Being an empath can be tough sometimes, but there are some ways to prevent emotional draining.

Empaths are highly attuned to the emotions of others. They feel what others feel and this can sometimes be overwhelming. Empaths can bring light and love into the world with their compassion and understanding, but feeling the emotions of others can have its downside. The negative emotions of others can deplete empaths.

In addition, others may take advantage of your caring nature. To be of service to the world and to thrive in your own life, it is necessary to learn to take care of yourself and protect your own energy so that you can care for others and still reach your own potential.

Here are 6 ways to make the most of your empathic nature without becoming worn down by the emotions of others:

1. Find time to be alone

In a world where there seems to be so much stress, drama and negativity, it is vital for sensitive people to have time alone to think and to process emotions. Without time to focus on their own needs, empaths can feel overwhelmed by the needs of others.

Make finding time to be alone a priority and use the time to do the things that help you stay balanced and healthy. You might find that meditation, shamanic journeying, visualisation, walking in nature, painting or journaling can help you process thoughts and emotions.

2. Find a space to restore your energies

It can help to create a space in which to restore. You need a place that is calm and peaceful and where you will not be distracted by outside influences. For some people, creating a meditation space, either in the house or garden, can help.

For others, spending daily time in nature restores them. You can even lock yourself in the bathroom for some quiet time each day if that is the only place you will get some peace.

Make your space as beautiful as you can with candles, artwork plants or whatever else puts you in a calm state of mind. Try to make sure your space is not cluttered or untidy as a clear space will help still the mind.

You may also like to use incense or essential oils to enhance your space and some people like to use calming music or meditation apps to help them restore.

3. Protect yourself from negative energies

Being an empath, sensitive to the needs and emotions of others, can be emotionally draining. Try to protect yourself from too many negative influences where possible. Limit time spent with negative, critical or toxic people and find time to restore after you have been with them. Avoid negative media and focus on good news and positive stories.

Fill your email box or Facebook page with inspiring messages instead of allowing yourself to be pulled into the negativity or others. You can also visualize a bubble of golden light around you when you are in situations where you know you will be subjected to negative energies and emotions.

This can help you to protect yourself and allow negativity to bounce off you rather than being absorbed.

4. Release negative energies

No matter how much you protect yourself, you will sometimes pick up negative emotions from those around you. You may also become stuck in unhelpful thinking patterns of your own. Empaths are by no means upbeat and positive all the time, and grief for the world and others can often bring sensitive people into depression and sadness.

These emotions shouldn’t necessarily be considered negative. Grief and sadness are natural in an imperfect world and denying these feelings will not make them disappear. Instead, try to feel the emotions fully and then let them pass. You can use tools such as journaling, exercise or dancing to help process negativity.

5. Use your empathy for the good of the world

Empaths instinctively understand that the world’s problems will not be solved by hate and rejection but by love and understanding. Try to use this energy in a good way for the world, even if it is just in small actions such as donating to a food bank or picking up litter.

Being able to do something good for the world because of your empathetic nature will help you be positive about being an empath rather than seeing it as a burden.

6. Follow your own dreams

Because empaths are so sensitive to the needs and emotions of others they can sometimes neglect their own dreams. But remember, you are a unique spiritual being who is on this earth at this time with a purpose of your own. Don’t allow others to spend all of your energy to the point that you have nothing left to give your own dreams.

Make time in your schedule to follow your desires and make it sacred. Remember, if you don’t choose how to spend your life energy, others will spend it for you, on their dreams, rather than yours and you will miss the chance to fulfil your sacred purpose.

Being an empath is a gift, but your sensitive nature must be managed to ensure that it helps you to thrive. Taking time to support yourself is not selfish; it is vital if your gift is to be truly useful to the world.


