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Science
empathy

Identifying oneself completely with an object or person, sometimes even to the point of responding physically, as when, watching a baseball player swing at a pitch, one feels one's own muscles flex.

Medical
em·pa·thy
n.
Direct identification with, understanding of, and vicarious experience of another person's situation, feelings, and motives.
The projection of one's own feelings or emotional state onto an object or animal.

Empathy
The feeling or capacity for awareness, understanding and sensitivity one experiences when hearing or reading of some event or activity of another, thus imagining the same sensation as that of those actually experiencing it.

The noun empathy has one meaning:

Meaning #1: understanding and entering into another's feelings.

Psychological basis
Some experts (psychologist, scientist, psychiatrist) believe that not all humans have an ability to feel empathy or perceive the emotions of others. For instance, Autism and Asperger's syndrome are often characterised by an inability to empathise with others. According to one hypothesis, this absence of empathy is related to an absence of theory of mind (which is grounded in either a theory-like analogy between oneself and others, or the ability to simulate pretend mental states, and then apply the consequences of these simulations to others).

In contrast, psychopaths, seemingly, are able to sense the emotions of others, and can use this ability to charm or manipulate, but they crucially lack the sympathy or compassion that empathy often leads to. Empathy certainly does not guarantee benevolence. The same ability may underlie schadenfreude (sadism), the malicious enjoyment of another's pain.
Definitions found at
http://www.answers.com/topic/empathy


That searched, it crossed my mind, that not all empaths are vampires, but empathy is one of the many atributes of HLV's. Are all empaths vampires? What's the difference between an empathic vampire, and an empath that is not a vampire?
What do you think?
Is empathy exclusive for people that have a more enlagred perception of the energy around them, and need to feed from that energy to feel their own levels of vital energy balanced, or is it an inborne abilliy, that does not necesarelly has to do with the concept of feeding of emotions/energy? (vampirism)

I really don't think that empathy and vampirism have much in common. True, some empaths could be vampires, and vice versa... but I see no real common thread between the two.

My personal feeling is that its enborn.

I always wondered why some people say that one of the "types" of vampires were empaths..I mean, where's the vampirism when the empath is the one that gets stuck with other people's feelings, and he's the one that has to get away from people to feel at ease, and not "over-loaded" with what other people are feeling?

There's a definite line between.. feeling other people's emotions.. and feeding off them.

Good point.

I feel other people's emotions all the time. Its hard to turn off at will, so I just end up bombarded with a ton of emotions that I can't even pinpoint, let alone begin to deal with. I don't feed off any of them.. I don't draw pleasure or satisfaction from feeling other people's emotions, unless its an intensely positive one.. but that's not exactly feeding, but sharing in their emotion.

Something very similar happens to me. I feel too much, and sometimes get lost in those emotions, because (don't laugh) I feel like I'm beeing infected with what other people are feeling...Does this make sense?
I usually try to cheer people up, specially if I'm around them, because it's invasive, and if people I'm with are feeling way to angry, or sad, or any negative emotion, it gets stuck with me like glue...The good part is, if I'm with people that are feeling great, or send a very positive energy, the "emotional sponging" works aswell.

No, I understand that all too well. I don't try to cheer people up though.. its just not in my nature really.. lol

WOW!! I completely understand what you are talking about TearsOfArakiel. That's so strange.

Thankyou RaChelle, it's good to know I'm not the only one...
Well, I thank the Gods for my sense of humour...Or I'd be a very depressed person most of the time...
Another interesting fact I came up in my research: most vampire sites reffer to Empathy as something that has to be controled (not that I don't understand why...), and I found out that some of the techniques that are taught in those sites, I learn to do them out of instinct.
For instance, to focus on a song, or a persistent thought, or image. It helps, specially if you're in a place full of people and you can't get out (that's usually my main "technique")

A friend and i were talking one day, and i was asking if he got vibes off of ppl.
like i can meet someone.. face to face or even online.. and i feel their energy when they are focused pn me.. escpecailly face to face, i can see someone and without them eve having to say anuthing i know i do not like them.. no explaining why,, i just feel it..

my friend then started talking about being an empath and how it relates.. very usefull but also very draining

no, for the most part, empathy and vampirisim are not related. there are creatures known as psyonic vampires and they feel and feed off of a persons emotions. they do not feed off of blood, nor would they like to. they eat normal food like all mortals, but must feed off of emotions to survive. i am a mix. i am part empath, where as i have the ability to feel, read, and understand a persons emotions, and i am also part psyonic vampire, where as i absorb the emotions, though i do not feed off of them and i do not need to absorb them to survive. i also have the ability, thanks to this combo, to project my emotions to other people, or a group of people. i guess you could say that i am a walking talking emotion sponge lol.

