WRITING AS AN EMPATH
The telltale sign of an empath is feeling and absorbing other people’s emotions and, or, physical symptoms because of their high sensitivities. These people filter the world through their intuition and have a difficult time intellectualizing their feelings.
When overwhelmed with the impact of stressful emotions, empaths may experience panic attacks, depression, chronic fatigue or exhibit other physical symptoms.
What has manifested the most with absorbing the emotions of others, especially with the combination of sound sensitivity, is the heavy, inescapable fatigue that covers me.
Traits of an Empath
Empaths are highly sensitive
Empaths absorb other people’s emotions
Many empaths are introverted
Empaths are highly intuitive
Empaths need alone time
Empaths can become overwhelmed in intimate relationships
Empaths are targets for energy vampires
Empaths become replenished in nature
Empaths have highly tuned senses
Empaths have huge hearts but sometimes give too much.
Writing as an Empath
One of the many joys of being an empath is a strong sense of intuition and, in my case, a rich sense of visualization. This comes in handy when writing a scene and trying to evoke every sight, smell and sound that one might sense. Another benefit is with this ability to visualize so deeply, scenes play out in my mind like a movie reel.
A negative is that I find it exhausting to write, not just from putting words into paragraphs, but also from the energy used to separate myself from this world and enter another. This would not be such a bad thing except for at the end of my writing day I have two young kids who come home in uproar and with riotous noise, even on the good days. My senses, which have already been deeply engaged, become overwhelmed and frayed.
While I am still learning how to live with being an Empath, I am beginning to find ways to handle my hypersensitive system:
1. Time Management. I have to be very intentional about how I use my time. Just because something sounds good or is generally thought to be a good thing does not always work.
2. Resting. I read a great article called Darwin Was a Slacker and You Should Be Too where ALEX SOOJUNG-KIM PANG shares an excerpt from his book on Nautilus about how many famous scientists did not work long hours and the importance of intentional rest. Since then I have been more diligent about making time for rest.
3. Exercise. This could be yoga, walking my kids to school or running. Whatever it is, exercise tends to siphon off collected emotions which clears my head and allows more space for me to write.
4. Nature. Spending time outside and in nature helps rejuvenate my spirit. Even better, I made a makeshift writing desk setup and I write outside when the weather is mild.
5. Saying No. I try to say ‘no’ more, not because I don’t want to participate, but because being around people is tiring and if I have a busy day around a lot of people, I may not be able to sit up and write the next day.
6. Use What I Absorb. I have yet to do this, but I want to experiment with using my intuitive ability toward writing. This sounds exhausting, but I am hoping to harness and use it toward something more beneficial than added emotional strain.
Cover Image: Eugène Delacroix. Crouching Woman, 1827. The Art Institute of Chicago