EP 473: How Not to Feel So Much as an Empath with Hyesha

In this episode of Over It and On With It, Christine Hassler speaks with Hyesha, who seeks advice on managing her empathic tendencies, especially the overwhelming emotions she feels when witnessing suffering. Christine helps Hyesha navigate the delicate balance between feeling deeply and maintaining emotional boundaries, particularly when her empathic abilities make her overly sensitive to the pain of others.

Hyesha opens up about her experiences of being triggered by everyday situations involving children or animals, which leads her into "worst-case-scenario" thinking. Christine assists Hyesha in understanding how her heightened sensitivity stems from unhealed childhood wounds and limiting beliefs. Through this powerful coaching session, Hyesha learns practical ways to embrace her empathic gifts without being consumed by them.

Christine emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between empathy and sympathy, encouraging Hyesha to hold space for others' suffering without taking it on herself. She also guides Hyesha in recognizing her own triggers and using them as opportunities for self-compassion and healing.

Consider/Ask Yourself:

• Do you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by others' emotions, to the point that it drains you?
• Are you an empath who struggles to maintain boundaries between your feelings and those of others?
• How do you respond when you're triggered by the suffering of children, animals, or even people on the news?
• Can you hold space for others' emotions without going into "rescue mode" or becoming emotionally paralyzed?

Hyesha's Key Insights & A-HA's:

• Hyesha shares how hearing a child or animal cry often triggers a response that doesn't match the reality of the situation, rooted in past trauma.
• Christine helps Hyesha identify the emotional patterns that cause her to react so strongly and teaches her how to use her empathic abilities constructively.
• Hyesha recognizes the need to mother herself and attend to her own emotional needs when triggered by outside stimuli.
• The session highlights the difference between empathy and sympathy, showing how Hyesha can feel deeply without becoming overwhelmed.

How to Get Over It & On With It:

• Practice distinguishing between empathy (feeling without judgment) and sympathy (feeling sorry for others), and strive to stay in an empathetic space.
• Acknowledge that your reactions to certain situations may be based on unresolved emotional wounds, and use these moments as invitations to self-care.
• Use grounding techniques to regulate your nervous system when you start to feel overwhelmed by others' emotions.
• Recognize that feeling deeply is a gift, but it doesn’t require you to take on the burden of fixing or saving others.

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