The Empath's Survival Guide Quotes

“I love when the environmentalist David Orr says, “The planet does not need more ‘successful people.’ The planet desperately needs more peacemakers, healers, restorers, storytellers, and lovers of all kinds. It needs people to live well in their places. It needs people with moral courage willing to join the struggle to make the world habitable and humane, and these qualities have little to do with success as our culture defines it.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Highly sensitive children can come from mothers and fathers with the same traits. In addition, parenting plays a role. Childhood neglect or abuse can also affect sensitivity levels for adults. A portion of empaths I’ve treated have experienced early trauma, such as emotional or physical abuse, or were raised by alcoholic, depressed, or narcissistic parents. This could potentially wear down the usual healthy defenses that a child with nurturing parents develops. As a result of their upbringing, these children typically don’t feel “seen” by their families, and they also feel invisible in the greater world that doesn’t value sensitivity.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“What makes an empath’s overload symptoms worse? Fatigue, illness, rushing, traffic, crowds, loud environments, toxic people, low blood sugar, arguing, overwork, chemical sensitivities, too much socializing, and feeling trapped in overstimulating situations such as parties and cruises. Any combination of these conditions intensifies an empath’s overload. Therefore, keep the following in mind: stress + low blood sugar = drama and exhaustion.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“AS A CHILD I FELT MYSELF TO BE ALONE, AND I AM STILL, BECAUSE I KNOW THINGS AND MUST HINT AT THINGS THAT OTHERS APPARENTLY KNOW NOTHING OF, AND FOR THE MOST PART DO NOT WANT TO KNOW. LONELINESS DOES NOT COME FROM HAVING NO PEOPLE ABOUT ONE, BUT FROM BEING UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE THE THINGS THAT SEEM IMPORTANT TO ONESELF, OR FROM HOLDING CERTAIN VIEWS WHICH OTHERS FIND INADMISSIBLE. Dr. Carl Jung As”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Remember to show yourself compassion,”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Empaths are incredible listeners but often make the mistake of tolerating chronic talkers for too long. Then we become exhausted. To protect ourselves, empaths must address our tendency to people please. Everyone loves telling empaths their life stories because we’re so attentive. But with chronic talkers, we must learn to set boundaries, a basic form of self-care.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“As an empath, you are part of a countercultural revolution to put what is humane back into humanity. I applaud you for being a path-forger, willing to venture off the beaten track. I applaud your courage to face yourself, to express your authentic needs, and not to give up on the world, with its many failings.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“We are in the midst of an evolution of human consciousness, and empaths are the path forgers. A sacred responsibility comes with our sensitivities, which demand more of us than simply retreating into isolation. It’s vital we learn how to avoid feeling overwhelmed so that we can fully shine our power in the world. Empaths and all sensitive people are pioneers on the forefront of a new way of being for humankind.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“EMPATH AFFIRMATION I vow to honor my sensitivities and treat myself lovingly as I explore what it means to be an empath and embrace my gifts. I will appreciate myself every day.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“IF YOU FEEL AS IF YOU DON’T FIT INTO THIS WORLD, IT’S BECAUSE YOU’RE HERE TO CREATE A BETTER ONE.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Use gemstones. Carry a crystal to help ground you and ward off an emotional hangover. Try black tourmaline, amethyst, or black obsidian. Shamans say that if you carry or wear black, you will be more protected.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“In addition, certain actions are a balm for both body and soul. These include taking quiet alone time, associating with positive people, being in nature, immersing yourself in water to clear negative energy, meditating, exercising, and defining limits with energy vampires.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“You may also freeze around inauthentic people, which can convey aloofness — but this is clearly a protective device. Some empaths prefer socializing online to keep others at a distance, so there’s less of the tendency to absorb their discomfort and stress.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Empaths may unknowingly get involved with toxic partners and become anxious, depressed, or ill. They give their hearts too easily to narcissists and other unavailable people. Empaths are loving and expect others to be that way, which doesn’t always happen. They also absorb their partner’s stress and emotions, such as anger or depression, simply by interacting with them,”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Some empaths become addicted to alcohol, drugs, food, sex, shopping, or other behaviors in an attempt to numb their sensitivities. Overeating is common since some empaths unwittingly use food to ground themselves. Empaths can easily become overweight because the extra padding provides protection from negative energy.