Adrian Volenik
Empaths have a heightened ability to sense and understand the emotions and energies of others. They often behave unusual or strange to those who aren’t familiar with this trait.
I decided to look deeper into their world and show you 13 things empaths do that may appear weird to you or me but are actually a natural part of their empathic nature.
1) Absorbing emotions
As I already mentioned, empaths are highly sensitive to the emotions of others, and they can absorb emotions, even without direct communication. This sometimes makes them seem moody or emotional for no apparent reason.
Because of that, they’re often described as emotional sponges because they soak up the feelings and energies of people they come in contact with.
But due to their sensitivity, they must learn to distinguish between their own emotions and those they’ve absorbed, allowing them to protect their well-being and prevent emotional overload.
2) Avoiding crowded places
The lack of personal space and constant energy drain make crowded places uncomfortable for empaths. They prefer more authentic connections and deeper conversations, which are often difficult to find in overcrowded settings.
For those reasons, empaths need time alone to recharge and process their thoughts and emotions, and crowded places make it hard for them to do that.
They often find comfort and relief in nature and look for quieter environments to find balance.
So if you’re going for a meeting or a date with an empath, suggest going to a park, a quiet cafe, or a similar setting. They will appreciate it.
3) Sensitivity to noise
Empaths also tend to be highly sensitive to loud or sudden noises, which can easily overwhelm their nervous system.
These noises can cause real physical discomfort for empaths, such as headaches, tension, or heightened stress responses.
Because of that, they often avoid noisy environments or use earplugs to protect their sensitivity.
4) Needing alone time
So we’ve learned that crowded places and especially loud noise are uncomfortable for empaths. That’s why they require frequent periods of solitude to recharge and process the emotions they’ve absorbed.
But then again, this need for alone time is often misunderstood as being anti-social or reclusive.
But that’s not true in most cases.
It simply means they need more alone time to maintain their well-being, recharge their energy, process emotions, and rest.
Respecting and understanding this need promotes healthier relationships with empaths, as they can then show up more fully and authentically in their interactions with you and others.
5) Being highly intuitive
Another thing that might seem weird to others but isn’t is their strong intuition and gut feeling about people and situations. They rely on their instincts to make decisions, even when it defies logical reasoning.
Here’s an example:
An empath may have a strong intuition about a new job opportunity, even though everything looks great on the surface.
They trust their gut feeling that something isn’t quite right and decide not to pursue the opportunity.
Later on, they discover that the company had financial troubles and went through significant layoffs. They would obviously be one of the first on the chopping block.
6) Picking up on non-verbal cues
One of the reasons they have such strong intuition is that they’re talented at reading body language, facial expressions, and subtle cues, often without the need for spoken words. This can make them appear almost psychic to others.
For instance, during a meeting, an empath notices that a colleague’s facial expressions and body language don’t align with their words.
Their intuition tells them something’s off, and they suspect their colleague may be hiding information or not telling the whole truth. This encourages the empath to dig deeper and ask more probing questions.
7) Feeling deeply connected to nature
I already mentioned that to avoid crowded places, empaths love going to nature. Some of them also feel a deep sense of connection to plants, animals, and the earth itself.
But above all, nature has a soothing effect on them. When surrounded by trees, water, or open spaces, empaths experience a sense of calm and grounding.
Nature’s inherent tranquility helps them find inner peace and balance, providing a break from the overstimulation of the modern world.
8) Difficulty watching or reading the news
The news frequently reports on distressing and tragic events. The intense emotions associated with these stories, such as suffering, violence, or loss, can deeply affect empaths, leaving them feeling overwhelmed or emotionally drained.
That’s why they choose to limit their exposure to it.
9) Having a strong sense of justice
Empaths often have a keen sense of fairness and justice. They can’t tolerate witnessing or experiencing injustice, often leading them to take a stand, even in small ways.
For example, they actively work to break down barriers and promote acceptance, inclusivity, and understanding across diverse groups of people.
Or they advocate for the rights of vulnerable individuals, like children, animals, or oppressed and marginalized.
10) Feeling emotions physically
Many empaths experience physical sensations when they absorb emotions. For instance, they feel a heaviness in their chest when someone is sad or a knot in their stomach when someone is anxious.
11) Attracting emotional people
People who are struggling emotionally often feel naturally drawn to empaths because of their ability to understand and empathize.
As a result, empaths can find themselves surrounded by those looking for emotional support.
12) Needing to set boundaries
On the other side, they have to establish boundaries to protect their own emotional well-being. This means limiting their exposure to certain people or situations that drain their energy.
For example, they need to set boundaries in terms of what tasks or burdens they will take on. This is crucial for them to maintain their own well-being and prevent burnout.
13) Having a strong desire to help others
And lastly, empaths are driven by a deep desire to help and heal others. They often put the needs of others before their own, which can sometimes be misunderstood or taken advantage of.
Nevertheless, they know that by helping one person, they can inspire and influence others to do the same, creating a chain reaction of positivity and kindness that extends beyond their immediate impact.
Final thoughts
I hope this article helped you better understand empaths and some of their “strange” behavior.
Once we break it down, we see that they aren’t weird and that all their actions have genuine reasons behind them.
