Having the ability to sympathize with others is a great thing. In fact, it’s a sign that you’re a good person and that you’re anything but selfish.
Nevertheless, there are some cases in which your empathy becomes a problem for you personally. Cases in which you start to care too much about other people and their experiences.
If this is something you can relate to, it’s likely that you’re suffering from a condition called hyper empathy. Here are 5 behavior patterns common for all hyper empaths out there.
1. Your empathy impacts your physical health
The main difference between hyper empaths and ‘regular’ empaths is in the reactions you have.
When you’re a regular empath, you’ll get incredibly sad when someone you love is going through a hard time, since you have an unusual ability to mirror other people’s feelings.
Also, you’re in touch with your emotional side, you are great at reading nonverbal signals and you’re good at giving advice, since you can walk in other people’s shoes.
Of course, all of these things are characteristic of hyper empaths as well. However, in your case, your condition doesn’t stop here.
In fact, the key difference lies in your physical reactions. You won’t just cry when you see another person crying and you won’t only get upset after you see someone in trouble.
Instead, your body will have a physical reaction to all of this, which can severely impact your health in the long run.
Therefore, hyper empaths are likely to feel sick or dizzy because of other people’s sadness or anger.
Your blood pressure goes up, you lose your appetite and you feel like all of the strength from your body has disappeared in the blink of an eye.
2. You don’t know how to say no
Another thing which makes you a hyper empathetic person is your inability to say no. It doesn’t matter how busy you are, you’ll always find time to be at someone’s beck and call.
It doesn’t matter how tired you are, you’ll find the strength to help a person in need. You have probably given others a hand a hundred times but you’ll do a hundredth and first as well, if they need you.
The key point here is that you’re not like this just toward your loved ones. Instead, you’re ready to help whoever might be in trouble, even if they don’t ask you to.
Sadly, many people have taken advantage of this quality of yours. You got them used to having you at all times, so they keep calling you for every little thing. Naturally, your own life often suffers because of this.
3. You forgive too easily
Another reason many use you is your forgiving nature.
I know; wherever you look, you’ll get advice that only great people have the ability to forgive. I won’t argue with that as forgiving someone who has done you harm only shows what a huge and kind heart you have.
Besides, accepting apologies, including the ones you never even got, is a big part of the moving on process.
However, the truth is that in most cases, you’re too forgiving. So, instead of appreciating this trait of yours, people often misinterpret it as authorization to keep on hurting you.
Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying that you should become a vengeful person.
I’m just telling you not to keep allowing anyone to get away with the bad things they do to you and not to keep giving second chances so easily.
4. You’re overwhelmed by other people’s problems
It’s not that you just sympathize with other people’s issues—you get completely consumed by them.
When a friend tells you about some problem they’re going through, you won’t only listen to them and give them a piece of advice.
You won’t go home and forget everything that has happened or think about it occasionally, since you’re too busy with your own life, like other people usually do.
Instead, someone else’s troubles and miseries haunt you.
You have a hard time focusing on your own life because you can’t help but think about how this person must be feeling, which often drains and exhausts you emotionally, mentally and physically.
See also: Common Triggers For Empaths And Ways To Manage Them
5. You have trouble controlling your emotions
When you’re a hyper empath, your emotions control you—not the other way around.
You’re not just a girl who blindly follows your heart, the problem is that too often, your reason has no say in your decisions. In fact, your feelings and urges have taken a lead over you.
For example, when you’re feeling down or depressed, you can’t help yourself to get rid of those emotions. There is nothing anybody can do to drag you out of bed or put a smile back on your face.
Naturally, all of this makes your life more difficult. In fact, the truth is that you have trouble functioning in the real world because of this characteristic.
