0:00 → 0:03
SpeakerHey, Psych2Goers, welcome back to another video.
0:03 → 0:07
SpeakerEmpaths are kind, caring, nurturing, and loyal friends.
0:07 → 0:12
SpeakerThey're seen as dependable and trustworthy because they make others feel safe.
0:12 → 0:20
SpeakerBut being exposed to other people's emotions at all times is exhausting. This gift of hyper empathy has negative side effects.
0:20 → 0:27
SpeakerNot only can you become emotionally exhausted, but also you can become so absorbed in other people's emotions that you forget to take care of your own.
0:27 → 0:31
SpeakerThese are five negative sides of being an empath.
0:31 → 0:40
SpeakerBefore we begin, we wanted to make a disclaimer that this video is not to attack anyone who may display these signs, but to help us understand and bring awareness to these darker aspects.
0:40 → 0:43
Speaker1. their actions may seem forced.
0:44 → 0:49
SpeakerIn efforts to keep the peace and avoid conflicts, some empath become performative.
0:49 → 0:57
SpeakerThey may say or do things they do not believe. They will act kind warm and diplomatic, however, they may be going through the motions.
0:57 → 1:05
SpeakerAs an empath, you will have days where you do not feel emotionally capable of being your ideal warm, super supportive, and understanding self.
1:05 → 1:09
SpeakerAnd that's ok. After all, you are human too.
1:09 → 1:15
SpeakerIt's important to remind yourself that your emotional needs matter. So set time aside to look after yourself.
1:15 → 1:23
SpeakerIf someone needs your support, you can still be there for them, but set boundaries for how present and invested you are willing to be there for them at that moment.
1:24 → 1:27
Speaker2. they may take advantage of their ability.
1:27 → 1:30
SpeakerThere are always two sides to everything.
1:30 → 1:36
SpeakerWhen an empath's personality merges with a personality from the dark triad, they become a dark empath.
1:37 → 1:43
SpeakerIt might initially sound like something out of a sci-fi movie or a dark fantasy novel, but dark empaths are real.
1:43 → 1:48
SpeakerA dark empath uses their ability to read people so they can manipulate and take advantage of them.
1:48 → 1:53
SpeakerDark empaths use empathy to draw people close and mine information out of them.
1:53 → 1:57
SpeakerA dark empath may look kind and warm on the outside,
1:57 → 2:03
Speakerbut in reality, are unfeeling and calculative with acute focus and precision.
2:03 → 2:07
SpeakerThey learn what makes a person tick and can influence others to act the way they want.
2:08 → 2:11
Speaker3. they experience frequent bouts of paranoia.
2:11 → 2:19
SpeakerAll humans possess mirror neurons, but research suggests that the MNs of an empath is more responsive.
2:19 → 2:26
SpeakerThis hypersensitivity can lead some empath to experience more anxiety and paranoia, according to Dr. Orloff.
2:26 → 2:31
SpeakerAnxiety and paranoia are results rather than symptoms of being an empath.
2:31 → 2:36
SpeakerIf you are an empath who experiences frequent anxiety, try to understand your emotions.
2:36 → 2:43
SpeakerJournaling or working with a therapist can help you adjust to your own emotions and the emotions you may have absorbed from those around you.
2:44 → 2:47
Speaker4. they experience cognitive dissonance.
2:47 → 2:53
SpeakerCognitive dissonance is a state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs or attitudes.
2:53 → 2:57
SpeakerIt is the mental discomfort you may experience when you harbor two conflicting ideas.
2:57 → 3:02
SpeakerFor example, you may do something that does not align with your core beliefs.
3:02 → 3:07
SpeakerFor an empath, it might look like indecision but is a form of self-preservation.
3:07 → 3:10
SpeakerThere are several ways of dealing with conflicting beliefs.
3:10 → 3:16
SpeakerOne way is to provide enough evidence for the supportive belief, doing so will help you outweigh the dissonance that you feel.
3:16 → 3:22
SpeakerFor example, if you're passionate about climate change, but feel that your outdated car goes against your beliefs,
3:22 → 3:27
Speakerwork towards swapping out your car for a more environmentally friendly option or ride your bike to get around town.
3:27 → 3:30
SpeakerDo things to support what you believe in.
3:30 → 3:33
SpeakerAnd 5. they can be frequent liars.
3:33 → 3:41
SpeakerSometimes, to avoid hurting other people's feelings, Empaths lie. They see lying as a way to maintain harmony and avoid conflicts.
3:41 → 3:48
SpeakerAt times, they may bottle up their feelings and thoughts to comply with popular opinion. However, this tactic can have immediate negative effects.
3:48 → 3:56
SpeakerNot only does society teach us that lying is bad because it harms our relationships, but lying can also prevent us from relating to others.
3:56 → 4:03
SpeakerResearch led by Julia Lee from the University of Michigan found that lying lowers your empathetic accuracy.
4:03 → 4:08
SpeakerWhat does this mean to an empath? Whether the lies they tell are detected or not,
4:08 → 4:14
Speakeran empath at that moment, is unable to identify the other person's emotion and is likely to continue lying.
4:15 → 4:24
SpeakerIf you are an empath, who resorts to lies to maintain harmony, it's time to be honest, not just for the sake of your relationships, but also for yourself.
4:24 → 4:31
SpeakerThe dark side of an empath is not born out of malice, sometimes it is a means of self-preservation.
4:31 → 4:35
SpeakerHowever, it does not mean that any of these traits are defensible.
4:35 → 4:42
SpeakerIf you are an empath and recognize some of these traits within yourself, seek help to rectify them. Talk to a counselor if you need assistance.
4:42 → 4:46
SpeakerPlease like and share this video if it helped you and you think it could help someone else too.
4:46 → 4:49
SpeakerThe studies and references used in this video are listed in the description box.
4:49 → 4:54
SpeakerDon't forget to hit the subscribe button for more Psych2Go videos and thank you for watching. We'll see you next time.