Survival Skills for Empaths

Summary

The website content provides survival strategies for empaths to maintain mental health amidst external distress.

Abstract

The article "Survival Skills for Empaths" emphasizes the importance of mental health maintenance for those with empathic tendencies, suggesting that while being an empath is a gift, it requires careful management to avoid being overwhelmed by the pain of others. The author offers practical advice such as starting the day with gratitude, limiting news and social media exposure, engaging in physical exercise, maintaining a healthy diet, and performing acts of kindness to manage empathic overload. The article also recommends contributing to relief agencies and supporting local first responders as constructive ways to channel empathy.

Opinions

The author believes that being an empath is a valuable trait but necessitates self-protection to prevent emotional burnout.
A key opinion is that empaths should distinguish between their own emotions and those of others to avoid absorbing unnecessary pain.
The author values gratitude, suggesting writing down three things one is grateful for each day to foster a positive mindset.
Limiting exposure to news and curating social media feeds are seen as effective strategies for managing emotional overload.
Physical exercise, particularly weightlifting, is considered meditative and grounding for empaths.
The author stresses the importance of healthy eating and the joy of pet companionship as part of self-care.
Acts of kindness, such as returning shopping carts or donating to causes, are encouraged as ways to contribute positively to the world.
Supporting international relief agencies like World Central Kitchen, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, and Doctors Without Borders is recommended for empaths looking to make a difference.

When life is too much for an empath

I consider being an empath or having empathic tendencies a gift, but one that must be closely guarded. The weight of the pain of those suffering can crush you if you aren’t careful.

Here are a few ways I have found to stay reasonably sane in the midst of the chaos and distress.

First, this key concept. (I don’t remember where I read it but I try to repeat this to myself daily)

“Stop absorbing the pain of other people. Recognize what belongs to you and what doesn’t.”

But how?

6 things to make it real

I start the day writing (on actual paper) three things for which I am grateful.

I limit “news”. I have a couple of middle-of-the-road news sources that I look at once or twice a day because I also don’t want to feel like I live under a rock.

I limit social media to a few friends, art, music, travel, funny animals and cephalopods.

Exercise. I find lifting weights to be meditative and grounding..nothing like a definite understanding of my relationship to gravity to get me out of my head and back into my body. I get outside for at least a few minutes every day. -7 degrees F this morning makes me grateful I don’t have to work outside because I would be a popsicle. (see #1)

Drink water and eat healthy foods. Pet dogs. Snuggle with cats. Feed the squirrels and birds. Find something that makes you laugh enough to snort or spit your drink.

I do a “brain dump” by writing for a few minutes at the end of the day. My sleep suffers if I don’t because I am the Queen of Overthinking.

Then I do this:

Recognizing what doesn’t belong to me enables me to be useful instead of paralyzed by sadness.

I try to not be a jerk in my everyday life. Someone might be having a really crappy day and I don’t need to be part of the reason. Return the &^&$! shopping cart. Buy Girl Scout cookies and donate them to the helpers and others who might otherwise go unnoticed.

Also, “I try to be a good person, but then someone pulls out in front of me doing ten below the speed limit and I gotta try again tomorrow”. (see #5) Then try again. ;-)

Donate to reputable relief agencies. Support your local first responders and schools/scout troops who collect for disaster victims. Support search and rescue dog organizations.

Here are a few of my international relief agency favorites:

It will get better