New Consciousness Review Spring, 2017 | Page 18

INSPIRATION HEALTH

An Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA , she synthesizes the pearls of traditional medicine with cutting edge knowledge of intuition , energy , and spirituality to achieve physical and emotional healing . Her bestselling books , The Power of Surrender , Emotional Freedom , Second Sight , Positive Energy , and Guide to Intuitive Healing offer readers practical strategies to overcome frustration , stress , and worry .
● So many people have been told “ you ’ re too emotional ” or “ too sensitive ,” and they grow up feeling like there ’ s something wrong with them . Is it your experience that many of these people are empaths ?
Absolutely ! I wrote The Empath ’ s Survival Guide to legitimize the gift of sensitivity and teach sensitive people of all kinds to protect their energy so that they can thrive . As an empath I know how demoralizing it feels to be labeled as “ overly sensitive ” or told “ Honey , you have to get a thicker skin ” by parents and society , as if we were some kind of weaklings who just need to “ steel up .” The opposite is true . I believe that empathy is the human trait that will help all of us to save the world . Everyone who

Empaths are sponges who absorb the emotions and physical symptoms of others . They don ’ t have the usual defenses that other people have to filter out noise , light , sound , intense emotions or stress . So empaths often end up taking on other people ’ s stress in their bodies--and they feel exhausted , anxious , depressed or sick .

is an empath or who simply wants to lead a more heart-centered life in an often-insensitive world can benefit from learning skills to protect their gift of empathy .
● what are some of the common hallmarks of an empath ?

Highly Sensitive People

( HSPs ) have all the sensory components of extreme sensitivity such as sensitivity to light , sound , touch , crowds but empaths actually absorb emotions / energy / stress / physical symptoms from other people . As a result , empaths can become exhausted or ill and not know why .

Empaths are sponges who absorb the emotions and physical symptoms of others . They don ’ t have the usual defenses that other people have to filter out noise , light , sound , intense emotions or stress . So empaths often end up taking on other people ’ s stress in their bodies--and they feel exhausted , anxious , depressed or sick . As a psychiatrist , I ’ ve worked with many empaths who come to me totally worn out and misdiagnosed by mainstream medicine as being hypochondriacs , neurotic or with some “ disorder ” that requires antidepressant or anti-anxiety medication . With the empaths in my private practice , I always begin with teaching them how to avoid absorbing other people ’ s energy so they can feel stronger and more grounded within themselves . The upside of being and empath — and there are many-- is that empaths have depth , intuition , deep compassion , deep spirituality and are passionate lovers and mates . As an empath , I
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