Do any of these sound familiar?
*You are often feeling overstimulated but want to be around others at the same time
*You are sensitive to bright lights, noise, and large crowds
*Being around others brings you to one of two extremes- it can drastically drain your energy or give you energy
*You can easily sense the feelings of others, even without them giving you any information
*The “vibe” of people and/or places affects your emotional state
*Oftentimes it’s difficult for you to understand where your emotions are originating from; they seem to come out of nowhere
If most of these statements sound familiar to you, you may be an extroverted empath.
What’s an empath?
An empath is someone who is very sensitive to other people’s emotions and mental states, to the point of feeling the exact emotions of those people. This may sound like a “superpower,” but without practice it is hard for empaths to discern what their emotions are versus the emotions of someone else. This has the potential to cause mental or emotional distress and/or show up as physical illness in their body. The good news is that with awareness and healthy habits this strength doesn’t have to create negative experiences.
What’s an Extrovert?
Extroverts get their energy from being around others. They are the opposite of introverts who recharge and get their energy from spending time alone. Many people are a combination of introverted/extroverted, but chances are you probably fall into one of those two categories the majority of the time.
So you’re probably thinking – ok, so I’m an empath and I am an extrovert. What can I do about this? How do I balance my needs for a lot of interaction with others, with the intense feelings I may experience from being highly attuned to others?
5 Steps You Can Take to Protect Yourself as an Extroverted Empath:
- Tuning in to what you need – This is an ongoing process and takes practice to shift your focus from your outward experience to your inward experience to recognize what you may be needing. Even extroverts need time alone to reset and recharge. Practices such as mindfulness and meditation can help you get in the habit of paying closer attention to your mind, emotions, and body.
- Trusting you know what you need – This is the next step after assessment. Many of us have not been taught to trust our inner experience or the signals that are bodies give us. This could be due to our upbringing, unresolved trauma, chronic illness, or some other reason. Practicing tuning into your body and emotions and approaching them with curiosity, rather than dismissal, is key. Psychotherapy can help you recognize patterns you may be stuck in, gain some insight on where those patterns may have originated, and empower you to establish new habits and behaviors that will better serve you.
- Learning how to make boundaries – Tuning in to what you need and trusting that is not enough! Learning how to assert those needs are just as important. I totally understand that sometimes it’s hard to say no to someone or something. You may feel like you’re going to hurt someone’s feelings. Or maybe you are afraid that you’re going to miss out on a really cool experience. I challenge my clients (and myself) to think about what I’m saying YES to whenever I say NO. Another big part of making boundaries is also making sure that everyday you are clearing other people’s “stuff” from your energetic field and mind. Physical exercise, meditation, or literally “washing your hands of it” can help. Intention is everything! It could be as simple as saying at the end of each day, “I release what is not mine.”
- Take a good look at your relationships – Our diet isn’t just what we are consuming food-wise. Our environment and also who we choose to spend our time with have an impact on our mind, body, and spirit. It’s time to pay attention to and nurture those relationships that fill you up versus take from you. Increase your time with relationships that feel nurturing and energizing, and decrease or eliminate spending time with those people who drain your energy.
- Continually reassess and readjust as necessary – This brings us full circle back to #1. Your needs can fluctuate by the month, week, day, or even hour, and it’s important that you give yourself permission to change your mind.
Therapy and Coaching in Denver and Online
It takes a lot of courage to look at our patterns and make new habits, but you don’t need to be alone in it! If you’re looking to make some changes, please don’t hesitate to reach out and schedule a free consultation to see if we might be the right fit to work with one another. As a fellow empath, I will be able to understand the unique challenges that you bring to the table. We can meet at my office in Denver, or conveniently meet online for a session.