If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that human connection is powerful. As the pandemic separated us from our families and friends, we struggled to maintain the connections that give us a sense of belonging and lie at the core of our emotional well-being, leaving us feeling isolated and alone.
These days, the news is often no less troubling, as our devices deliver a constant stream of tragic stories from around the world. If you’re someone who feels things deeply, it can be challenging to manage your emotions and feelings without becoming overwhelmed.
Having empathy is part of what makes us human. It allows us to be in tune with other people’s feelings, eliciting our kind and caring responses towards them. Empathy enables us to feel moved by the circumstances of others, providing a foundation for human connection and allowing us to share the burdens and celebrations of life.
Highly sensitive individuals may take these feelings a step further, though. You may be familiar with the term ‘empath’, which has become commonly associated with having a heightened ability to sense and understand the emotions, feelings, and energy of others. Highly attuned to emotional states, these individuals often experience others’ emotions as if they were their own.
Being a highly empathetic individual can be both a gift and a challenge. It gives rise to a deep sense of compassion, meaning that these individuals can easily pick up on subtle cues and non-verbal signals. They can offer incredible support, understanding, and kindness to those in need. However, while they make the world a more compassionate place, their highly sensitive nature can also leave them feeling overwhelmed and drained from absorbing the emotions of others.
If you feel things deeply, keep reading to find out five signs that you might be a highly empathetic individual. This article will also help you manage your own emotions, with some tips on why counselling is beneficial, and how to find the perfect therapist match for you.
Signs you might be an ‘empath’
While the term ‘empath’ is controversial between psychologists, it’s become commonly used to describe individuals with a strong sense of empathy. In this article, we’re addressing strategies intended to help highly sensitive individuals, and not those with an actual empath diagnosis of a psychological origin. Here are some of the signs that you have a higher level of sensitivity and a stronger sense of empathy than others:
1. Heightened sensitivity to emotions
Highly sensitive individuals are acutely attuned to the emotions of those around them and can quickly pick up on the emotional states of others. This enables them to respond quickly and appropriately because they understand intuitively what it’s like to experience the emotions of others. For example, they may walk into a room and immediately sense if someone is feeling sad, anxious, or happy, even before any words are exchanged. They’re able to respond quickly and connect deeply with others.
2. Easily overwhelmed in chaotic environments
Their heightened ability to sense emotions means that highly sensitive individuals may be easily overwhelmed in large crowds or noisy environments. Because they absorb the feelings and energy of the people around them, they often find social gatherings and public places challenging. At a rally, for example, they might be overcome by feelings of anxiety as they become attuned to the energy and feelings of the other protesters attending the event. They may even find themselves overly stimulated by things like scents and sounds.
3. Strong intuition
Highly sensitive individuals often have a strong sense of intuition, using their gut feelings to guide them about people and situations. They often have a knack for accurately sensing when something is wrong or when someone is being dishonest, even without concrete evidence. They might have a feeling that something seems off with someone, only to find out much later that their hunch was right.
4. Difficulty setting boundaries
The idea of setting healthy boundaries has garnered a lot of attention in recent years, but this might be particularly hard to do for highly sensitive people. They’re very compassionate and caring, often putting the needs of others before their own. As a result, they may struggle to say no to requests, leading to emotional exhaustion or even burnout. For example, they may have a reputation for being always available, responding to requests even when it interferes with their own plans or well-being. It’s often too easy to take advantage of their willingness to help.
5. Affected by the feelings of others
While having empathy allows us to respond to others appropriately, some people take this heightened sensitivity a step further. Instead of simply having an awareness of someone else’s emotions, they may begin to experience their pain or joys as their own. This can lead to emotional contagion, or mirroring the emotions of others. For example, if they spend time with someone who is angry or stressed, they may start to experience those emotions as their own, even if they were not feeling that way before.
By recognizing and understanding these signs, highly sensitive individuals can better navigate their unique experiences and emotions.
A safe, supportive space
Highly sensitive people can benefit from a safe space that supports them to manage the challenges that come from heightened sensitivity. Psychologists and therapists can provide guidance to empower you to develop healthy coping strategies, set boundaries, and practice self-care to protect your emotional well-being. While embracing your empathetic nature, counselling can provide you with the support you need to develop emotional resilience.
Through effective emotional regulation strategies, you can learn to prevent emotional overload or burnout while still being highly responsive to those around you. By exploring your empathetic nature, therapy can give you a deeper understanding of yourself and help you to harness your empathetic tendencies in positive ways. Fostering self-compassion and setting healthy boundaries will allow you to create meaningful connections and make a difference in the lives of others, while still preventing your own emotional exhaustion.
