Empaths: Stop Absorbing Other People’s Emotions

Sunday, 15 May 2022 Written by Diane Katherine

One thing we all know, as Empaths, is that we feel other people’s emotions.

Which isn’t always a bad thing, when they aren’t affecting us in a negative way.

However, the problem arises when we start absorbing the emotions, belonging to others, and taking them on as our own.

Regularly absorbing other peoples’ emotions can affect our health and happiness in so many different ways. Often leading to issues such as emotional toxicity.

When we absorb other people’s emotions it can affect not only the way we feel, but also the way we think. It impacts our adrenals, which are the stress glands. This then has a knock-on effect on the other endocrine glands, which are the glands that produce our hormones. This in turn can lead to hormone imbalances.

Everything in the body is connected, and so are our endocrine glands. When one hormone goes out of balance, it can affect another gland and the hormones it produces. So, what starts off as absorbing another’s emotions, and thus taking on their stress, can eventually lead to thyroid issues, chronic fatigue, food intolerances, and so much more.

I often describe the aftereffect of Empaths absorbing negative emotions as like having an allergy or food intolerance. Just like an allergen might give you a physical reaction, when you come into contact with it, you can get a physical reaction from the emotions you absorb.

And, just like with food intolerances, you don’t always get the symptoms straight away. Sometimes it’s not until the day after that you feel the impact.

The First Step

Every Empath quickly discovers of their ability to sense the emotional energy in others, but some struggle to distinguish these emotions from their own.

I often get asked questions like: ‘How do I define what I feel in another person?’ or ‘How do I know when emotions are coming from others?’

Not understanding what other people’s emotions represent, within your own body, is more common than you might think within the Empath world.

When I was younger (teens and twenties), I did not know I could sense another person’s emotions. I thought my own insecurities made me feel uneasy when around certain people. If anyone carried hidden pain, negative energy or anger issues, I felt them as a deep sense of discomfort. Which I wrongly interpreted as being part of my own social hang-ups.

Before I had heard the term ‘Empath,’ I was already working on myself in the mind, body and spirit. But, unbeknownst to me, when I began developing a spiritual practise, as well as striving for balance, I began to sense other people’s energy/emotions more intensely. And it did not feel good. I was later to discover that by developing a spiritual practice it effectively purifies the Empath and speeds up their vibration. Meaning, anything of a lower vibration feels awful.

Symptoms of Absorbing Negative Emotions

Generally speaking, when we absorb emotional energy off others, we might interpret it as the emotion we either least enjoy or that which is related to an unresolved issue.

Also, after having absorbed external emotions, you might feel like you’re coming down with a cold, or perhaps you might become excessively fatigued, or even angry. The response will be unique to you, and is something you need to watch out for. Basically, it is a stress response, except you are experiencing and absorbing another person’s stress.

So, we either want to stop it from happening in the first place or take steps to stop external emotions doing harm.

If you are one who dislikes people in your ‘personal bubble’ you will not welcome their emotional energy either, especially if you then start absorbing it.

It often takes a while for an Empath to learn how not to absorb the emotional energy of others. And just by being an Empath, does not mean you automatically understand the energy you feel or are able to prevent it from affecting you.

The Human Allergy

There will also be some people in your life to whom you actually become ‘energetically allergic’. You have a reaction, no matter what steps you take for protection.

This is more evident in the Empaths who have leaky aura, those who are out of balance, or those who suffer with histamine sensitivity or have allergies.

Just like an allergen, some people you have to avoid, or at least until they change their emotional energy or you heal your imbalances.

Protect Yourself from Absorbing Emotions

When it comes to protection, from absorbing other people’s emotions, grounding yourself is, of course, paramount. See this post on Grounding for Empaths.

My last article, discussed how Forest Bathing and Earthing are incredible for clearing and protection. I have also got some top protection tips further down.

Staying in balance and looking after your health, in both body and mind, is huge when it comes to protection.

When unhealthy, your aura can weaken. Basically, with a weakened aura, you become like a sponge for other people’s emotions.

As I often mention, my posts and books are written with the intention of helping the Empaths of the world find balance. And, as we are all different, what works for one won’t always work for another. It does take work. We have to be dedicated in our own healing.

So, getting back to protection from absorbing emotions, one of the first things is avoiding caffeine, either when in public places or when spending time around people.

Avoid Caffeine

Being a stimulant, caffeine will heighten any emotions you are experiencing or absorbing. You don’t always realize how caffeine worsens your emotions because the effects kick in 30 to 40 minutes after consumption. It can make you anxious and jittery, and negative emotions are amplified. Both your own and those you feel in others.

If you are a coffee addict, and can’t imagine a day without your favourite blend, be sure not to drink it on an empty stomach. Or if you do, have it with heavy cream, to prevent the caffeine from entering into your system too quickly.

Short Burst of High Intensity Exercise

Another way I have found to be excellent for emotion clearing and protection, which I realise will not be for everyone, is high intensity exercise.

A mini power-walk or run, dynamic yoga moves, dance routines or skipping, etc. helps burn off raging or uncomfortable emotions. I’m talking very doable bursts of exercise that last between 1 to 5 minutes. The sooner you do it, after absorbing emotions, the better the results.

Performing short bursts of high intensity exercise releases feel-good endorphins into the body, which block the pain transmission signals and produce euphoric feelings that calm the entire system. A quick power pose can also be beneficial.

A great power pose I have used, when I have been emotionally fired-up, is the plank.

Most of you will have heard of the plank; it is a challenging yoga move that activates all the muscles in the body. Maintaining it for just 30 seconds is often all it takes to blast out any overwhelm or negative energy.

There is a variation of the plank to do whatever your fitness level, from beginners and beyond. You will find plenty of excellent instructional videos on YouTube to get you started for both the plank and high intensity exercise.

Whatever exercise you choose, as your mini blast, make sure to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable, and your muscles have that burning sensation. I’m not talking putting yourself into pain or throwing yourself into exercise that is beyond your fitness levels. I mean get a little out of breath and feel the ‘burn’ within the core of your muscles.

However, if you are unfit, seek the advice of a fitness professional before embarking on any exercise program.

If doing any of the above does not appeal to you, never fear. There’s more.

Stop Absorbing Other People’s Emotions

The following post: 16 Ways for Empaths to Protect from Other People’s Emotions, is a quick go-to guide. It gives lots of different options of tried and tested techniques that work in either being protective or preventative. You could print it out and keep on hand as a reminder.

Brain fog seems to be affecting so many people lately, not just Empaths. Because of this, we often forget to take the essential steps we need to take before or after being around people. Having a printout works as a reminder of what we could/should be doing.

So, hopefully, this post will help you understand how absorbing other people’s stress can impact you as an Empath. We already have enough issues and stresses to deal with in everyday life, we really don’t want to be taking on any more .

I hope this helps on your journey.

Until next time.

Diane

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Diane lives in Manchester, UK. She spent the past twenty years researching everything from human anatomy to the law of attraction. She is a qualified colour and crystal therapist, massage therapist, reflexologist, aromatherapist, healing practitioner, yoga and meditation teacher, and has done in-depth research into diet and nutrition and how it affects Sensitive people.. ©Diane Kathrine