That's exactlly what I'm talking about, deamonchild. I don't need those emotions to survive, and to be honest, I could go very well without them sometimes, thankyou.
But that's also it..I just feel, can't tell you in words what it is, but sometimes, well, most of the time, for instance, if I do a Tarot reading to someone, even before the person sais anything, it has happened, that I know, I just know, that the person is there to test my "skills" and doesen't have any important question.

that is an empath ability. you are feeling their emotions and intentions without even realizing that you are doing it. i have extreme mood swings because of what i am. it is taking alot of work to try and get my powers under control. once i can get them under control, i can then learn to use them better, focusing them more, making them stronger and all the more potent. i sometimes love being able to project my own emotions to someone or a group. it is extremely helpful when i am calm and trying to help out a friend who is irrate, i can project what i am feeling to help them calm down. my brother, now he is a psyonic vampire, he feeds off of emotions, litteraly draining them from someone and replacing it with something else. he does not read them like i can, he can just feel them, but does not understand which emotion it is except from how the person is acting. i can walk up to a total stranger who looks happy and ask them what is wrong. when they look at me crazy and tell me they dont know what i am talking about, i surprise them by telling them what they are feeling inside, then they break down and tell me. why must so many try to lie to a psyonic empath (which is what i have taken to calling myself untill i actually find out what the correct term is)

I stronglly relate to the mood swings. I know I'm a cancerian and it comes with the package (sorry..learning deformations, but I just had to mention it), but it's a bit awkward when I feel that those emotions don't come from me.
The form I find to project my emotions on people, is by trying to make them feel better, becase it comes back to me the same way that the bad feeling did. And yes, it's draining, but very rewarding.

that is true, it can be very draining, especially if you have to expend alot of your emotions to try and calm theirs, but your will and mind grow stronger from the exhaustion. thats how your ability will advance and grow stronger, along with proper controling of course

Thanks. Really. I need to read more about it, meditate, whatever, because I'm still finding out to what point this has affected my life, and it seems it has affetcted it a lot.

oh it probably has, and it will alsp probably affect it a great deal to come. it will help shape you, weither it will be for better or for worst, that yet remains to be seen

No not all emphats are vampires.I am sometimes and am definately not a vampire.

I would think that there would be more empath's that are psychic vampires, then there would be in any other vampire.

But I don't think that empathy is limited to vampires in general. Everyone has that untapped part of the brain that causes empathy, Just some are able to use it. And not everyone is a vampire.

*takes bite of PIZZA and moves on with life*

i am and empath and don't consder myself a vampire of any, type i also try to limit my emotions and abilities of reading people just so i won't drain anyone or anything i kind of see it as an invasion of privacy in a way, how ever if they seek my help i gladly give it

k wel I only read about half the posts here....so if I pull a repeat....too fucking bad
K I am a Psy vamp....
I am also an empath....
I feel to be a psy vamp you have to have some level of empathic power....
but in reverse an emapth is NOT by nature a vamp...
and also...just being a psy vamp does not mean I feed off everyone who's emotions I read...
actually I am a very infrequent feeder
but i try to use the empathy all the time in every day life....
a deeper understanding of the emotions of those around you is a great tool to how you conduct your daily life....

i found that really interesting but a fair bit to read, though i don't mind exercising my mind. very acurate too. true very informative aswell. love to read all this and give my opinion.

Ok, guys, here's just a thought...

Think about how many bipolar people are out there. Is it possible that some of them are ~not~ bipolar, but empath instead??? The barrage of emotions out there is staggering...

Although many people have posted this already, alot of you just aren't picking up on this. There is a difference between FEELING someone's emotions, and FEEDING off them. You don't "drain" people when you're just feeling their emotions.

Also there is a big difference between being a true empath, and just being able to read people.. such as their body language, or just how they're feeling in general. Its called being sympathetic. Alot of people claim to be empaths (or psychic vampires) just because they can feel a "vibe" from people.

Excellent point, WhiteTrashDruid.
While a sympathetic person can relate to what another person is feeling( i.e. remember a similar experience), an empathic can feel what the other person is feeling to the point of showing physical symphtoms, not out of suggestion, but because it's invaded by the emotion of another person.

empathy and vampyres have no distinction...to be a vampyre you need the life force weither it be blood or psy energy..where as being an emapth is just a hightened awareness of another individuals emotions and feelings...an empath does not draw the energy from a person, nor does an empath need anothers energy to maintain their own life...
im not saying that vampyres can not be empaths..but associating empathy and vampyrism is a show of....(not trying to insult) intelligence

oops i ment of no intelligence in the distinction of either one or the other..
(sorry hit the button by accident)

true

Ok, so I don't know everything. Does that make me less intelligent? No.
But...You said thet there's no distinction between emathy and vampirism, which seems to contradict what you said afterwords...(did you hit the wrong button again?...).
I got it. There is a difference, and not all empaths are vampires, but some vampires can be empaths, althought they do not necessarelly feed of the emotions they capture. That's what I wanted to know.