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This Post Has 10 Comments

  1. Anna

    You are so right about dangers young or “newborn” empath is going to meet on his/her way. Unfortunatelly, it is not all that easy. Without outside guidence one would not understand that he/ she is different from everyone else (especially, if they are teens, like I were ).
    In couple of years I started noticing, that something is wrong and called myself a ‘shit magnet’, and people who would always wait to talk to me, even we have never were friends I called ’emotional vampires’. I was young and stupid, I thought people liked to talk to me about their problems, because I was a medical professional with a personal interes towards psychology and Eastern Studies.
    It took another couple of years to notice that after such a conversations, people who confined in me felt better, meanwhile I started feeling drained, and with each year it became worse.
    In the end I realised that my own mother was such a person. I developed a Major Depessive Disorder, was treated by everyone and everything, hospitalised on multiple occasions and almost killed myself on couple of occasions.
    The funniest thing, is that I try really hard not to commit sucuide, because I am an empath. I don’t even wan’t to think what will my husband (who became depressed couple of years ago, when I stopped breathing and dropped blood pressure)and my tenager son will have to go through.
    I lost my faith in medicine, I do not think even the brightest shrink can help me at this stage. I still believe in shamanic traditions and their treatments, but I am too weak to look for someone and travel in current condition. Howewer the studies on DMT sound promising (all I need to do now is to find a real shaman in Costa Rica and get some money and strength )
    So, eve though I loved your story abouy empath, IMHO, and it does not matter what kind of. abilities a young person experiences, everyone needs a personal teacher. And that should be a new story, this time for the parents of the “gifted” ones.

  2. Mama Indigo

    Don’t just release negative energy; it still goes somewhere. Instead transform it and return to sender with love.

  3. Jill Farrington

    Please include me in your emails

  4. Jitka

    I always felt this way, but didn’t believe that helping myself (being selfish) I can archieve more than supporting others. BULLSHIT Don’t waste your precious time on those, who don’t deserve it (which is everybody). ENJOY YOUR LIVES WHILE YOU CAN

  5. Katie

    Thank you I am so grateful for your help… I found out I am an extreme empath and am working on learning on my gift because I am so over whelmed
    But am truly grateful

  6. Samaira Truss

    I am 40 yrs of age and have discovered my high stages of Empathic ways! My parents did not guide me; religions couldn’t keep me, misfortuniate in love and I was once a suicidal medium, with putter body experiences who became a very dark & depressed human being. I had to chose my way of direction and I stepped into meditation bath salts, Black stones and possitive people & movies. Even though I walk by many people in stores and in life; i wear ear phones to listen to possitive music to attract my energy so the negative souls would stay away. I am a single mother (by choice) of a healthy young boy who is gifted as I am and I am here to guide him through life as a parent should.

  7. Rene D

    I am realizing that everything that i have been experiencing is leading to one thing. I am an empath. And i am just now trying to find my way. My entire life i fgrew up in a major religious penticostal holiness life style where i would be told that anything like this was wicked. Altho i have always been the so called ” black sheep” of the family who refused to be a follower and i also always felt different then anyone else around me.i attract. Drama.. At least it is what i call it. I am the one people go to for advice or to let their feelings out on. No one in my life at this point believes in this. Andbi would be scorned and shunned for feeling as i do. I can’t explain everything here. But i really dont know how or where or who to turn to. And how to learn about this more.

    1. Beth Borchers

      Hopefully, you have found some peace since you added this comment. I am 61 and have JUST recognized that I am an intuitive empath. What a relief to have an explanation for the years of thinking I was weak instead of tuned in. Being around others, especially groups was so draining for me and I seriously thought there was something wrong with my constitution (that I couldn’t hack it)
      I have always felt a deep, deep connection to the earth and nature but also thought this might just be an excuse to not have measured up! I have recently delved deeply into awareness and connection to my infinite being status which is how I found myself here. What a relief and empowerment to recognize that I am INDEED different and that difference is something to embrace, learn about and utilize for good (and my benefit)
      I am leaving a big, dirty city to embark on a journey to find my village, my home and now i know that it is the right path and right time!
      I also want to invite you and anyone other woman that is searching… to join my private, free Facebook group. Right now it is called Inner Child Reboot but soon to be changed to Happy Life Breakthrough.
      Blessings of love and light to all. Never stop seeking awareness!

  8. Brian wintle

    Yes,I agree guidance is paramount as,far as I know it was not known in the fifties when I was born, they put you stelazene drug the doctors would thinking your having a mental episode or something. I’m still thinking 50/50 because I’ve had that many strange experiences trouble is from I have learned about been empath or clairsentient there’s close similarities. I think I must be what’s called an advanced empath as I know my own thoughts and can block there thoughts most of the time it takes practice its best just observe causal and don’t force thoughts just let them flow naturally if you know what you normal thoughts were to begin with you have no problem blocking intrusive one. I normally try to keep my own thoughts in a neutral position but that’s not always possible. And yes it true what they say if there’s subjects were,not interested in we quickly move away from them anyway peace and happiness to you all

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