Are You an Empath?

     A while ago I received an email in promotion of Dr. Judith Orloff's online course to supplement her book, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People.  In the email, she sent a link to take a quiz to measure whether one is an empath.  No surprise to me, the results showed I am a "strong empath."  How about you?  Here are the first ten characteristics of an empath that she lists:

• Do you find you need to replenish yourself in nature?
• Do you often feel overwhelmed or anxious?
• Have you ever been labeled overly sensitive, shy, or introverted?
• Do you become ill from yelling or arguments?
• Do you feel like you don't really fit in?
• Do crowds drain you?  Do you need time along to revive yourself?
• Do you feel overwhelmed by noise, odors, or nonstop talkers?
• Do you have chemical sensitivities or a low tolerance for scratchy clothes?
• Do you prefer taking your own car to places in case you want to leave early?
• Do you overeat (or engage in other addictive coping mechanisms) to cope with stress?

     This book may be for you.  We'll continue with our quiz next week.