You may also struggle with your own sense of self as your emotions become blurred by your connections to others. Through therapy, you can delve into your personal values, beliefs, and aspirations, gaining clarity and a stronger sense of self. This will encourage a more balanced approach to your relationships and interactions.
Finding a therapist
Counselling offers valuable support and guidance, but if you have a heightened sensitivity to others, it’s important to find a therapist who appreciates your unique experiences and makes you feel comfortable sharing. At WJW Counselling & Mediation, our caring team has experience working with a variety of struggles, including the stressors faced by highly sensitive individuals. When looking for a counsellor, here are a few qualities you may want to consider:
- Empathy & understanding: If you’re highly attuned to the emotions of others, look for a counsellor who also demonstrates empathy and understanding towards you. They should validate your experiences and provide a safe, non-judgemental space for you to feel heard.
- Understanding about empathetic traits: Being highly empathetic is both a gift and a challenge, so you’ll want to have the support of a therapist with knowledge of both the strengths and potential vulnerabilities you’re encountering. This way, they’ll be able to provide tailored guidance specific to your empathetic nature.
- Knowledgeable about emotional regulation techniques:. Look for a counsellor who can help you develop emotional regulation techniques and set healthy boundaries in your personal relationships. You can also benefit from mindfulness practices, grounding exercises, and self-care strategies to manage emotional overwhelm without becoming exhausted
- Trustworthiness: Building a strong therapeutic relationship is always vital, but it can be especially important for empathetic people to feel a sense of connection and safety with their therapist. This will allow you to share comfortably, explore your emotions, and work effectively towards personal growth.
We recognize that finding the right counsellor is a personal and individual process. If you’re looking for support in the St. Albert or greater Edmonton area, or virtually across the province of Alberta, you can find out more about our expert therapists and counsellors by reading about our team here. Schedule consultation to find a counsellor who aligns with your goals.
Being highly sensitive comes with remarkable qualities and benefits, enabling you to deeply understand and connect with others on an emotional level. This creates profound empathetic bonds and fosters genuine compassion towards others.
However, if you’re struggling to manage your heightened sensitivity, counselling can support you to navigate the complexities and challenges of your feelings. Reach out today, and get the support you need to continue to bring your healing and positivity to the world, making it a more compassionate and understanding place without losing yourself in the process.
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s that human connection is powerful. As the pandemic separated us from our families and friends, we struggled to maintain the connections that give us a sense of belonging and lie at the core of our emotional well-being, leaving us feeling isolated and alone.
These days, the news is often no less troubling, as our devices deliver a constant stream of tragic stories from around the world. If you’re someone who feels things deeply, it can be challenging to manage your emotions and feelings without becoming overwhelmed.
Having empathy is part of what makes us human. It allows us to be in tune with other people’s feelings, eliciting our kind and caring responses towards them. Empathy enables us to feel moved by the circumstances of others, providing a foundation for human connection and allowing us to share the burdens and celebrations of life.
Highly sensitive individuals may take these feelings a step further, though. You may be familiar with the term ‘empath’, which has become commonly associated with having a heightened ability to sense and understand the emotions, feelings, and energy of others. Highly attuned to emotional states, these individuals often experience others’ emotions as if they were their own.
Being a highly empathetic individual can be both a gift and a challenge. It gives rise to a deep sense of compassion, meaning that these individuals can easily pick up on subtle cues and non-verbal signals. They can offer incredible support, understanding, and kindness to those in need. However, while they make the world a more compassionate place, their highly sensitive nature can also leave them feeling overwhelmed and drained from absorbing the emotions of others.
If you feel things deeply, keep reading to find out five signs that you might be a highly empathetic individual. This article will also help you manage your own emotions, with some tips on why counselling is beneficial, and how to find the perfect therapist match for you.
Signs you might be an ‘empath’
While the term ‘empath’ is controversial between psychologists, it’s become commonly used to describe individuals with a strong sense of empathy. In this article, we’re addressing strategies intended to help highly sensitive individuals, and not those with an actual empath diagnosis of a psychological origin. Here are some of the signs that you have a higher level of sensitivity and a stronger sense of empathy than others:
1. Heightened sensitivity to emotions
Highly sensitive individuals are acutely attuned to the emotions of those around them and can quickly pick up on the emotional states of others. This enables them to respond quickly and appropriately because they understand intuitively what it’s like to experience the emotions of others. For example, they may walk into a room and immediately sense if someone is feeling sad, anxious, or happy, even before any words are exchanged. They’re able to respond quickly and connect deeply with others.
