Empaths, are they confusing the normal human ability to interpret non-verbal clues with .....?

Question

.... some special psychic sense?

I notice people claim here to know what others are feeling without them telling them, can't everybody do that?

You know, defensive body language, unpleasant expression...

Just like the position of a horse's ears or dog's tail give a big clue to their emotional state.

Answer 1

please forgive me for answering this way but there was no other way to contact you, how do you post a link to your question so I can make it easier for you and others to answer it....(In response to a question you answered of mine just now)

To answer your question, I believe in spiritual gifts and motivational gifts, some people can try all they want to, to be just as sad as you but they don't have a "given" desire to do this...in other words, it's unatural for them... for others they naturally like to help others through their gift of empathy! I believe very few have the gift of transference of REALLY feeling what others are feeling... Basically you are a pretty good person if you try to put yourself in that person's place by going back to a similar situation you had in your life and re-feeling those bad feelings, then expressing your sympathy

Answer 2

I think it's what you said, but also it could be a phobia that's being interpreted as "psychic sensing". If someone has agoraphobia (fear of crowds) and already thinks they are a psychic empath, they might take that fear and interpret it as a flood of emotions coming from people around them. It's taking a negative (a phobia) and turning it into a positive (a psychic ability). I'm not a psychologist so I'm only conjecturing here.

Answer 3

I think they are confusing real life with Star Trek, that's where the term comes from, it didn't exist before Deanna Troi.

Answer 4

Yes we are all empathic. It is a natural instinct that all animals are born with. I t is like when all the critters start running flying from a natural disaster before it hits. We human animals have it too. Just dimmed.

Answer 5

You hit the nail right on the head.Some people can't get over the idea they aren't"special".

Answer 6

maybe your wright but how you explain guessing what others going to say word by word is that a coincidence guessing who likes you who doesn't and you came out always wright could it be intelligence or sixth sense i think it's both GHOSTLY that's exactly how i feel specially in crowded places once i even had a severe allergic reaction on my skin

Answer 7

Yes, you're 100% correct, that is what they are doing. Because they believe it so strongly they easily manufacture their own emotional response to what they think others are feeling and then they call that psychic.

Answer 8

Empathy is one of the most common ability. This ability allows you to feel the emotions of other people. You will find yourself concern for others, you may sometimes sense when something is wrong. Lots of time you’ll feel anger, depression, anxiety, and have no apparent reason for feeling that way. You may be in a store, walking down a crowded street when you feel emotionally engulfed. These emotions you are receiving from the people around you. Then there is the good point; you can pick up other people’s happiness and up beat mood

It is said that our bodies are like one big satellite dish. We are constantly receiving psychic information. That is why you can feel someone sneaking up on you or the feeling you are being watched. It is said that the empathic picks up the emotions from the top of the diaphragm to just below the navel, what we call our solar plexus.

The metaphysics of eastern beliefs believe the solar plexus is the energy center, which is closely linked with the emotions and creativity, where both spiritual and physical worlds join.  Little wonder why some say that is why most people have health problems in this area.

Answer 9

Everybody wants to feel like they are wanted.

And when an emotionally weak person allows an alleged empath (or busy body) to read their emotions, sounds more like profiling to me.

But then again, con artists have a special gift of "reading" people too.

Answer 10

Of course not. Empath is empath. Interpreteing is interpreting. Empaths can feel overwhelmed by other people's emotions. Interpreting is just knowing. But empaths actually feel.

Answer 11

Good point.

It should also be mentioned that empaths claim to "feel" the emotions of others without indicating if these emotions are accurate.  In other words, as difficult as it would be to measure, there is (once again) no real evidence beyond anecdote.

I've had people who ask me if I'm OK because I look upset when in fact I'm not upset at all.  If this person were an empath, perhaps he would "feel" my negative emotion when I'm not even in a bad mood.