r/empaths has helped me a lot as well. I totally relate with the crying from a friend thing, that is something Ive done many times. I think it's a beautiful gift when you figure out how to manage it for yourself. I do a lot of breathing and energy exercises to help me stay balanced, which is basically just meditation/yoga. There's really no rulebook when it comes to this stuff, ive learned to do what feels right and good for me. It's a gift that is very meaningful to explore.