Ok sometimes I feed off emotions to satisify some sort of inner desire, would that make me a vampire?

Don't know how to answer that. I guess only you can know.

I don't know.. I tried feed off your mental energy, but I'm not gettin anything.

:P

I have left a couple of entries in my journal about my empathic experiences- actually I fear more condescension from admitting to that than my interest in vampirism

I do not think that there is a connection between the two they are both pretty different

empaths are merely those of us who connect with others on a deeper level than most do. In my experience it is not all it is cracked up to be especially when you realise that the world is full of hurt people and as and empath, I feel their pain. Add that to what I am already dealing with and it is nearly enough to make a hermit of you.

Totally agreeing with WTD here
there is a vast difference between reading and understanding body language....and actual empathy.....
true empathy can be total hell till you learn to turn that shit off....
that is why I make a point of learning to control it....had a hard enough time growing up in redneck hell as it was....then Empathy kicks in and I was truly screwed for a few years....
but you live and learn....
I would however say I am a weak empath tho.....I almost feel sorry for those who are stronger in it..

I don't like to talk about what I can do, or complain about it.. but I feel enough of everyone else's emotions around me to safely say that I don't feel comfortable in large groups of people while still sober. This world is full of enough hatred, misery, and torment, that every day is a battle of feeling like absolute shit.

I consider myself an empath...I can't go near a funeral home if there are more than one services going on...WTD has seen it...Ill break down crying for no reason except that I feel their pain and sorrow...I would rather not even go NEAR funeral home at all. Even when there are no services...i feel the lingering sadness and it sux.

Thank you so much for sharing your experiences and opinions, all of you.
This is helping a lot.

I think each of us as an empath have had the same kind of experiences as Luc and WTD-it is awful until you can learn to tune or "filter" as I call it-like I siad, there are a couple of examples in my journal, one of which is very recent-it sux to have something like that blindside you, and as a vampire, I would hope for the power to be able to control it better than I do

If it's ok with you, I'll take a look.
Sometimes what happens is that i somehow disconnect from what someone close to me is telling me, and I end up not paying attention to what the person is saying, but get stuck with the feeling anyway. Crowded places are not usually my choice either...and yes, I also tend to drink a lot when I'm around many people. Sometimes I get confused, and just have to get out, and I'm not a vampire.
i don't think it's social phobia or agoraphobia, because it depends on the places I'm in...But i do relate to what Cadamia said about this over-feeling turn you into a hermit...

i am an empath. but i am a vampire too that is all i have to say about that.

I really don't see how that helped the thread any.

I always thought that my dislike of very crowded areas was an offshoot of having claustrophobia-now that I have been here for awhile, I begin to wonder if maybe it isn't due to my tendencies as an empath more so than my claustophobia

I think being an empath can actually cause claustrophobia to a degree.

Makes sense.
What I ment by agoraphobia, is the fear of wide places, but yes, large places filled with people; like for instance molls, or markets, and some particular stores, tend to confuse me, irritate me, or even in a bad day, make me have panic attacks...And don't even get me started on Hospitals.

i agree with whitetrashdruid

I work in a large supermarket.. every day I get to deal with hundreds of customers BS, not to mention the bombarding emotions I have to put up with.

I seriously need to learn to shield better.

Me too. I'll keep reading and learning and listening. I don't want to be a hermit, nor I want this to condition my life to the point of having trouble staying next to certain people, or places.
It's not like I completelly want to get rid of this, because sometimes I feel like I can help people using it, but I need to learn to defend myself from the things I don't want to invade me.
I read it's called filtering, but I don't know if the expression applies to me, because I don't feed from those emotions, nor from the energy that comes with them.

Any empath can learn to filter.. only the emotions they choose can get through.. its smiliar to shielding.

for a long time the only way I had to filter was to become rather emotionally dead myself....total shut down.....it does work well for short periods of time....but it is not good for you in the long run......
these days I tend to use this "gift"(I used that term rather dubiously) very sparingly and only when I am trying to help someone....or sell them something....hehe
other than that I try to keep a very tight lid on empathy....and frequent meditation....but thats good whether or not you are an empath.

yup, for a long time I did that too: became an emotional rock...with heavy chemical help, which in time proved to be probablly the worst idea that I had in my life. Anyway, moving on, I agree that meditation is indeed a great idea. Helps me to relax, and helps me to focus. Still in my childhood of meditation practise, though. But I trust in time, and perserverance.

