Didn't know what topic, so I posted in off topic.
I want to understand empathy better. So far I understand that it's like putting yourself in another person's shoes. I've noticed some people seem to have a more pronounced level of empathy (if levels are even a thing). I don't really know how it works, but this is my observation.
I have issues, as you have probably noticed lol. A big part of what affects my daily living and for what I'm going to therapy is that what others experience and feel affects me way too much. I had two cases today at work where I cried for them as soon as they left. I just want to fix it for them and I can only do so much. Really, just thinking of suffering in others triggers me. This is why I work in social services, because it's always in my head and I have to act on it. Then there's the personal level. I tend to put others first even when it's stupid to do so, because what if it hurts them? (Rolls eyes)
My five year old son didn't understand feelings before therapy. They (therapists, psychologists, etc) and I had to teach him what certain expressions mean, and how these can be triggered. The first time I saw him actually acknowledge that someone was crying, I felt like I won the lottery. He has learned to identify feelings in others. He has begun to express sympathy.
I see some people become less fragile to other people's feelings with experience in their work field. Someone told me today that I'll stop feeling it in time and just get used to seeing pain. I've been working in social work for a decade, though, and I don't see significant progress. I still feel it when I'm driving home. I still think about the children, the dying, the sick, when I'm in bed trying to sleep.
Is this empathy? Does it have another name? How do you control it and is it controllable? Heh. What does that even mean? I don't know. Like I said, I don't understand it (in a sciency level), but I want to. I think in my case it's obviously not healthy and I'd like to know more about it. How do people cope and why do some of us struggle with it?
I want to understand empathy better. So far I understand that it's like putting yourself in another person's shoes. I've noticed some people seem to have a more pronounced level of empathy (if levels are even a thing). I don't really know how it works, but this is my observation.
I have issues, as you have probably noticed lol. A big part of what affects my daily living and for what I'm going to therapy is that what others experience and feel affects me way too much. I had two cases today at work where I cried for them as soon as they left. I just want to fix it for them and I can only do so much. Really, just thinking of suffering in others triggers me. This is why I work in social services, because it's always in my head and I have to act on it. Then there's the personal level. I tend to put others first even when it's stupid to do so, because what if it hurts them? (Rolls eyes)
My five year old son didn't understand feelings before therapy. They (therapists, psychologists, etc) and I had to teach him what certain expressions mean, and how these can be triggered. The first time I saw him actually acknowledge that someone was crying, I felt like I won the lottery. He has learned to identify feelings in others. He has begun to express sympathy.
I see some people become less fragile to other people's feelings with experience in their work field. Someone told me today that I'll stop feeling it in time and just get used to seeing pain. I've been working in social work for a decade, though, and I don't see significant progress. I still feel it when I'm driving home. I still think about the children, the dying, the sick, when I'm in bed trying to sleep.
Is this empathy? Does it have another name? How do you control it and is it controllable? Heh. What does that even mean? I don't know. Like I said, I don't understand it (in a sciency level), but I want to. I think in my case it's obviously not healthy and I'd like to know more about it. How do people cope and why do some of us struggle with it?
"Hipster is what happens when young hot people do what old ladies do." -Exian
