I'm not so crazy as to try making friends with a snapping turtle though :) Just 'cause I know why someone's a crankcase doesn't mean I want to put up with it. And yes, I think this is in part an empath thing.

9) Yep, and I find it convenient. Saves me the effort of trying to get them to spill the beans. And yes, I will do that with the ones who drive me batty week after week with their angst and whatnot so I don't have to put up with it every time I see them.

10) My really good friends mostly are to some extent.

11) Make up an excuse to split from the group for a while, meditate, and figure out how this is not going to happen again. Get someone to deal with their issues, find a way to not frequent the place, whatever fits the situation.

12) Kinda. They were more handy in figuring out what to do when things went wrong.

13) I tend to be a lot more conscious of others than I would be otherwise. And a lot less shy about stepping in to help.

14) It can be a royal pain at times but all in all I think it's nice.

15) If you can develop a good shield, do it. It is so much worth the effort. And if you can't, do the next best thing and lose your shyness about getting people to talk about their problems. Don't worry that someone will figure it out. They never do.

[Fearn]

1) Are you a natural empath?
Was I born an empath? No, but the overloads and all the emotions developed out of the blue when I was 9.

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.
Yes.

3) How long have you known you were an empath?
About 3 years, but I have been doing it for about 4 just I didn't have a name for it.

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?
10

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?
Psipog.

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?
Scared, and extremely relieved. I was really scared I was going mad, and the fact that there were others with my gift/curse it was helpful to know I wasn't going crazy, which them sparked my curiosity.

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?
Yes, quite well I think. Yes I do. I usually have some sort of open ended shield that basically has all the programming, just waiting to be powered.

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?
I seemed to attract people to me, even though I don't go looking for them...I generally get first impressions of people very quickly (and yes empathy factors in here), most people are just bleh, some are repulsive, and some are like...the north pole to my south! lol. Empathy factors into every relationship I have be it with my dog, my parents, my friends, or my girlfriend.

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?
Yes, they seem to flock to me...It is kind of annoying at first, but I really like helping people as long as I am shielded good.

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?
Well I have plenty of friends offline who are normal, and just about every empath in my school is friends with me. Online my only friends are on the psi forums (I'm not online too much lol) and I tend to like empaths yes.

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?
Shield and ground. If I have enough warning I can generally throw up that shield and ground any emotions floating around inside of it before I do anything but wince and shudder.

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?
In a big way it did. I learned what I was and that I could talk to people about it, which helped my understand and control it.

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?
I tend to get into long lasting relationships really quickly, and I sometimes have trouble sleeping because of too much excitement too close, and I have been attempting to put a shield over my room to protect me from this, but it isn't really too much of a nuisance. One of my dogs is still being housebroken, and empathy helps me get my point across to her about what she is supposed to be doing.

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.
Why should I hate it? Why should I love it? I...nothing it (yes that was taken from Jordan on Scrubs). It has been there for so long that I don't think it makes too much trouble, and it does have rewards. It is a moot point with me.

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?
Learn to ground and shield at the drop of a hat. Practise it always. Be careful with relationships, because you can sometimes just be feeling the other persons love, not love towards them.

[ccey88]

yes, i am a natural empath and i don't quite like it.hmm.... aws for sheilding i am still learning.

[eggsilikeskitzo7]

1) Are you a natural empath? Yes

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.

3) How long have you known you were an empath? 8 years

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath? 9

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom? Reading

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared? I thought i was absolutely insane!

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield? yes, Yes, whenever i need to

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this? Lots of friends; yes; I don't know, but i think empath plays into it

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?
YES I DO, not really

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?
yes

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads? Leaving the room and grounding myself

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are? yes

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life? It gives me greater insight into people

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not. Yes, i help my friends with thier problems

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?

I would tell them,"No, you aren't crazy! This is who you are and you should be proud of it! Use your abilities for good. DARK ENERGY ONLY LEADS TO SUFFERING!!!"

[crazycorey]

1) Are you a natural empath?
Yes I am

2) If not, can you do empathy? If no, please do not continue.

3) How long have you known you were an empath?
When I was in Elementary School

4) How old were you when you found out you were an empath?
I don't know, somewhere around 10

5) How or where did you find out you were an empath? Online? from a friend, from a book or article, chatroom?
By myself, I called something else besides empathy, but i dont remember what it was

6) How did you feel when you found out you were an empath? relieved? curious to find out more? scared?
Normal

7) Can you shield? Do you shield? When and were do you shield?
I can shield, I dont but I need to, School

8) Do you have a lot of friends or just a few? Do you like most people you meet? why or why not? Do you think empathy factors into this?
I have a good amount, not all of them, some are *ssholes, no

9) Do you attract a lot of people who need to vent or tell you of your problems? Do you mind this?
I never, repeat, NEVER let people tell me what MY problems are!

10) Are your friends, on and off line, tend to be empaths?
Not always

11) How do you deal with empathy overloads?
I get sick and get pissed at myself from not shielding

12) Did reading and understand empathy help you understand what you are?
Yes

13) How does empathy effect your day to day life?
It SUX

14) Do you like the fact that you are an empath? Why or why not.
No, it always gets in the way -.-

15) If someone just found out they were a natural empath and wanted to know what they can do to help themselves, what advice would you give them? Any tips or warning?
I would first tell them to shield, that is very important (even though I dont do it -.-)