You probably already know you are or else you wouldn't be curious enough to read/stumble this so let me tell you my experience... I've always been terribly empathic, to the point of being stymied. When I say I feel another person's pain, I FEEL another person's pain. Depending upon my level of serenity, I am like an absorbent sponge to certain moods or temperaments.
Even more to the point, forget the mental/emotional jargon and get to what some people can appreciate which is the high sensitivity to even electricity. In a stressful state of mind, TV's, computers, lights, and even small noises all add - in a not good way - to my already stressful disposition.
I discovered the term for myself Summer 2005 when I bought the book "The Highly Sensitive Person in Love" by Elaine Aaron. It was like all of a sudden - "OH. So this is what I have been. Thank god. Thought I was just crazy." So, this is a new group as of January 2006.
1- Are you extremely sensitive to the emotions and thoughts of others, often confusing the emotions of others with their own?
2- Are you like an emotional sponge, soaking up the emotions of others, absorbing and dissipating the energy and problems of others, even at a distance.
3- Do you tend to puts others at ease, allowing them to share their inner most feelings? Do you find yourself helping others, even casual strangers, understand the world and themselves better?
4- Periodically, do you need to take time out, where you can be alone to meditate, recharge and experience your own mind without the interference of others?
5- Have you known about your unique sensitivity since childhood? Have you struggled with a burden-of-perceptions that others did not share.
6- Do you sometimes use food, sex, drugs or solitude as a means of coping with you empathic or telepathic nature?
7- Do you have to use masked personality to protect yourself from others, only sharing your true perceptions with those you trust most?
8- Do you have the ability to facilitate the process of rapid growth in those around you?
Special thanks to CeltSalt for posting this good list of questions from the empaths.tribe.net website.
Please Feel Welcome
If you're like me you may feel shy or unsure. If you've lurked awhile you can see that nothing is taboo. We're HSP for goodness sake. We may have some emotional quirks and some idiosyncracies. But feel welcome. Make a topic, meet a soul sister or brother. You won't have to be alone anymore.
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