Empathy can be overwhelming at times

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Disclaimer: This content is not intended to be a replacement for receiving treatment. It is purely educational in nature. My relationship with you is that of presenter and audience, not therapist and client.

But I do care.

[LoriNuttall]

I read people and animals and feel them so much. I'm an introvert and spend alot of time with my garden and all my animals. I have a small farm. People are soooo draining. I try to not socialize. Leave me at home! Your advice is right on! I've got enough of my own depression from abuse to deal with without taking on someone else's. Thank you for the validation! I love your posts. They have helped me so so much. Especially with suicidal thoughts.

[claireschweizer]

My church choir accompanist is the most sensitive and empathetic person I know to the point where he will play the chord on the page before our director says anything and be correct every single time 🥺😢💕
Poor guy I sent him music for something the night before, most of the songs were brand new to him, he played every single one and not only did he follow me and absolutely kill it, afterwards he said he loved working with me and I have a "good presence in my voice"
😭😭😭 he's too pure for this world

[tammylee]

I thought there was something wrong with me bc I feel so deeply for animals. People keep dropping off cats/kittens on my property bc they see a barn. My heart hurts bc they are so beautiful and loving and I can’t take Al of them inside. I feel like they’re the only thing that keeps me here. Something needs/loves me. I needed to see this so bad today. Thank you.

[IrinaMWells]

Thank you for talking about this! It can be so overwhelming and I’ve never heard anyone talk about this before ❤

[susanhunter]

My empathy is overwhelming. At 62, I'm finally proud of my empathy. Is it painful on a daily basis? Definitely. I was born in the south, in the 60's and my empathy kept me from being sucked into the racist world I lived in. I couldn't understand the hate and, wanted no part of it. It enables me to see. I wouldn't trade it for all the money in this world. I just wish there were more of us, I think the world would be a better place.

[TyRobinson-xiog]

This is so true. I am an introverted empath. Right now I am overwhelmed to the point my thoughts are becoming worrisome. Over the last ten years my two brothers and my sister who were my best friends and support group have died under terrible circumstances. Two of my friends committed suicide and my father died about a year ago from lung cancer. I suddenly find myself in a world at 43 years old where all my contemporaries are gone. I have nobody that knows me. All I have is my Mom and she is absolutely spiraling out and lost from all of it. I am here alone trying to help her however she has become very guarded to the point of rage when I try talk to her and she has emptied her life savings and started drinking to the point of falling down. She is 75, I never thought she would drink let alone drink every day. I sit out in my room and think and cry and think and get angry. I’m not intelligent enough to find an answer and I don’t know what to do. I am usually very intuitive and very certain. Now I feel a way I can’t describe but it is powerful like something in my mind has accepted some kind of dark inevitability but consciously I am uncertain what it is. I’ve thought through my life over and over looking for something to help but I come up empty. I feel engulfed by the memory of everyone I’ve had to watch die. All I can say is for people like myself who understand I hope you never feel like feel. I think I will end up imploding my mind out of desperation to bring my Mom back from the edge. I wish everyone well as they navigate life. Stay strong and don’t let the sub standard feeble minded riff raff into your lives or heads. Thank you for the video Doctor.

[kellyburnett]

It has taken me my whole life to discover this. Before internet no one discussed these things. I have MDD/anxiety. I am also HSP. I try every day to control my own brain’s thoughts. I admit I need to exercise more, I’m sure that will help. I appreciate these videos.

[ClaudiaStarfish]

This is me it feels so debilitating and hard to deal with.

[boomeradvocate]

I used to be extrovert to a fault. After the past few years of illness, and losing both parents in just months of each other, I detached and even isolated. Finally, I am well enough to travel. I'm on a self-care healing journey. Me & my pup are spending a few months in rural Catskill mountains in upstate NY. We are in nature daily. I don't have a TV, or even cell signal. I went thru withdrawals from busy life, but fully adapted now. This 3 month immersion in turning inward has been massive healing experience.

[valariescholz]

You are talking about me! This is an everyday thing. I have always been upset at my self thinking I am such a baby when I see something happy/sad or any other strong emotion. It can be so exhausting, and most people don’t understand (or I think they don’t). I am constantly apologizing for being to emotional. I have self diagnosed my self as ESP. It is a constant struggle, and something I talk to my therapist about often. I have always thought that it’s one of my worst qualities. Everyone else is sad, but I always take it to the next level and get teary eyed. I always want to be “tougher.” The older I get the more I can understand and try to be kind to myself. It’s an ongoing inner struggle:(

[erobird]

@drscotteilers Actually as I got older, all my enpathy has led to the dissappointing realization, that the majority of people are not unreflected, but indeed selfish, ignorant and ruthless.
When i realize that in a person, I distance myself. I can't accept it as 'human imperfection' anymore.
It is really bitter to me, i can't trust and connect with people because of that.
That makes me even more anxious and i got depressed.
I really don't know how to deal with that...

[katydid]

People are exhausting. Family, friends, even strangers, share their life problems and stressors with me. I’ve even had therapists “share” their problems with me. I feel like a waste basket for everyone’s negative emotions, and I am left feeling a plethora of heavy, dark emotions that weren’t initially mine. My body is breaking down from not protecting myself. It’s no surprise that I usually prefer to be alone.

[LightblueStar]

My empathy is making me feel really bad for other people even though I can't help them and they don't have anything to do with me. Lately, I have been feeling really sad about trans people, about how they have to deal with all that dysphoria and feeling so far away from who they want to be. This makes me feel guilty about how I was assigned the right gender at birth whereas a bunch of people were not, so it doesn't feel fair to be happy myself because a lot of people don't have what I have. I know I should just be happy for myself and not worry about other people that I can't help, but I don't know how :(

[lyric]

All of the sad animal videos and pleas for help on the internet has disabled me with a broken heart. I can see I’m going to have to not watch these videos anymore. It’s not easy cause they are everywhere.

[rhianndarroch]

I hate this empathy. I only realised the beginning of this year that I can read others. Now I understand why I get mentally unwell every few months. And after being around people, I need a break to be alone to recharge. 😢 or I snap, which isn't nice. Wish others around me could understand.

[daniellefournier]

My case also…. I had to put boundaries and protect myself….. some « toxic people » disappeared when they realized they could not manipulate me, which is a good thing…. Only real good friends stayed….

[EricHarris]

I have all of those things, and I still.find my level of empathy unbearable. The only thing that helps me is my faith.

[daisylavender]

I intentionally turn my empathy off sometimes just to get through life. Seriously. 😒

[MXRiderFiftyTwo]

Social situations...No
In my room on netflix...YES

[bryonyvaughn]

Do you have videos on coping skills for the stress you mention in the last sentence? Working as a caregiver in the US had me stressed beyond sustainable for my quality of life. I’m getting out of the field but will be working in the public schools as I continue my education. (Out of the frying pan and into the fire, eh?) My goal is to get my MSW and become a therapist. Clearly I need help with this. LOL