Help! I'm An Empath ...

[mntleo2]

I have never had any "special training" for this ability ~ or curse as it sometimes seems to be. But still, most of the time I am able to bear with it and even have a sense of humor about it, even though it often horrifies the person whose symptoms I take on. They vow not to tell me they are sick but this does always work either since I will awake in the morning with phantom-like pain where they are hurting without knowing they ARE hurting. Often times it will be on the opposite side of the body than theirs, almost like I am having a "mirror-like" reaction.

I cannot pick and choose the people for whom I take on their symptoms, it just happens arbitrarily. I do not take on their symptoms all the time, but I can often tell when someone is hurting and where, including emotional pain. The best I have taught myself to do is to try to "draw" it out of the person by patting them, or touching them in some way in hopes it will dissipate or ease what they are feeling or my heart will ache for them and I feel helpless as to what else I can to do ease the pain.

Yesterday I visited my best friend who is in a facility recovering from gastric by-pass surgery. As someone who has battled her weight for years and in her 60's, this is a courageous step for her. She is hoping it will help her also control other issues she has had such as diabetes (by-pass actually can cure diabetes), heart problems, edema, and breathing problems. She can now only eat a tablespoon of anything at a time, and if she eats anything with sugar or fats, it makes her deathly ill. Her wound got infected from the surgery and she is trying to adjust to the new regime, she had counseling for months before to prepare this, but it still has been quite a shock for her and her system.

When I got home my family BBQ'd and all I could choke down was a small piece of chicken. I was beginning to feel ill. No temperature, no one else was sick (food poisoning?) and at first I wondered if I was coming down with something. I felt so nauseous I had to lay down and I slept and slept. It was not until this morning I realized what was happening ~ I am taking on her symptoms.

Today I am supposed to take her to her doctor's appointments and to get a few supplies. I don't dare tell her what is happening, but I am not sure how to control my reactions and will not be too much help if I am feeling what she is feeling, you know? I want so badly to help her as she needs my support! This is a time when I wish I had more skill as to how to control this stuff or use it to make hers feel better, but I don't know how.

Any other empaths out there who are trained? How do I deal with this?

There is nowhere else on the Net, full of billions of sites, that is as special as this one that I could even talk about this. I am so glad you are all there! Thanks so much ...

Cat In Seattle

[Kookaburra]

1. Fellow Empath here

Hi Cat -- here's what I do. Spend about 15 minutes in the morning and build a pyramid of golden-pink light around you. Make sure it is securely anchored. That gets me through the day without taking on everyone's stuff. My very wise Reiki master taught me this trick, and it's worked for me so far.

I also suggest learning Reiki if you have the time -- that has helped me quite a bit.

Good luck. I'll send you some energy.

[mntleo2]

2. Thanks so much!

...I will give this a try.

I do have the time and would learn Reiki if I could afford it. At this time I can't but am hoping for a little settlement and perhaps a class or something would be a wise thing to do. At 57 years old, it would be a relief if I could actually DO something with it, lol. I think I can help a little as I am understanding. I am sure this help as I know it helps me when someone understands what I am going through. But I am sure I could do more if I knew how.

I kind of understand what you are saying but, when you say "build" a pyramid, what do you mean? Is there a method to building a pyramid and are there special materials to make it that I could visualize?

Thanks so much for the tip.

Cat In Seattle

[Kookaburra]

3. That's the best part...

...no materials needed. Just pull in the light from the universe and envision it surrounding you. Make it real to the point that you feel the light inside and out. It doesn't have to be a pyramid, but that's the shape that I use -- it seems stronger to me. Some people simply encase themselves in the light, letting it take whatever shape it's going to take.

[wovenpaint]

4. reiki group for you

Yahoo has a group called "Reiki On", just type it in search groups to get to it. You can find out about Reiki-and receive free long distance attunements for level one and two, and the master attunement is reasonably priced.
I agree with the grounding practice each day...
Sending you good vibes and good wishes
:hi:

[Shallah Kali]

8. Link to Reiki On which gives FREE attunements to levels I & II plus some ideas on shielding

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/reiki_on

Reiki was the best thing to ever happen to this empath! Please join the group and read the files. There are many empaths in the Reiki On group so if the method of grounding & shielding suggested in the files does not suit either ask or search the old posts to get some ideas. Even if you are not skilled in visulization trying does have an effect and builds those mental muscles.

I myself like to viuslize sending roots from the soles of my feet deep into the Earth. Then I also send a cord of light from my root chakra down to my external Earth Star Chakra which is about 2' below my feet, then from there to the core of the Earth. Next I draw in my aura until it is no more than 3' out from me. I reach out as far as comfortable physically and imagine I am drawing it and then smooth it filling in any thin patches. I am not really detailed in the visulization, mostly I just think I am going to grab and pull in the edges of my aura and then just reach out and grab it. Finally I charge the edge of my aura with Reiki. Until you get attuned you can call upon your Higher Power, guides, angels - which ever is in your belief system - asking that they send energy through your hands into the edge of your aura to reinforce it's natural purpose of blocking things which don't suit you while allowing free flow of positive energies. Sometimes I think of a cell's walls and others I think of a force field in a sci-fi movie. Use whatever imagery clicks with you and focus your intention for a few breaths as you do this that the shield will remain up at all times.

