REVIEW:

The fact that my computer keeps underlining “empath” as a misspelled word indicates to me that people might need its definition. And Oxford’s definition of it makes it clear that this topic might be a little too woo-woo for some readers.

Empath (noun): (chiefly in science fiction) a person with the paranormal ability to apprehend the mental or emotional state of another individual.

Judith Orloff’s 2017 self help book is only going to draw in people who suspect they might be one (such as little ol’ Highly Sensitive Person moi), so I’ll just present her checklist and you can assess yourself, and hence the book, for yourself:

• Have I ever been labeled overly-sensitive, shy, or introverted?

• Do I frequently get overwhelmed or anxious?

• Do I often feel like I don’t fit in?

• Do crowds drain me, and do I need time alone to revive myself?

• Do noise, odors and nonstop talkers annoy me?

• Do I have chemical sensitivities or a low tolerance for scratchy clothes?

• Do I prefer taking my own car places so I can leave early if I need to?

• Do I overeat to cope with stress?

• Am I afraid of being suffocated by intimate relationships?

• Do I startle easily?

• Do I react strongly to caffeine or medications?

• Do I have a low threshold for pain?

• Do I tend to socially isolate?

• Do I absorb other people’s stress, emotions or symptoms?

• Am I overwhelmed by multitasking, preferring to do one thing at a time?

• Do I replenish myself in nature?

• Do I need a long time to recuperate after being with difficult people?

• Do I feel better in small towns than large cities?

• Do I prefer one-on-one interactions over large groups?

I answered yes to 12 of these questions, which apparently means I have “strong empath tendencies.” Yet after reading this whole book, I pretty much just took away that I need to eat more protein??? So this is a “guide” that helped me feel seen, even though it didn’t really provide new tools to help me see… let alone survive.

PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:

What is the difference between having empathy and being an empath? "Having empathy means our heart goes out to another person in joy or pain," says Dr. Judith Orloff. "But for empaths it goes much further. We actually feel others' emotions, energy, and physical symptoms in our own bodies, without the usual defenses that most people have." The Empath's Survival Guide is an invaluable resource for empaths and anyone who wants to nurture their empathy and develop coping skills in our high-stimulus world - while fully embracing their gifts of intuition, compassion, creativity, and spiritual connection.

This practical, empowering, and loving book was created to support empaths through their unique challenges and help loved ones better understand the empath's needs and gifts. Dr. Orloff offers crucial practices, including:

- Exercises to help you identify your empath type and where you are on the empathy spectrum
- Tools for protecting yourself from sensory overload, exhaustion, addictions, and compassion fatigue while replenishing your vital energy
- Simple, effective strategies to stop absorbing stress and physical symptoms from others and protect yourself from narcissists and other energy vampires
- How to find the right work that feeds you
- How to navigate intimate relationships without feeling overwhelmed
- Guidance for parenting and raising empathic children
- Awakening the empath's gift of intuition and deepening your spiritual connection to all living beings

For any sensitive person who's been told to "grow a thick skin," here is a lifelong guide for staying fully open while building resilience, exploring your gifts of depth and compassion, and feeling welcome and valued by a world that desperately needs what you have to offer.