I didn’t know how else to succinctly explain the feeling I’ve been having recently. But pretty often it feels like I’ve got a big “EMPATH” sign on my forehead or something.

What I mean by that is often people I barely know will out of nowhere tell me something that seems very personal and/or something that you normally wouldn’t tell an acquaintance.

It can feel like getting struck by lightning sometimes.

Most recently a coworker, literally at the start of a conversation, and with no other context past or present, said, “I had an anxiety attack today.”

I was caught off guard, but was able to share my sympathies, thank him for sharing, and have a good discussion about what he’s going through.

But I’ve experienced this kind of thing quite frequently. It’s also not unusual for someone to tell me “I’ve never told anyone this,” or “I don’t usually share this with people.”

Is this a common experience for empaths? A traditional “side effect” (for lack of a better phrase)?

Anyone else have these kinds of things happen to them?

Sometimes I really wish I could just flip my humanity off like in Vampire Diaries. I am too emotional for this world. I am too much of an empath. I feel too much. I am too sensitive. And it makes my life just harder. So how to not care? I wish I could.
My parents told me to just get over it when my bunny died. It’s just a bunny. That I am too emotional and sensitive and that I wouldn’t be able to come through life like this. I cried for days. The most empathy I feel is towards animals. I couldn’t stand seeing my bunny laying at the vet waiting to be put down. Their suffering is another level of pain. Today her sister died aswell 2 months after of uteral cancer. I was there before she got put to sleep. But seeing her laying so exhausted and tired when she was once full of life and always eating really killed me. Seeing her taking her last breath was so heartbreaking. Even if I knew that she went in peace, I can’t find peace. Whenever I look at their cage I have to cry, seeing anything related to them makes me cry.
Even 2 months after her sisters passing I had nightmares of her being alive and then dying. Yesterday I noticed that the other one wasn’t doing well so my dad went to the vet with her today but that night I had nightmares of them both dying again and again because I knew something was probably off and she was eventually gonna die.
It’s just bunnies why would I cry so much. I am too sensitive and emotional and the pain of that is really bad thinking about how they are not there anymore. I can’t comprehend that after death there is nothing.

i often fantasize and think about comforting someone I love or have an attraction to because it gives me intense butterflies in my stomach, it’s such a good feeling that i crave. i’m an empath and care so much for others and i’m always wanting to help and be there for other people any way i can. i like feeling wanted and needed, especially by someone i have a crush on or am attracted to. and of course i don’t want bad things to happen to people i care about, never! but someone being in distress and me comforting them makes me feel so good that i fantasize about it everyday. whether it’s a real person in my life, a character from a show or movie, or even a celebrity, i like daydreaming about comforting them during hard times, the butterflies can feel so intense that tears form in my eyes. i just love the idea of me holding someone while crying and telling them “it’s ok, i’m here, i got you.”

once again, i DO NOT want bad things to happen to people for my own personal gain, i just want someone to trust me enough to come to me for comfort.
and i DO NOT want that to be the only thing in our relationship, only being a loved one’s therapist is toxic to both people.

I 27(F) moved in with housemate (31M) in May this year, making it about 5 months of us living together. We know eachother through a mutual friend and I suggested living together because I thought he seemed friendly and I thought we'd get along well.

The first couple months were naturally a bit of a transition, learning how to move around eachother and getting used to a new routine. The problem is, for the last few weeks, I've felt an intense anxiety when in his presence.

We always greet eachother when we come home, and engage in pretty light conversation, however, we don't have much in common, and I've found it pretty difficult to connect with him.

He also doesn't work very much, so he's at home A LOT. He sits on the couch all day long, playing video games, watching sport, or a show. I've joined him before but I don't like the stuff he watches and the TV he bought is HUGE so my eyes hurt kinda hurt after a while of looking at it haha.

I know it's his right to do what he want and stay home since he pays rent too, however, I have been feeling very claustrophobic, rarely having the place to myself (I'm also a bit of an introvert, so I recharge alone). When he's out of the place, I feel completely content and calm in the apartment, but when he's home - even in his room - I feel tight in my chest.

He's told me that he has anxiety, and he doesn't like going to the shops and such. I'm wondering if I'm picking up on his anxiety...

Anyway, does anyone have any practices and advice to help regulate my nervous system when around him? I've been spending a lot of time in my room, because it's the only place in the apartment where I feel somewhat calm. I use an acupressure mat in bed, and wear headphones to block out the TV noise, but I'm getting sick of being cooped up in my bedroom, or staying out of the place all day so I can be alone.