The simplest method I know of clearing one's self of another's energy is to brush your aura with the intention that you are collecting all the stuff that is not you on your hands. Reach all around as far as comfortably possible thinking that even the areas you cannot reach are still cleared because your hands are like a swiffer duster or something like that. I have taught this to unbelievers who were shocked at how heavy their hands got as did this. After you have brushed down your aura clap three times to transmute and release the negativity you collected. If you feel an area needs another sweep that spot again and remember to clap after. I suggest to people who have difficult work situations to sweep their aura every time they go to the restroom. Ditto for family or other gatherings if you start picking up other's stuff or simply feel slimed after standing next to a person who is unkind.

[mntleo2]

5. About the humor with this curse ...

...My friends who know of this call me "Zielig". You know, the Woody Allen character who took on the features of everybody he met? One friend laughed hilariously thinking of me in the same the meetings with world leaders in the so-called news film shorts in the movie showing Allen with a huge mustache sitting next to an Italian leader, becoming African and Asian, with the leaders in Africa and China, etc.

Well, while this present situation isn't very funny right now, to me it IS a pretty silly thing to imagine for an empath .... LOL!

Thanks for the support it helped me regain my humor.

Love,
Cat "Zielig" in Seattle

[BanzaiBonnie]

7. Humor is always a welcome relief

This is the aforementioned Debra Lynne Katz short film (5 minutes) titled "Bending Spoons"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATzpeUnJR_0

[BanzaiBonnie]

6. Read Debra Lynne Katz "You Are Psychic"

or her new one, "Extraordinary Psychic". If you can only read one, it has been suggested that you read the second one. I'm reading the first right now and it's the BEST book on the subject I ever had in my hands.

She has good explanations about why this happens and exercises to keep it from happening.

[winyanstaz]

9. On being a sensitive/empath

We are energy beings and there are ways to protect yourself that are simple to do.
First we need to realize that we don't need to take on someone else's symptoms to help them..and when we find that we have there is a simple way to stop it.
The palms of your hands and the soles of your feet are like your battery cables and the energy (electrical/magnetic) runs up our spine like the coil on a battery..and that is what it is actually..a cosmic life battery.
This will work for not only empaths or sensitives but for anyone that feels drained after being around people that suck your energy.
Put both feet flat on the ground, clasp the hands together. This can be done discreetly without making a big deal out of it.
What this does is it closes the energy circuits and keeps your energy from leaving you.
Then you can do the visualizing of a pyramid of light or a circle of whitelight or whatever works for you.
Myself I just start saying in my mind my best prayers or mantra's. What these things do is to take your mind off the darkness/depression/anger/pain and puts it into a higher vibration rate of spiritual thoughts. This brightens your energy field and that is like an instant force-field in that positive energy will repel negativity.
When you accidental pick up these pains and feelings you can also just send them into the earth. Earth grounds out all energy.
Put your hands on the earth and let it run out the palms of your hands.
Always remember to cleans your own energy field after working on someone so you don't take on their symptoms as well. You can do this by washing the hands and arms or shaking the energy off the hands and direct it into the earth.

[lib2DaBone]

10. Fellow empath here as well...

I have had success reading Dr. Judith Orloff. http://www.drjudithorloff.com/about-judith-orloff.htm

As an empath herself, she details the many ways over the years that she has handled the "information overload".

Empaths typically let too much information in... or they unconsciously assume other peoples negative emotions. I know myself, I have to stay away from crowded bars and restaurants. I can walk down a row of stools and I can tell you who is pissed off and who is happy.

I have trouble sleeping during the full moon. The last 2 nights the moon has been full... and the white "noise" surrounding a full moon is very tiresome. It's like listening to a room for of people talking loudly. Arrrr.. Or, it's like someone left the stereo on full blast...

As other posters have mentioned, Reiki is very excellent. Dr. Orloff recommends (of course) meditation, warm showers after being in crowds,aroma therapy purging by burning sage, bath salts... and walking barefoot in the sand or dirt is very good for grounding and restoring balance. Also being around or sitting at the base of large trees is very helpful.

If you are fortunate enough to be in California.. the Sequoias and Giant Redwoods are unbelievable. I love being around Hemlock trees.. especially if they are near running water. Something about the negative ions are restored and the psyche cleansed.

Hope this helps...

[Celebration]

11. using an orgone accumulator on the head

will generally replenish vital energy.

That would be an open pyramid on top of the head, or make your own glass spice bottle accumulator. Here are the directions.

Oh, BlueIris is always talking about putting a copper scouring pad on the head. Obviously you might want to wear a hat over it if you go out.

[Fire Walk With Me]

12. Here is a photograph of Laura Bush upon which to test your ability.

Relax, I would never do that to an empath. Unclech, unclench...

As the freepers say, you're screwn. ;) Take a long, hard look inside yourself and you might find inversions in your relations with others (any left-over neediness from abandonment, etc.?) which may make you more vulnerable than normal, beyond regular empathy. Heal yourself and much comes into focus, and manageability (at least in my experience). As PC stated recently, photo reading and psychometry are good starts, as is eye reading (cropped images of eyes expressing different emotions). Try to write down what you "get" and confirm it. Have a friend sit down and pick "mood" cards, then express them towards you, and see if you can guess what it is. If you're beyond that point, just go with the flow. The bad days are ending and it will be somewhat more difficult to run into real negativity anymore (depending upon karma, etc.).

Best!

Edit: If you have a talent with psychometry (light rubbing of fingers across a photo or object), have people bring photos of people you do not know and objects others own, and see if what you can pull from them.