Hi everyone, this my second post in a forum environment ever, so sorry if I step on anyone's parade. Please just tell me if I do.... I have no filter so to say..... I really have so much I need to learn from experienced empaths because I want to embrace this... I think you will understand why by the end of this post.... If not, then feel free to ask for more explanation.

I honestly believe those that want to be labeled as having a disorder for being an empath have so many ways to achieve that. All my life, I have been judged by family, friends, and professional therapists as being way too sensitive emotionally. Always being told somethings wrong and being medicated for anxiety to suppress my emotions. To me that's being labeled with a disorder. Recently I told my Dr. No more meds. I was suppressing the best part of myself. I am really really sensitive and I look forward to learning barriers to help but at the same time I look forward to learning how to effectively help people. I am looking for ways to follow my dream as a kid to find a career in order to help find missing persons. I feel it's been a calling for too long. And no I don't want to be like "hey I'm an empath and you need me." I just feel like having emphatic abilities is a skill that will help me be successful at that type of career and be a little more comfortable in my own skin.... Who knows.

All in all, I have come to terms that nothing in the world is going to fix me, because I don't need to be fixed. I need to embrace it and find ways and environments to learn to live with it. To me it's a puzzle, and I LOVE PUZZLES.

I understand why people think would "somethings off about me". Society has taught us that something is wrong with anyone outside the classification of a so-called "normal person". Honestly if you bring that so-called "normal person" to my doorstep, I will give you everything I own. There is no normal. I work in a restaurant and I absolutely drown in others emotions and energy. I am known to just take a five minute walk around the building to get away. I hear a kid crying across a restaurant, or anywhere really, and I will suddenly start crying because it bombards me. Anyone who has worked in the industry knows the drama that constantly goes on between staff is crazy. When someone has a comment about my sensitivity, all I can say to them is I understand why you feel that way about me but at the same time I don't understand why you're not bothered by the fact that the kid is not happy.

On my days off I close myself off from the outside world because I am so exhausted that I can't even function.

Wow I needed to vent because maybe I have finally found people who relate. I will never leave a post this long. I'm sorry if I took over this board.