Showing empathy is good; after all, it is a natural instinct. However, things get complicated if that “empathy” compels you to take the situation way more seriously than you should. As a result, you may turn into a toxic empath.
If you’re intrigued by this, keep reading this article as we navigate this topic!
Who Is Considered A Toxic Empath?
Empathy is the ability to empathize with others and absorb their emotions, but for some, this turns toxic.
Those who experience toxic empathy are susceptible to feel overwhelmed and drained by the emotions of others. This can lead to feelings of burnout and them depleting their own emotional needs.
This type of empathy can cause empathy deficit disorder. When empathy isn’t balanced with healthy self-care, it can become toxic and leave you feeling overwhelmed and emotionally overloaded.
Telltale Signs Of Toxic Empathy
This short section will make things clearer if you or someone you know is unsure whether they have this trait in them.
Here are some telltale signs of toxic empathy:
You feel exhausted after listening to your friend talk about their problems
You isolate yourself from everyone, especially after social interactions
You seem stuck in unhealthy relationships, and you try justifying their behavior
You are extra sensitive to some tragic news happening in the world
“Empathetic Narcissist”— Is It A Real Thing?
It’s pretty straightforward that empathy is a positive trait, and narcissism is a negative one. But what if you “put” them both together?
An empathetic narcissist is someone who appears to have a level of empathy, but it is actually self-serving. These individuals can seem caring and understanding on the surface, but in reality, they use their perceived empathy for personal gain.
Balancing Empathy For A Healthy Relationship
It is crucial to set boundaries and prioritize your own needs in order to avoid the trap of toxic empathy.
Healthy empathy involves having empathy breaks and not feeling the need to solve everyone’s problems. Empath protection strategies like saying “no” and creating a safe space for alone time can help overcome the adverse effects.
If you’re a highly sensitive person, make sure to take regular alone time in order to recharge your emotional energy and maintain a healt hy relationship with others.
Overall, by establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries, you can safeguard your mental and emotional health and prevent the negative effects of toxic empathy from taking a toll on you.
It’s Okay To Call For Help
This could either be your support system i.e family and friends, or a professionally trained mental health expert.
Talking to someone you can trust makes everything so much better. Therapy is, and will always be, highly recommended.
This and anything else can be overcome if you take the right steps and be patient. Take care 🙂