One defining characteristic of someone who identifies as an empath or a highly sensitive person is being acutely aware of other’s emotional states. This may have been learned due to family members or friends needing your emotional support while you were growing up. There may also be a biological factor in which you were gifted with a strong capacity for empathy and compassion.

Being an empath or a highly sensitive person is not a mental health disorder.

Empaths run into trouble when they encounter people who take advantage of their empathy. While empaths grew up to be skilled in meeting emotional needs, they typically have not had equal opportunities to learn boundaries. Boundaries are important to protect our finite energy so we have more capacity to care for ourselves and others.

If any of the above resonates with you and you find yourself battling low energy and high anxiety, you may benefit from therapy. As therapists, we resonate with the desire to take care of others. Let’s work together to develop skills to help you feel your best and continue to be a compassionate energy in the world.