Can I make empathy go away?

[Nachtigall]

If someone feels brainwashed, by the sheer presence of other individuals with a different opinion, the case is not empathy, since it is not about political views, but about feelings. It is more likely for a strong empath to take on the feelings other people radiate. Like becoming aggressive, depressed and so on.

I suppose, the "empath" doesn't feel exactly brainwashed in the presence of other people - intellectually, they are still able to hold to their own opinions - but the feeling of others tend to overwhelm them (in case of OP: fear or disapproval of a person, that tells them they are going to Hell). Thus, it is a problem of personal boundaries, "psychic" or psychological.

In my experience, shielding practice (usually in form of visualizing a border, separating your Self from outside influences) does help with this.

[Tana]

I suppose, the "empath" doesn't feel exactly brainwashed in the presence of other people - intellectually, they are still able to hold to their own opinions - but the feeling of others tend to overwhelm them (in case of OP: fear or disapproval of a person, that tells them they are going to Hell). Thus, it is a problem of personal boundaries, "psychic" or psychological.

In my experience, shielding practice (usually in form of visualizing a border, separating your Self from outside influences) does help with this.

Agreed.

You can - if you are a very sensible empath - feel overwhelmed by the emotions. And in this case shielding helps. Setting boundaries helps with the other problems, too.

It is always good to know where the self ends and the 'other one' starts, or vice versa.

[RandallS]

Empathy sucks and needs to go away.Okay, here's the problem with my empathy. Not only do I under stand peoples opinion, but I have their opinion. If a Muslim/christian/ect. tells me I worshiping satan, I believe them. Even through I know I'm not. How I get rid of empathy?

Unfortunately, "empathy" has two meanings and people are talking about both in this thread. I'm assuming the empathy you are referring to is notr the normal human ability to put yourself in another's shoes but the "psychic" ability of empathy which is leaving you unsure of which emotions are yours and which are those of others. For the latter, learning to shield your mind is probably the only think that can help -- once you learn to shield successfully you will only be overwhelmed by the emotions of others if you lower your shields.

[savvy]

Agreed.

You can - if you are a very sensible empath - feel overwhelmed by the emotions. And in this case shielding helps. Setting boundaries helps with the other problems, too.

It is always good to know where the self ends and the 'other one' starts, or vice versa.

I think you said it better than I could.
Something I feel worth mentioning though is that empathy is also an important part of any society or social group.

[Elani Temperance]

Empathy is a normal human ability we all have, unless we are deeply disturbed persons. Etc...

Then perhaps the term 'empathy' is badly chosen in this context. Substitute it for whatever term you feel is most appropriate. I'm sure the OP won't mind. I tried to adress the experience, one I know very well, and hopefully offer some advice. If it's the term used you're so hung up about then substitute it. It doesn't make the experience any less real to me (and the OP, I wager), or challenging in every day life.

[Tana]

Then perhaps the term 'empathy' is badly chosen in this context. Substitute it for whatever term you feel is most appropriate. I'm sure the OP won't mind. I tried to adress the experience, one I know very well, and hopefully offer some advice. If it's the term used you're so hung up about then substitute it. It doesn't make the experience any less real to me (and the OP, I wager), or challenging in every day life.

Words do have meanings and I think it is important to clear up the difference between empathy and 'empathy' (aka psychic stuff).
This does not deny the experiences you have.

[fallenangel]

Unfortunately, "empathy" has two meanings and people are talking about both in this thread. I'm assuming the empathy you are referring to is notr the normal human ability to put yourself in another's shoes but the "psychic" ability of empathy which is leaving you unsure of which emotions are yours and which are those of others. For the latter, learning to shield your mind is probably the only think that can help -- once you learn to shield successfully you will only be overwhelmed by the emotions of others if you lower your shields.

Very well said...however, let me bring another perspective to the discussion.

There have been quite a few times (mainly at family events or things for work) that I would agree to just about anything to get people to mentally "shut up" and leave me alone...Once I "came around" to their way of thinking, regardless of my own thoughts on the subject at hand, I found that they were not transmitting as much because they found a calmness when I let them have their way. (This is a very hard thing to do because not only do I like to play Devil's Advocate, but I have the "I will always enter a losing battle...if I believe the cause is great enough... but never a war I cannot win" mentality.)

[Owl]

empathy sucks and needs to go away.okay, here's the problem with my empathy. Not only do i under stand peoples opinion, but i have their opinion. If a muslim/christian/ect. Tells me i worshiping satan, i believe them. even through i know i'm not. How i get rid of empathy?

shield!!!!!!!!!

[Melamphoros]

Then perhaps the term 'empathy' is badly chosen in this context. Substitute it for whatever term you feel is most appropriate. I'm sure the OP won't mind. I tried to adress the experience, one I know very well, and hopefully offer some advice. If it's the term used you're so hung up about then substitute it. It doesn't make the experience any less real to me (and the OP, I wager), or challenging in every day life.

"Channeling" then? I don't mean to offend, but I tend to be skeptical about psychic abilities...especially the ones the special snowflake fluffs tend to claim to have.

[Owl]

"Channeling" then? I don't mean to offend, but I tend to be skeptical about psychic abilities...especially the ones the special snowflake fluffs tend to claim to have.

It's not really channeling, when I am not shielded and someone has a very strong
emotion (particularly if it is aimed at me) it is like waves of emotion breaking over me (if you've ever been in the surf). Very disconcerting. But I found that as long as I shield then is it not so strong - I can still feel strong emotion even if I don't want to, but I am not immersed in it.

Most of the time it works like hunches. I was the one who always left the party before the cops came, didn't leave with the wrong guy, and generally knew if someone had it in for me. Things don't feel right, I don't trust the wrong person, that sort of thing. The thing is, if someone believes what they are saying, I believe they believe. This doesn't make it truth, just they believe it is true.

And, hey, you don't have to believe that I have some woo woo psychic ability - I'm not real happy about it myself.