NSFW Anyone else struggle with hyper-empathy?

[Reeincarnation]

It is hard for me to not think about other's suffering and try to analyze it.

When I watch sad news articles or cases, it makes me really sad and brings me down. It almost ruins my day entirely and I have to make big efforts to get the thoughts out of my head or I feel like they consume me.

The other day I watched a video of a guy whose dogs got poisoned by a neighbour and it made my heart drop, it honestly made me cry and everytime I see things like these, I can only try to imagine and think about the suffering they went through. I closed instagram and tried to get my mind off of it because I know how badly this affects me, but days after that video I'm still thinking about it. I cry all the time about news articles like these, or most tragic situations in general. Specially about children or animals.

I read a lot of philosophy, so I also get very sad thinking about the life of some of these philosophers and how lonely/misunderstood they felt. Kafka, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky. The same happens to me with historical figures, Napoleon and his devoted love for Josephine that ended up destroying him after finding out she cheated on him, etc.

Point being that whenever I can sense or understand a suffering situation for anyone I dwell on it too much and it genuinely ruins my mood, it's almost as if I obsess with it. Not in a psychopatic way, but because I feel for them and their situation just imagining how they must have felt. Maybe this sounds like rubbish and non-sense for a lot of people specially with these super specific examples like Napoleon. I'm not sure.

 

[Passenger4224]

It is hard for me to not think about other's suffering and try to analyze it.

When I watch sad news articles or cases, it makes me really sad and brings me down. It almost ruins my day entirely and I have to make big efforts to get the thoughts out of my head or I feel like they consume me.

The other day I watched a video of a guy whose dogs got poisoned by a neighbour and it made my heart drop, it honestly made me cry and everytime I see things like these, I can only try to imagine and think about the suffering they went through. I closed instagram and tried to get my mind off of it because I know how badly this affects me, but days after that video I'm still thinking about it. I cry all the time about news articles like these, or most tragic situations in general. Specially about children or animals.

I read a lot of philosophy, so I also get very sad thinking about the life of some of these philosophers and how lonely/misunderstood they felt. Kafka, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky. The same happens to me with historical figures, Napoleon and his devoted love for Josephine that ended up destroying him after finding out she cheated on him, etc.

Point being that whenever I can sense or understand a suffering situation for anyone I dwell on it too much and it genuinely ruins my mood, it's almost as if I obsess with it. Not in a psychopatic way, but because I feel for them and their situation just imagining how they must have felt. Maybe this sounds like rubbish and non-sense for a lot of people specially with these super specific examples like Napoleon. I'm not sure.

It feels reassuring reading a post about hyper-empathy, as I've always struggled with it as well.

Like for example, if I hear one of my friends is having a very terrible day then I become miserable. Pretty sure most people are like "aw that's sad" and continue about their day. I get totally dejected.

In general I feel empathy very often and very intensely.

Your case seems different than mine tho. Feeling empathy for people you read about must get tiring :/ Have you found any tricks that help with these feelings?

 

[Reeincarnation]

@Passenger4224

I completely understand you, yes. When people close to me go through something, I feel very maternal for them and try my best to help/support. I think a lot of my sadness comes from knowing I can't do anything about it, I can't be there to let someone know they are not alone or that I empathize with their feelings. But also I just hate the thought of any living being suffering.

I haven't found any tricks so far regarding the empathy I feel for people I read about. I try to get my mind off it a bit and distract myself. It does get exhausting but when it happens to me I think less about myself and more about others. Maybe I have a high sense of justice and nurture.

Thank you for your reply, for a moment writing this I felt I almost sounded silly or crazy, it certainly is reassuring to know others relate.

 

[divinemistress87]

@Passenger4224

I completely understand you, yes. When people close to me go through something, I feel very maternal for them and try my best to help/support. I think a lot of my sadness comes from knowing I can't do anything about it, I can't be there to let someone know they are not alone or that I empathize with their feelings. But also I just hate the thought of any living being suffering.

I haven't found any tricks so far regarding the empathy I feel for people I read about. I try to get my mind off it a bit and distract myself. It does get exhausting but when it happens to me I think less about myself and more about others. Maybe I have a high sense of justice and nurture.

Thank you for your reply, for a moment writing this I felt I almost sounded silly or crazy, it certainly is reassuring to know others relate.

Those with hyper empathy make great therapists

 

[Passenger4224]

@Passenger4224

I completely understand you, yes. When people close to me go through something, I feel very maternal for them and try my best to help/support. I think a lot of my sadness comes from knowing I can't do anything about it, I can't be there to let someone know they are not alone or that I empathize with their feelings. But also I just hate the thought of any living being suffering.

I haven't found any tricks so far regarding the empathy I feel for people I read about. I try to get my mind off it a bit and distract myself. It does get exhausting but when it happens to me I think less about myself and more about others. Maybe I have a high sense of justice and nurture.

Thank you for your reply, for a moment writing this I felt I almost sounded silly or crazy, it certainly is reassuring to know others relate.

I get that same "am I crazy?" feeling lol. Had no idea another person has the same experience with empathy.

Potentially an 'empathy trigger warning' coming up...

