Anyone who has truly delved deep into their psyche and soul, will know how draining anxiety is.
The author of an article in journal.thriveglobal.com states that she was determined to serve her clients deeply, and spent the last two and half years on a journey of self-development and spiritual growth.
'I not only feel my own emotions, which at times can be as deep as the ocean, but I also have this ability to tap into others emotions too and before I learnt how to manage this ability, it drained the life out of me. Literally,' she says.
The author says that it took a long time for her to discover what was this.
'That I was an empath, or highly sensitive person, and that we are, in fact, wired differently to everyone else. Our central nervous system is set up in such a way that makes us more acutely aware of, and attuned to ourselves, other people, and our environment. This realisation has been a huge turning point in my life,' she points out.
Being an empath is not just for introverted souls, 1 in 5 empaths are infact extroverts.
Approximately 1 in 5 people are highly sensitive, between 15 per cent and 20 per cent of the world’s population.
Empaths are often accused of being overly emotional, too sensitive, and feel ‘different’ but often can’t put their finger on why.
But it’s not just their own emotions we are in touch with. It’s other peoples' too. And this is where problems occur.
Empathic fatigue, or resonance, is an extreme form of empathy. It’s where an individual finds it difficult to strike the right balance between empathy and objectivity, often leading to anxiety, exhaustion, anger, and a variety of other symptoms. When this is repeated over a long period of time, it can lead to empathic distress, anxiety and emotional exhaustion.
We often feel particularly drained when we have spent too much time in the company of others, or have spent time with people who drain our energy rather than lift us up. As a result, we often need quite a lot of down time in order to recharge and recalibrate.
These periods of reflection and recharge are extremely beneficial as it allows us to process all the emotions and feelings we have experienced during the day.
The author suggests three tips to manage life as an empath.
* Learn how to control your thoughts in order to reduce negative emotions and beliefs. This is an extremely important process for an empath to master. Practising meditation is a surefire way to empty your mind and slow your body down.
* Listen to, and respect your body. Our bodies are amazing at communicating their needs to us if we are willing to listen.
* Get plenty sleep. It’s when we are in the deep restorative sleep that our cortisol levels are replenished and in turn our stress levels reduce. If you’re not getting enough, or quality sleep, then you will wake up feeling groggy.
'I don’t believe that anxiety is something that ever goes away, but it is definitely something that diminishes over time. Reaching out for help from an external source, such as a coach, can really help you take steps forward a lot quicker than if you were to do it yourself,' the author mentions.
Anxiety does not need to hold you back from the life you want to live, and it certainly does not need to hold you back from your dreams.
