How To Tell If You Are An Empath Or Have Empath Traits

Cross-check against a list of 20 empath traits to determine your propensity

What are the traits of being an empath?

I have had no idea that I could be an empath until it dawned on me that I was having odd experiences such as:

• feeling unreasonably exhausted after going to crowded areas
• feeling a sudden ache near my heart area when clients share their struggles with me
• feeling the instinctive need to stay away from certain people when I hardly know them.

After reflecting on my own experiences and knowing others who are empaths, I’d like to share what having empath traits is like. Life can be miserable and trying for someone who is an empath but who doesn’t know that she or he is one. Hence it will help to tell if you have got traits that point you to being an empath.

Understand the Distinction Between an Empath and Someone who is Merely Empathetic

First of all, let’s make a distinction. Most people will fall into the group of being merely empathetic. As humans, we are naturally sensitive and can practice empathy. For example, anyone with a fair level of sensitivity can feel sorry for the victim of an unfortunate event.

Notwithstanding, any difference is not a matter of black and white as there can be shades in between. People can have varying degrees of empath attributes. Some more developed than others.

What differentiates between being an empath and someone who is highly sensitive is not just about taking on the emotions of another. As indicated at the start of this article, empaths with heightened intuitive abilities can also experience physical sensations with messages about another person. They are able to pick up and feel affected by the energy of a place even though they are not consciously aware about what had happened there previously.

Emotional sponging can be exhausting for an empath on a day-to-day basis. You may end up carrying other people’s karmic burdens, if you are not careful, as well. Your belief system is also geared to helping others at your own expense. Finally, you sacrifice your own goals for the sake of keeping those around you happy. Let’s understand more about empath traits in the next section.

What It is Like for Someone with Empath Traits

Essentially, an empath is someone who feels the emotions of others as if they are his or her own.

You often feel vulnerable due to a heightened level of sensitivity. To protect yourself, you may find it necessary to shield yourself. There is a wall that you’ve built psychologically, to keep safe. You may possibly believe that no one understands your world and that it is best that you are alone. And so, you keep to yourself mostly.

Also, because you easily sponge up other people’s emotions, it can get to a point of being unbearable. You feel constantly tired, drained of energy. If not careful, you enter into a state of despair with no idea that you are carrying the emotional weight of 100 people on your back. In a state of depression, you may entertain suicidal thoughts or adopt addictive behaviour; so that you no longer have to “feel” any more.

Still, there are positive empath traits to be aware of. You tend to be highly intuitive and your empathetic nature attracts people easily. With the ability to feel the emotions of others, you are able to create connections quickly. This ability is helpful if you are in the healing profession, coaching/counselling or in the creative arts field.

By undertaking self-discovery and creating better awareness, you can learn to survive and cope in a world that could appear harsh to you at first. Additionally, you can draw on your strengths as an empath. In the next section, determine how many of the empath traits or instances apply to you.

How Many of these Empath Traits Or Experiences Apply to You?

Use the checklist…

1. You start to feel a physical ache in a particular part of your body when meeting a stranger, only to find out that the other person is experiencing the same physical ailment in his or hers.

2. When you are in a place full of people, you experience energy overwhelm and feel extremely exhausted thereafter; even though you have not done anything physically active.

3. You experience intense emotions suddenly only to discover that someone whom you love or gotten to know is going through the same.

4. You feel sick whenever you take the public transport.

5. You experience migraine headaches, nausea and/or a wave of negative energy when you enter a place where people were feeling depressed or sad previously.

6. You take what you feel very seriously and find it extremely hard to just let your feelings go. It is as if you identify yourself with the emotion and the feeling sticks!

7. You are able to tell when someone is lying, simply through feeling the energy of his or her response.

8. You can’t seem to focus (due to scattered energy) when there are other people around, but you are calm and fine on your own.

9. You feel the constant need to express your emotions and what you feel through the arts be it dance, acting or drawing.

10. You often feel unwell even though the doctor may not be able to easily detect what’s wrong with you physically.

11. You prefer to avoid meat because you can feel the suffering of the animal.

12. You are drawn to metaphysics, due to your ability to feel and sense energy.

13. You experience mood swings, going into highs and lows, without warning.

14. You have fewer problems with knowing what others feel than being clear about what you think and feel.

15. You are sensitive to old things such as vintage items, ancient relics and second hand stuff. Tell-tale signs are such as developing a headache, feeling nauseated, being sick in the stomach, turning cold and a rush of nervous energy.

16. You also experience symptoms such as getting a migraine or goosebumps on your arms when entering some historical place (eg. burial grounds of mass killings) or ancient ruins, even though you feel particularly drawn to visiting such destinations.

17. With your caring nature, you are drawn to the helping profession or doing some form of volunteer work.

18. You have a strong affinity for animals, nature and people.

19. You tend to “block” out others, in attempts to protect your energy.

20. You tend to have allergy problems. Skin issues, in particular, are about establishing personal boundary.

How You Can Thrive as an Empath

Ultimately, the most important test to tell if you are an empath or have empath traits is the propensity to absorb emotions around you. Like a sponge that easily absorbs liquid, it’s the same for empaths. It’s not surprising that many empaths or those with empath traits are often negatively described as being highly emotional!

Many with empath traits struggle with not knowing what to do at first. It was the same for me too. I could not explain why I was feeling low when there were no reasonable explanations. Fortunately, I have learned how to get on top of my challenges.

May I declare…

Being an empath or someone with empath traits is not a death sentence.

Neither should it be an excuse to isolate yourself from the world.

Knowing that you are an empath or have empath traits helps you to learn coping strategies. You find out about what to avoid. Also, you learn about how to relate to others in a safe way that is also within a healthy personal boundary. There are tools and strategies such as establishing an energy shield, applying prayer intentions, using essential oils or crystals etc that can help.

If you are an empath healer, you can learn to “feel” your clients’ energy just enough to help them and not holding on to the disruption after the session. It’s certainly what I do for release and detachment. If you are a Reiki, Quantum Touch or any hands-on energy healing, it is important to practice this.

All in, creating awareness helps. Start by recognising if you have got empath traits. Free yourself of emotional stuff that does not “belong” to you, so that you can protect your energy. Finally, own your power and gifts for being an empath!

Are you an empath or someone with empath traits? Share in the comments below :-)

Original article with 30 Empath Traits published here

Recommended Reading

Follow me on Medium to read articles on self-love, energy healing and solopreneurship :-)