I have only just discovered the title of being an empath / highly sensitive person. It’s been incredibly hard navigating through life but this was so helpful to better understand what is going on inside! I constantly feel like I don’t fit in and feel ‘too intense’ or co-dependent in relationships. Thank you for taking the time to post this, it was so soothing to hear ❤️
Thank you both so much! Some of this was tough to hear, but very much needed! Michelle, when you gave a brief recap of your childhood and adolescence, it was almost like my own life to a tee (also an Italian child of the 70s btw). And the part about how we are attracted to narcissists, that blew me away. As a mans man who grew up with a father that was a hybrid of Tony Soprano and Archie Bunker on steroids, I had NO idea about empaths until about 10 years ago when a friend of mine (an empath herself) pointed this out to me, and said I was perhaps the biggest empath she had EVER known. Needless to say, I had been living in the dark my whole life always wondering if I was somehow misplaced on to the wrong planet. Even though i had many friends and can fit in anywhere with anyone. God bless you both! And again, many many thanks! You are both such wonderful spirits! This was so helpful!
I’ve struggled most of my life, when young I was over sensitive, I was different to my brother and sister, my dad didn’t get me, kids from bad homes made friends with me, I was kind to them, I know that now, I seen stuff I shouldn’t have seen, my dad was a good man, but he didn’t show much emotion, he had a difficult upbringing, I thought my dad did not love me,, when 15 my dad died suddenly in front of me, I knew there was something up as I was the only one checking on him upstairs, I could feel it, I was ok in teens, until 20 then took lots of ecstasy and drinking, I had loads of so so friends, I played sports in teens, loved fishing and bird watching and nature, I had numerous relationships, never worked out, I have two sons and a daughter, they will always be number one, I talk to my sons openly about if anything is bothering them, my sister, my brother and me cared for my mum, we lost her two years ago she was my best friend, I went for therapy, the therapist said you have CPTSD and you have empathy, I’ve had brain spotting, emdr, stabilisation, I run, I do meditation, I don’t drink or do drugs, I’m happiest sat on a hill on my own, or with my sons, or a close friend, I only have a few close friends now which to anyone is the way, you do not need loads of friends to be happy, my mum told me before she passed away I prefer animals to humans Damian, what about you, I said no mum some humans are good too, I try to help too many people, some will just drain and just walk away, I had a huge breakdown last year, I’m doing ok, change is so important to see who you really are:)
There are lots I don’t know about life, we all feel the same, the more we know about each other the more connected we will be, I’ve been a culprit of thinking of knowing everything, when not listening to others, so I’m going to work on my ego, you all take care👍🏻
This has brought me so much healing. I literally let out a big sigh of relief and weighted lifted off my shoulders. I feel the stories you shared is exactly me. It is so refreshing to know I am not alone and there are resources to continue being me and become empowered. Thank you for sharing .
Dear Michelle, I never listen to any of your videos without having some break-throughs. Here´s the 2 after today´s talk with Dr. Orloff: 1. EVERYTHING in my life, that I´ve always considered will have to require a separate treatment, as it must be parts of different dis-eases -- is actually stemming from one and the same thing: me being an empath, trying to cope with sensory overload. While typing this, my auto-correct has marked the word "empath" red, as it is unfamiliar. This says it all :) But now I know, that the key is not treating an "addictive personality" or my drug problems 20 years ago or disordered eating right now...Now I know that the key is to learn healthy ways of balancing myself, my emotions and sensory overload. THANK YOU! 2. Of course I´ve had my fair share of co-dependent relationships with narcissists. In fact, I am just exiting one. There is always this question "but why are we (us empaths) attracted to those a/wholes, seriously? Are we having such a low self-esteem and sense of self-worth? Today we´ve learned that the narcissists are subconsciously attracted to empaths because they lack empathic skills themselves. Now this: knowing that we are all subconsciously to traits (in others) that we lack (or think we lack) ourselves, doesn´t it mean that we "get turned on" to narcissists and the likes because WE (BELIEVE WE) LACK EMOTIONAL DISTANCE? Because we need to re-integrate putting ourselves first a bit? Being unavailable - emotionally and physically - when it is healthy for us to be? To be able to say NO? Isn´t then THAT why we are attracted to them? I simply LOVE that thought, because it puts me back in charge of my choices instead of being the "poor little over sensitive codependent " soul not knowing if every single future relationship is yet with another narcissist. Now I know what to work on and what to watch out for in all my relationships! Sorry for this long note, you asked how we feel and think about this show!! Awesome work and thank you for being so open about your own experiences, that is actually how I figured point No1 out
Thank you for this, Michelle and Dr. Orloff. I feel like you you were sharing my story exactly. It is so refreshing to know that there are so many resources for empaths, and of course to know I am not alone. Much thanks!
Thank you for this, Michelle and Dr. Orloff. I feel like you you were sharing my story exactly. It is so refreshing to know that there are so many resources for empaths, and of course to know I am not alone. Much thanks!
