11 Signs You’re an Empath
By: Audrey Johnson
Tags: Healing, Mental Health Awareness, Highly Sensitive People, Empath, Mental Health

Are you an empath or a highly sensitive person?

If you’ve ever heard that sentence “you’re just too sensitive”, then this is for you. Here are 11 signs that you might be highly sensitive and/or an empath:

You can sense other people’s emotions easily

You’re sensitive to coffee, alcohol, or other substances

You get anxious easily

You find crowded spaces overwhelming

You can’t tolerate loud noises

You hate clutter

You don’t like being rushed

You can sometimes smell things before other people, and intense smells can be upsetting

You can “read a room” when you enter it

You feel other people’s energy

You don’t like seeing violence on TV and in movies as it affects you more than others

If you said yes to a number of these, then you’re likely an empath. Congrats, you’ve got superpowers, my friend! Even though the above list reads a little like we’re not capable of surviving in this world, we sure can thrive. Trust me. In fact, empaths make great salespeople, designers, colleagues, and many more.

Crowds — an empath’s night mare!

Especially to the men out there — your sensitivity is a super-power even if it breaks with the toxic and let’s be honest long outdated beliefs of what it means to be a man (like men shouldn’t show emotions or other stupid outdated ideas about masculinity). I say this because we traditionally give women a little more room to be sensitive. But there’s a big but: unless you know how to recharge, manage your own energy, and harness the gifts without burning or numbing out, it’s probably more a curse than a gift.

I walked around in this world for 30+ years without knowing I was an empath. I just thought everyone else experienced the world in the same way that I did! I didn’t realize my ability to tune into others was a special gift: that I could look at someone’s face and know exactly what they were feeling. Or that I could sense when something was off long before a word was spoken in a room. It was also why I was so good at designing UX, customer service, and generally connecting with people around the world (before I changed my career and became a Mental Health Coach!). But it was also a burden as I often took on the pain of others, not realizing how to set energetic boundaries.

Really leaning into my sensitivity and understanding what sets me apart from others was a huge part of healing my decade long high functioning depression. With proper self-care, boundaries, a strong sense of self-worth, and developing a strong sense of awareness, I’ve figured out how to navigate the world despite my sensitivities. Or better, I have developed deep gratitude for them, and wouldn’t trade them for anything!

Here are some practical tips to help you thrive:

Take time to recharge in nature and make sure you get enough alone time

Practice grounding techniques before you enter buildings or social settings, such as taking a few breaths, and feeling the ground beneath your feet

Avoid coffee, violence, news, and crowded spaces

Practice saying no to people that suck your energy and physically remove yourself from situations if you get overwhelmed

Clear your energy regularly through activities such as walking, swimming (water is an excellent cleanser!)

An empath’s happy place: nature and close to the ocean — oh and hi, it’s me, Audrey!

Are you an empath? Tell me in the comments. If you have further questions, ask away and I’ll do my best to help you in the comments!

I’m also hosting a 60-min live training next week talking about the 9 key things that helped me heal years of struggling with low moods and finally come to a place of inner peace and joy. Join me here: http://bit.ly/3mJ9BJX