Compassion..... Empathy...... HELP!!??!!

Guys. I am just overwhelmed with emotions. Too many of them really. I feel like my heart has become over-sensitive to empathy...

When I see someone hurting, my heart hurts for them like 10 times the norm. When I see someone happy, my heart is happy for them like 10 times 10 times 10.

I was at the mall today... I saw an older lady eating her DQ Ice Cream and her hands were shaking. I wanted to give her something. Something to tell her that life is ok. Something to tell her that I loved her. I obviously don't know her, so I can't really love her.....can I???

But why do I feel so strongly for people?

I saw another lady cough and walk with a limp. I wanted to help her too. I wanted to be her friend and walk with her and give her a funny joke, and something to laugh and smile about....

I can't stand to see people in pain in suffering. It hurts REALLY bad.... Does anyone know any practical ways to help strangers that are suffering?

on the flipside.......my heart is very hardened to arrogant women & men. I am so frustrated by them. I sometimes want to reach into their heads and turn on a light bulb that would allow them to care for people on a deeper level.

So many emotions...... too many.... does anyone else have SUPER-SIZED emotions? Please tell me I'm not the only one!!??

No, you are not alone...and it is within normal behaviors. You are just on the opposite side of the continuum from a sociopath...they never encounter feelings. Most folks fall in between somewhere.

I have problems waiting in the doctor's office. I told my hubby that his oncologist had deaths waiting room. It IS actually a physical response to seeing their pain. I am overwhelmed and cant stay very long. Same at my ortho's office. My knee will begin to ache or my shoulder (real injuries) when I see others favoring theirs or in casts/crutches/etc. It really hurts.

Yet, I love people watching -- normally-- and my spirit lifts when I see a loving moment. I always thought these were traits that would be good in community service...if you didn't burn up. As a medic in the Army I would be drained by the end of my shift. I never broke down during a call but afterwards was another story.

Some women (and men) are hardwired that way. I used to think this was just being a girl, but after hubby had his stroke he has a similar issue. It really freaks him out. I tease him and tell him he has pms. Bad I know...bad.

I'm very similar and I very much understand exactly what u mean!! I will say that I don't always feel like that, but I do have moods where I'm highly sensitive to people's feelings and my feelings toward them. I find that as a person suffering from severe anxiety, I know what it's like to go through hell, so it's like I want to protect other people and keep them safe..since I can't do it for myself.

I too have an incredible amount of empathy for others, typically it is the underdog, I can literally feel their pain.

My empathy for animals is way more than for humans, maybe because animals are so forgiving and non-judgmental, and they need us and love us unconditionally, they see us as beautiful no matter how we really look, and their desire is to be loved and taken care of, maybe because that is a desire I have had for SO long and it just doesn't seem to happen for me. I know there are people that love me, but I have never been someones one and only, and I think in my life I truly desired to be loved that I look at those that I feel may not be loved and just want to love them more.

Lol to all, and thank you for sharing your stories with me! I am simply inspired by all of you and your love for people! I was able to relate and grow from all of your guys caring hearts!

I'm really beginning to think that empathy and anxiety are brothers/sisters... :D It's likely not a character found in all anxious people, but certainly it's found in many of us as we can see!

I love you guys! :D Happy Saturday!

@Smooth, Thanks for the encouragement there... My main problem is that I am a huge WIMP when it comes to approaching strangers.... Maybe I should just take a leap of faith in the future. I think it would be pretty easy with older people, as I think they are just adorable and cute and just love em to death. :D

@Cornell, So awesome. You are too sweet. I never thought of it from that perspective. I have been convinced that it was my emotions being all out of check. But even last night, I was feeling a heavy, deep sorrow of the future coming for non-believers (we were discussing this in small group.) It was SO reminiscent of the burden that Jesus carried for us on the day he died for us. I can't say that I could ever feel that much empathy, as He felt on that day, but sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed by the lives of others.

This has led me to do many things, and of course, it's not me, but God working through me! :D Amen to that! I am surprised at how you too can see with His eyes. :D Way to be rocking the awesome! Lol. :) Thanks for the insight here! Much appreciated! *big smiles* Merry Christmas!

You may not be able to help those people in a big way, but a kind word can mean a lot. You could have said to the lady with the ice cream, "Wow, that looks yummy, what flavor?" You could tell her what your favorite flavor is, have a brief encounter, give her a gentle pat on the back as you leave. Just smiling at someone and saying hello is a good thing to do. Once I was taking a break on a bike ride, and a young man came up to me and told me his name - it was obvious that he was mentally handicapped. I talked to him for several minutes, and I know that he enjoyed it - and it was great for me, too, knowing that I gave him the time of day when many others would have avoided him. Having empathy is not a bad thing, just do what you can. Small gestures can mean a lot.