Empaths overwhelmed by constant media coverage of tragic events

I have been strongly resisting writing an article related to Hurricane Katrina this past week. Why? Because, writing about this horrific event could possibly open me up to painful empathic feelings. From early childhood I learned to detach myself from emotional upsets experienced by others. Natural-born empaths can be too easily sucked into emotional energies. They can unknowingly absorb others' pains. Those 'borrowed" emotional pains get trapped inside their own bodies and psyches. When that happens the emotional fluxes throughout the Universe become compounded, much like a destructive fire that grows out of control. These absorbed emotional energies can manifest in a variety of negative ways for the empathic person: crying jags, sadness, desperation, confusion, grief, and so on.

I live in the midwest I don't have any family or friends who live in the ravished regions where Katrina bore down with her menacing powers. Nonetheless, I do FEEL compassion for those who are experiencing hurts, frustration, anger, hunger, and despair. Thanks to media outlets we are all witnessing the many sad stories as they unfold. We have heard of loss of life, loss of homes, loss of employment, families being torn apart, criminal acts happening (looting, raping, arson, and killing), domestic animals being displaced, etc. More and more of these horrendous stories are being reported on the television, radio, and across the Internet.

As a member of the human race, I think it is important that we are aware of challenges our kinsman are facing. We are all spiritually connected after-all. It is not helpful to completely close ourselves off from the rest of the world. However, I realize that it serves no one for me to get sucked into traumas and position myself in the center of an emotional puddle. For this reason, I try to limit the time I watch news programs that report difficult issues. However, this isn't always easy when even our regular scheduled television programs are interrupted every few minutes with special reports of alarming news.

The Internet is also saturated with articles focused about this great tragedy. After awhile one begins to wonder how many of the Katrina-focused programs and articles are less about informing the public and more about exploiting the consumer. After-all, there are big bucks to be gotten by earning top rankings in the media ratings. Okay... call me cynical. But, to be honest, the news programs wouldn't be be putting so many different spins on stories if the majority of us weren't watching. Really, how helpful is it for us to be sitting on the edges of our seats glued to the television for hours? The Internet wouldn't be inundated with articles about the so called "hot topics" if consumers weren't clicking on every link that included the terms "Scott Peterson" or "Natalee Holloway" or "Cindy Sheehan" or whatever the flavor of the week is.

My concern is with the empath who is struggling to stay focused and grounded when there is so much bad news in the airways. It is not advisable to openly expose our vulnerabilities to all the negative elements. There seems to be no where to hide except under a rock of self-isolation during these dark days. This is not a great solution since isolation can be a difficult burden to sustain. It can become very uncomfortable staying in "detachment mode" for an extended period of time

 

Beyond Detachment, What Can The Empath Do?

Not unlike choosing to eat a balanced diet, it is crucial for empaths to live a balanced life. Not only empaths, but everyone can improve their lives by focusing on a balanced lifestyle. Assess how much of your time is outward-focused compared to inward-focused. How much of your time is spent dwelling on the negatives compared to feeling blessed by the positives in your life?

Get Grounded

Grounding exercises help tremendously with maintaining a balance of our physical and spiritual bodies. As a healer, I have learned that being energetically grounded allows me to be better equipped in facilitating healing for clients and also to create and maintain wellness in my own life.

Don't Get Caught Up In Feeling Guilt

Feeling guilty about your own fortunes when comparing them to other people's misfortunes is not honoring the prosperous life that you have carved out for yourself. Remember, in order to have the strength to care for other people who are in crisis it is important that your own needs are adequately met beforehand.

Get Active

If you're in a position to help another person financially, or assist someone physically, then by all means mobilize... don't sit around and mope. At the very least find something positive you can focus on to offset negative energies that can cause discomfort. When I hear about the mother who has lost her child I can choose to allow gloom and doom feelings to flood over me and immobilize me emotionally and make me physically sick for hours. Or I can pick up the phone and call my own children to tell them how much I love them.

Basically, do good work. Offer kindness to your fellowman. Contribute whatever you can to help make another person's day a better one than he or she would have had without your effort. A contribution does not have to be a monetary one, a gentle smile given to the person sitting across from you on the bus can offer comfort.

It's Not About Taking Other People's Pain Lightly

In writing this article, I hope I have not come across as being less than compassionate about the suffering of others. I feel deeply for people that have been personally affected by tragedy. I don't wish pain and suffering on any human being.

However, because of my own empathic nature I am drawn toward teaching about the pain of being a empath. I feel educating empaths on ways they can take control of their lives and learning how to rid themselves of "borrowed" suffering is also important. Bringing about balance into the lives of empaths will help reduce the totality of suffering being felt globally during times of crisis.