Empaths are emotional sponges who


absorb other peoples’ stress into their own bodies. As an empath myself I know how exhausting this can be. Here are some basic strategies for empaths and all people bat- tling with low energy from my new book, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People. I practice these strate- gies in my life and teach them to my patients and workshop par- ticipants— and you can turn to these techniques if you’re absorbing the stress or symp- toms of others and you need ways to release them. Experiment. See which ones work best for you. Use them in situations where you are feeling ill or upset and sus- pect you’re taking on someone else’s phys- ical or emotional distress. 1. Ask yourself, “Is this symptom or


emotion mine or someone else’s? A tip-off that you’re absorbing some-


one’s energy is to notice if you experience a sudden change of mood or physical state around that person.Most likely, if you did- n’t feel anxious, depressed, exhausted, or sick before, the discomfort is at least par- tially coming from him or her. If you move away and the discomfort


dissipates, it is definitely not yours! Sometimes, though, the emotion or symp- tom may be both yours and another per- son’s. Feelings are catchy, especially if they relate to a hot button issue for you. You are more prone to take on the emo- tional or physical pain that you haven’t worked out in yourself. The more you heal issues that trigger you, the less likely you’ll be to absorb emotions from others. 2. Breathe and repeat this mantra to


counter negative energy When negativity strikes, immediately


focus on your breath for a few minutes. Slowly and deeply, inhale and exhale to expel the uncomfortable energy. Breathing circulates negativity out of your body. Holding your breath or breathing shallowly keeps negativity stuck within you. As you breathe, I suggest firmly


repeating aloud this mantra three times in a tone that conveys you mean what you’re saying: Return to sender, return to sender, return to sender. The power of your voice can command the discomfort out of your body. Your breath is the vehicle that trans- ports it back to the universe. Also, while saying this mantra, you


can specifically breathe toxic energy out of your lumbar spine in your lower back. The spaces between the lumbar vertebrae are conducive to acting as channels for elimi- nating unhealthy energy. Visualize the dis- comfort exiting through these spaces in


your spine. Declare, “I release you” as it leaves your body and blends with the giant energy matrix of life.


9 Self-Protection Strategies for Empaths


Combat Toxic Energy and Stop Taking on Other People’s Stress By Judith Orloff,MD


3. Step away from what’s disturb-


ing you Move at least twenty feet fromthe


suspected source. See if you feel relief. Don’t worry about offending strangers. In a doctor’s office, movie, or other public place, don’t hesitate to change seats. If you’re sitting next to a noisy group in a restaurant, you don’t have to stay there and feel uncomfortable. Feel free to move to a more peaceful table. It’s fine to lovingly say “No,” to certain energies. Giving your- self permission to move is an act of self- care. Empaths often find themselves in overwhelming social situations. If that hap- pens to you, be sure to take breaks to replenish yourself. Then, if you want to return to the gathering you can be in amore serene place. 4. Limit physical contact. Hugs are a


choice! Energy transfers through the eyes and


touch. If you’re uncomfortable with some- one, limit eye contact and touch, including hugs and hand-holding. Though hugging a loved one in distress often benefits you both, if you are wary of taking on their stress, make the hug short. You can keep sending them love from a distance. You have a choice about the kind of physical contact you participate in. 5. Detox in water A quick way to dissolve stress and


empathic pains is to immerse yourself in water. Empaths love water! Epsom salt baths are divine and also provide magne- sium which is calming. Youmightwant to add a little lavender


essential oil to your bath—it is calming after a long day. The perfect empath get- away is soaking in natural mineral springs that purify all that ails you. 6. Set limits and boundaries There’s no way around it. To survive


and thrive, you need to set limits with peo- ple. If someone is draining, don’t be a doormat. Control how much time you spend listening to the person. “No,” is a complete sentence! It’s okay to tell some- one, “I’m sorry, I'm not up for going to a party tonight,” or “Let’s discuss this when you’re calmer. I can’t tolerate yelling,” or “I need tomeditate and be quiet right now,”


or “I can’t talk more than a few minutes unless you want to discuss solutions.” Sometimes changing communication pat- terns with friends is a retraining process, but being consistent with setting kind but firm limits will protect you from energy vampires. 7. Create alone time to regroup Empaths need alone time to reconnect


with their power. If you’ve picked up unwanted energy, be sure to take some alone time to center yourself. For a few minutes or more, quiet everything. No noise, bright lights, phone calls, texts, emails, internet, television, or conversa- tions. It’s sometimes important to just feel your own energy without anyone else around.You are being your own best friend which is a way to nurture yourself. By decreasing external stimulation, it’s also easier to clear negativity. 8. Spend time in nature and practice


‘Earthing’ Empaths love nature and feel at ease


there. Being in a fresh, clean, green envi- ronment or around water clears negativity. The Earth emanates healing. Try lying in a meadow and soaking up its energy in your entire body. This feels sublime! Earthing means going barefoot and feeling the earth’s power through your feet. To shed other people’s energy, feel the grass between your bare toes, walk in the sand or the soil. Sense the nurturing medicine of the earth coming through your feet to ground you—a beautiful experience. 9. Take breaks from being online You need regular time-out from tech-


nology that inundates you with too much information. Online media that triggers your emotions—such as Facebook groups, Instagram, violent news feeds—can impair your ability to fall sleep. It’s easy to pick up energy in the virtual world, so make sure you spend time in nature, meditating, or participating in other off-line activities that restore you. A complete technology-fast once in a while will do wonders for your sense of well-being.


Dr. Orloff is a psychiatrist, an empath,


a NY Times best-selling author and is on the UCLA Psychiatric Clinical Faculty. To learnmore about the power of empathy, Dr. Orloff’s book tour schedule, and to sign up for her Empath Support Newsletter visit www.drjudithorloff.com Excerpted with permission from The


Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People (Sounds True,April 4, 2017). © Judith Orloff, MD. All rights reserved.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48