2. Easily overwhelmed in chaotic environments
Their heightened ability to sense emotions means that highly sensitive individuals may be easily overwhelmed in large crowds or noisy environments. Because they absorb the feelings and energy of the people around them, they often find social gatherings and public places challenging. At a rally, for example, they might be overcome by feelings of anxiety as they become attuned to the energy and feelings of the other protesters attending the event. They may even find themselves overly stimulated by things like scents and sounds.
3. Strong intuition
Highly sensitive individuals often have a strong sense of intuition, using their gut feelings to guide them about people and situations. They often have a knack for accurately sensing when something is wrong or when someone is being dishonest, even without concrete evidence. They might have a feeling that something seems off with someone, only to find out much later that their hunch was right.
4. Difficulty setting boundaries
The idea of setting healthy boundaries has garnered a lot of attention in recent years, but this might be particularly hard to do for highly sensitive people. They’re very compassionate and caring, often putting the needs of others before their own. As a result, they may struggle to say no to requests, leading to emotional exhaustion or even burnout. For example, they may have a reputation for being always available, responding to requests even when it interferes with their own plans or well-being. It’s often too easy to take advantage of their willingness to help.
5. Affected by the feelings of others
While having empathy allows us to respond to others appropriately, some people take this heightened sensitivity a step further. Instead of simply having an awareness of someone else’s emotions, they may begin to experience their pain or joys as their own. This can lead to emotional contagion, or mirroring the emotions of others. For example, if they spend time with someone who is angry or stressed, they may start to experience those emotions as their own, even if they were not feeling that way before.
By recognizing and understanding these signs, highly sensitive individuals can better navigate their unique experiences and emotions.
A safe, supportive space
Highly sensitive people can benefit from a safe space that supports them to manage the challenges that come from heightened sensitivity. Psychologists and therapists can provide guidance to empower you to develop healthy coping strategies, set boundaries, and practice self-care to protect your emotional well-being. While embracing your empathetic nature, counselling can provide you with the support you need to develop emotional resilience.
Through effective emotional regulation strategies, you can learn to prevent emotional overload or burnout while still being highly responsive to those around you. By exploring your empathetic nature, therapy can give you a deeper understanding of yourself and help you to harness your empathetic tendencies in positive ways. Fostering self-compassion and setting healthy boundaries will allow you to create meaningful connections and make a difference in the lives of others, while still preventing your own emotional exhaustion.
You may also struggle with your own sense of self as your emotions become blurred by your connections to others. Through therapy, you can delve into your personal values, beliefs, and aspirations, gaining clarity and a stronger sense of self. This will encourage a more balanced approach to your relationships and interactions.
Finding a therapist
Counselling offers valuable support and guidance, but if you have a heightened sensitivity to others, it’s important to find a therapist who appreciates your unique experiences and makes you feel comfortable sharing. At WJW Counselling & Mediation, our caring team has experience working with a variety of struggles, including the stressors faced by highly sensitive individuals. When looking for a counsellor, here are a few qualities you may want to consider:
- Empathy & understanding: If you’re highly attuned to the emotions of others, look for a counsellor who also demonstrates empathy and understanding towards you. They should validate your experiences and provide a safe, non-judgemental space for you to feel heard.
- Understanding about empathetic traits: Being highly empathetic is both a gift and a challenge, so you’ll want to have the support of a therapist with knowledge of both the strengths and potential vulnerabilities you’re encountering. This way, they’ll be able to provide tailored guidance specific to your empathetic nature.
- Knowledgeable about emotional regulation techniques:. Look for a counsellor who can help you develop emotional regulation techniques and set healthy boundaries in your personal relationships. You can also benefit from mindfulness practices, grounding exercises, and self-care strategies to manage emotional overwhelm without becoming exhausted
- Trustworthiness: Building a strong therapeutic relationship is always vital, but it can be especially important for empathetic people to feel a sense of connection and safety with their therapist. This will allow you to share comfortably, explore your emotions, and work effectively towards personal growth.
We recognize that finding the right counsellor is a personal and individual process. If you’re looking for support in the St. Albert or greater Edmonton area, or virtually across the province of Alberta, you can find out more about our expert therapists and counsellors by reading about our team here. Schedule consultation to find a counsellor who aligns with your goals.
Being highly sensitive comes with remarkable qualities and benefits, enabling you to deeply understand and connect with others on an emotional level. This creates profound empathetic bonds and fosters genuine compassion towards others.
However, if you’re struggling to manage your heightened sensitivity, counselling can support you to navigate the complexities and challenges of your feelings. Reach out today, and get the support you need to continue to bring your healing and positivity to the world, making it a more compassionate and understanding place without losing yourself in the process.
