Is Empathy Making You Sick?

Empathy is crucial to building meaningful relationships, but becoming caught in the ‘empathy trap’ can have negative consequences

Empathy allows us to share other people’s emotions and see from their perspectives. It’s how we bond and come together, and helps us feel understood and heard by others. Empathy can be overwhelmingly positive, moving you to tears of joy as you watch people you care for overcome setbacks, or embark on milestone moments like getting married or giving birth.

However, empathy can also be devastating. We’re constantly presented with human suffering, from beggars at the side of the road to social media stories about pain and hardship, to friends, family and co-workers enduring unimaginable challenges. Becoming consumed by other people’s misfortunes can leave you feeling depressed or even pitch you into despair, to the point where you neglect your own needs and feelings. So how do you draw the line between remaining compassionate and spiralling into unrestrained empathy?

THE EMPATHY TRAP