I'm an empath and I feel terrible...

[nemofish]

Always been able to pick up other peoples' emotions without the usual cues - I can 'feel' it if someone behind me at the post office is angry, sad or whatever.

Other peoples' emotions are amplified and I 'take them on,' including other peoples' injuries and so on.

I find it difficult to go out in crowds or in a city centre for example, sometimes when someone walks past me I can feel grief / pain so strong it's like being punched in the stomach. More than once I have had huge panic attacks and have run - literally - home.

I have been doing some spiritual development and developing my intuition, so of course the symptoms have got worse. I have been doing as much healing as I can with reiki and I don't normally leave the house without my protective / grounding woo crystal jewellery.

But my dad passed away on Monday last week and since then I have felt truly, really really awful. I feel sick, my head is spinning, my head is throbbing and either a) I have some kind of virus (nothing affecting family / friends) or b) I am feeling my grief, and that of others, in a very physical way. I can't eat and I've lost a quarter of a stone. Feels like it's killing me and I have thought about suicide. I can't help but wonder if that's what my dad felt as he was passing...

So... is there anything else that I should be doing? Taking into account that I am a bit of an odd spiritualist / Pagan / Buddhist mix.

Hi nemo, grief can affect ppl in so many different ways, some physical symptons as well as mental can occur. I think you ought to speak to a bereavment councilor ( ? spelling), they will hopefully be able to help you come to terms with your loss - I think there is a bereavement topic on nm - perhaps this may also help you - so sorry that I;m unable to give you the answer that you were looking for - but I hope that you can find strengh to cope, take care x

Nemo, I' PM'ing you xx

hi nemo (((((((())))))

i understand completely how you feel, i do think also that a good thing would be to develop your protection for yourself sweetehart and ask for your guides help in taking away any feelings that aren't rightfuly yours. fwiw i have had the same problem and can tell by someone's voice or expression how they are truly feeling but some people may not relish the idea that their feelings can be so transparent. i would also speak to a member of your local spiritualist church to see if they have someone there who can helkp with your specific challenges. good luck sweetheart, you will be fine xxx

Hi Nemo,

I am so sorry for your loss, my Dad died very suddenly earlier this year and it has just been devastated. In response to your concern about the experience of your Dad, I must ask - what do you believe happens after death?

I hadn't really addressed this issue for myself except in a vague way, but my Dad's death was understandably a huge catalyst for a lot of exploration. 8 months on and I'm still reading and exploring, but the result is that I now know that death is not an ending at all, simply a shedding of the physical body, and reaching this point of understanding has helped me enormously.

Nothing mitigates the loss of my Dad and how deeply I miss him every single day, but I don't have the same view of death being this huge tragedy and I truly believe that your Dad was not feeling the kind of pain that you imagine when he passed.

I would really encourage you to read what you can about people who work with death a lot - Elizabeth Kubler-Ross has written some amazing books, and without being too "out there" I found

this site quite mind-opening.

Just to add, given your stated interest in Buddhism, you may find the Tibetan Book of Living and Dying insightful.

Oh Nemo so so sorry that your Dad has passed and that you are suffering so badly.
I will think of you today.

I found the Healing days at The Goddess Temple Hall in Glastonbury of immense intensity iand support for me when my Mum died.

Maybe there is something close to you?

Some Reiki?

Sending Bright Blessings your way EMxx

Nemo i'm so sorry to hear your news.

I'm also sorry that i have nothing to offer in the way of advice but am thinking of you.

Xxx

(((((((((((nemo))))))))))))