I just remembered a time when I cried over a robotic kids toy. And I almost never ever cry, I usually don't have the ability to. When I was a lot younger I had this toy that resembled a pet with emotions, and one day last year I was clearing my closet when I found it. Then I started thinking about how it went from being so loved to having the batteries taken out and being locked in a closet never to be interacted with again. And I completely broke down. Over a kids toy

 

[nightshade1]

N

It is hard for me to not think about other's suffering and try to analyze it.

When I watch sad news articles or cases, it makes me really sad and brings me down. It almost ruins my day entirely and I have to make big efforts to get the thoughts out of my head or I feel like they consume me.

The other day I watched a video of a guy whose dogs got poisoned by a neighbour and it made my heart drop, it honestly made me cry and everytime I see things like these, I can only try to imagine and think about the suffering they went through. I closed instagram and tried to get my mind off of it because I know how badly this affects me, but days after that video I'm still thinking about it. I cry all the time about news articles like these, or most tragic situations in general. Specially about children or animals.

I read a lot of philosophy, so I also get very sad thinking about the life of some of these philosophers and how lonely/misunderstood they felt. Kafka, Nietzsche, Dostoevsky. The same happens to me with historical figures, Napoleon and his devoted love for Josephine that ended up destroying him after finding out she cheated on him, etc.

Point being that whenever I can sense or understand a suffering situation for anyone I dwell on it too much and it genuinely ruins my mood, it's almost as if I obsess with it. Not in a psychopatic way, but because I feel for them and their situation just imagining how they must have felt. Maybe this sounds like rubbish and non-sense for a lot of people specially with these super specific examples like Napoleon. I'm not sure.

NOPE. It;s just the opposite with me. I KNOW that I should feel empathetic towards others at times but find myself faking empathy (a VERY easy emotion to fake, BTW), and not really giving a shit.

 

[Reeincarnation]

I get that same "am I crazy?" feeling lol. Had no idea another person has the same experience with empathy.

Potentially an 'empathy trigger warning' coming up...

I just remembered a time when I cried over a robotic kids toy. And I almost never ever cry, I usually don't have the ability to. When I was a lot younger I had this toy that resembled a pet with emotions, and one day last year I was clearing my closet when I found it. Then I started thinking about how it went from being so loved to having the batteries taken out and being locked in a closet never to be interacted with again. And I completely broke down. Over a kids toy

Aw :(, I understand that. I don't think these feelings are crazy or silly. But most people definitely don't deserve that one opens up about these things. They could perceive you as vulnerable or easy to manipulate/take advantage of (I know that has happened to me). Cheers

 

[divinemistress87]

Do people with hyper empathy give free sex to the needy? If you're a lady please message me. Lol

Creep!

 

[bhaloo]

Hey Team, It was a light hearted comment not to invalidate the thread but to self deprecate. Those who can laugh at themselves laugh the best. Ofcourse no one will message me (that was well understood). All that happened here is that my attempt at some humor failed (just like everything else in life).

 

[Liebestod]

I don't have empathy at all.

 

[urgent]

@Passenger4224

I completely understand you, yes. When people close to me go through something, I feel very maternal for them and try my best to help/support. I think a lot of my sadness comes from knowing I can't do anything about it, I can't be there to let someone know they are not alone or that I empathize with their feelings. But also I just hate the thought of any living being suffering.

I haven't found any tricks so far regarding the empathy I feel for people I read about. I try to get my mind off it a bit and distract myself. It does get exhausting but when it happens to me I think less about myself and more about others. Maybe I have a high sense of justice and nurture.

Thank you for your reply, for a moment writing this I felt I almost sounded silly or crazy, it certainly is reassuring to know others relate.

I am very empathic. I always helped others before I got so ill. I can't stand the thought of anyone or any animal being in pain. I guess that's why I'm so upset that no one can help me now. I did animal rescue, helped homeless people, domestic violence survivers,volunteered to help sick elderly people. I've always been a magnet for kids who are lost. Somehow people and children always knew they could trust me. I wasn't taken advantage of. It was just rewarding to me. Even abused animals or dogs trained to bite trust me. I was always for the underdog too. It made me feel good to help.I know what it's like to be in pain and I just don't wish it on others. I know some people enjoy watching gore. Yes, hurt people hurt people but hurt people also help and don't want anyone else in pain.

 

[peacebenow]

I am very empathic. I always helped others before I got so ill. I can't stand the thought of anyone or any animal being in pain. I guess that's why I'm so upset that no one can help me now. I did animal rescue, helped homeless people, domestic violence survivers,volunteered to help sick elderly people. I've always been a magnet for kids who are lost. Somehow people and children always knew they could trust me. I wasn't taken advantage of. It was just rewarding to me. Even abused animals or dogs trained to bite trust me. I was always for the underdog too. It made me feel good to help.I know what it's like to be in pain and I just don't wish it on others. I know some people enjoy watching gore. Yes, hurt people hurt people but hurt people also help and don't want anyone else in pain.

I helped you.

 

[TransientEternal]

I do remember one time when I was very young I got sad because a worm got stepped on. Now I still get the urge to help people when I get the chance to if it doesn't come at a serious cost to myself, but when someone does suffer it has less of an effect on me. I can even choose to make my brain ignore it.