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Though there is a spectrum of sensitivity that exists in human beings, empaths are emotional sponges who absorb both the stress and joy of the world. We feel everything, often to an extreme, and have little guard up between others and ourselves. As a result, we are often overwhelmed by excessive stimulation and are prone to exhaustion and sensory overload.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“A noxious stimulus, such as an angry person, crowds, noise, or bright light, can agitate us because our threshold for sensory overload is extremely low.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Get plenty of sleep and take power naps Sleep is a healing balm for an empath’s body and soul. It calms the nervous system. Empaths are more vulnerable to absorbing stress and symptoms when they are tired.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Identify three obvious differences between you and your patient. A good intellectual way to distance yourself from a patient’s emotions and pain after a session is to focus on three clear differences between you. For example, I’m a woman, and he’s a man. She’s depressed, but I’m not. I’m a vegan, and he eats meat. This lets you appreciate what’s you and what’s the patient, a boundary that helps prevent you from absorbing unwanted energy.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Eat well. Don’t skip meals, and make sure they include protein, which grounds you. Grazing on protein throughout the day keeps my energy and blood sugar stable. Avoid carbohydrates, candy bars, cookies, sodas, and other sugar sources, as well as fast food for a quick fix when you’re hungry. Instead, bring healthy snacks and stay well hydrated with water, a green or antioxidant smoothie, and other nourishing drinks.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“I’ve actually left a lunch with friends when a man there got enraged with his spouse. His rage hurt me. In situations like that, I am fierce about protecting my energy, so I said to my friends, “Please excuse me. I’m feeling tired,” and politely left. It was awkward, but I chose my well-being over “social correctness” and sticking it out.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Empaths thrive on consistency, which fosters trust and acceptance.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“empaths can be depleted if they are their partner’s only significant contact. The hours spent away from an empath are often the saving grace of the relationship.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Your soul mate can become your cell mate” if both of you are not dedicated to mutual growth and authenticity. It’s”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“A healthy connection is when partners are mutually committed to the relationship and both want to open their hearts to each other. In contrast, attachment is when we cling to someone with a death grip, hoping that person will change. Attachments are dangerous because they can keep us linked to unavailable people or toxic relationships. If you are looking for intimacy, search out people who are excited to be with you.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Empaths are creators, inventors, visionaries, artists, and people who feel first.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“Set clear limits with energy vampires and toxic people. Remember that “no” is a complete sentence. You don’t have to keep explaining yourself. I am adamant about avoiding draining people, particularly when I’m overloaded.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“For instance, your low self-esteem attracts people who criticize you, and the criticizer attracts people they can belittle. Be careful not to perpetuate wound-mate relationships. Instead, let these people — whether they are friends, coworkers, spouses, or whomever — spur you to develop self-awareness and heal the initial wound. Then you can grow out of these relationships and find more fulfilling ones.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“I’m also fascinated by new research on how pain medications can inhibit empathy. Ohio State University researchers recently found that when participants who took Tylenol (acetaminophen) learned about the mishaps of others, they experienced less dismay than those who didn’t take the drug.1 Knowing that Tylenol decreases empathy is important since fifty-two million Americans take a substance containing it every week!”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People

“I am very against physicians labeling high sensitivity as a sensory processing “disorder” instead of a gift with its own set of challenges. Medicine too often pathologizes anything “different” that it doesn’t understand. Empaths have special traits that exist on the normal continuum of human experience. They exemplify the wonderful diversity of our species. The problem with conventional medicine is that it lacks a paradigm that includes the body’s subtle energy system. This concept has been central to many healing traditions for thousands of years cross-culturally, including traditional Chinese medicine. What is subtle energy? It is the vital life force that penetrates the body and extends inches to feet around it.”
― Judith Orloff, The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People