3 types of empathy that i know of receptive you recieve emotional feelings from others

projective you can project your emotions onto others

the last is dual a combination of both

but think on this wouldnt it bennfit a psy vamp to have projective empathy that way he/she could up the persons fear or lust or whatever increasing the energy they give off?

I don't know. I'm not a psy-vamp, but what you're saying makes sense, but then again, I guess that the psy-vamp would have to be very skilled on projecting his emotions when feeding from someone that is, let's say, sad, and then filter that not to feel sad too. Am I making sense?

hmmm...not too sure what to say on this topic...everyone is making great points...

I think its a natural phase of an empath discovering their abilities to shut down emotionally.. whether through means of their own, or chemical help. With all the constant imput, its the only thing you CAN do. In fact, I still do it sometimes. (With or without chemical help, heh..)

i agree

nice read like the info

This would really explain alot...*thinks to self* "why doesn't she tell me this theory first...lol"

lol.. thought I did. You know my 3 minute memory.

I didn't "feel" that from you.

very informative

Empaths, are another being, and they heal cure, they take the disease from people and take them under them selfs then they have to cure them selfs as well.

Interesting point.
I think reiki could help the healing, if that's the very skilled empath's best tallent. I don't think all empaths can heal, or do you think it's inborn too?

No, not all empaths can heal. Though alot of empaths are healers, and vice-versa.

I have to agree that not all Empaths can heal but some can... however, there is a great deal that empaths go through on a daily basis if they aren't careful who they are around...

Oh yeah..I can stronglly relate to that....

I cannot stand being around too much negative energy it always feels draining so i try to surround myself with the positive energies because they always make me feel more alive and less drained....

Being surrounded by positive energies just annoys the hell out of me.. I seriously want to start strangling people.

O.o
wow. I have ex-friend that's like that too...There's a store of exoteric things, candles and incense sticks and such, and it's always very peaceful in there, very calm and very positive. I saw it. She got in that store, and started twitching her hands and legs and had to leave. Then she spent the rest of the day with a very bad humour, to put it lightelly.

I wouldn't say I can heal but there have been times when I have had a family member start getting sick and within a few hours they are fine and I get whatever they had within that time period. When I lived with my dad in pa some years back...he started drinking one night while I was at work...I felt him drinking and I was the one that wound up drunk...at work no less, smelled of it and everything. Job sent me home and by the time I got home...I was full out drunk...my dad was fine...I woke up with a hangover the next day.

Now, peaceful and calm places and emotions, I can handle. But people who are happy for no reason.. yeah I just wanna start choking people.

grammer and spelling check

grammar and spelling check....get over yourself bud....this is the net
about a third of the ppl on this site probably don't even have english as a first language....and this isn't a fucking spelling bee anyways....so stay on topic or just fuck off out the forum...thanks....
back to topic....
only healing I really do involves herbs....
I have in the past tried to speed it along mentally....but i'm never sure if it was that or just a good natural healer that I was dealing with...

I know that someone already refered to this in another thread, but I notice that when i make a cup of lemon tea for someone I like and put a lot of love and intention in it, the person does get better. And the same happens to me. I have a friends that's pretty good at it, (the medicine tastes awful...) and when she does that because she really wants me, or other peopele she made the medicine too, to get better, we do get better. I'm talking about colds and flu, and small indispositions. I think that the intention, and here intention is energy, that we put on the making of remedies, and like was refered before in another thread, food, really has an effect on the people that have it.

I think you're born with empathy. I know when I become close to someone, I can feel what they feel even if they're miles away. When I was in withcraft, my feelings became even stronger. I think it somewhat has something to do with vampires, like back in the old days centuries ago.

I actually think the are linked and go hand in hand. You have to be able to feel, reach into that person's emotional cache and pull out the need to be "awakened".

???

wow good connection but i don't think there is a connection there. there are plenty of vampires out there that arent empathetic. some are even so caught up in the lifestyle that they forget that they have emotion. i guess this could go all the way into psi vamps. in all my years i have noticed that there are psi vamps that classify themselves as empaths because they relentlessly feed off of the emotions of others. ehh this is a broad topic!

okay

Good point Mahikvlad.
This leads to another question: why are vampires so traditionally "disconnected" from emotions? Is it because they avoid the empathy, as it could get in the way of preying without regret, or is it something that i't's, like you said, caught up in the life-style concept that vampires don't have emotions? Is it a question of avoiding the burden, or is something that's a question of style?
For the other two, "???" and "okay"...what?

PhotonicsovrweddingSpectrum- 'grammer and spelling check' as you put it, that would be 'GRAMMAR and SPELL CHECK', you might do well to check into it yoursef ;)

I am an empath, funny- in a way this belongs in the sandox along with gothpunkstarfighter12's post on 'THE TREND THREAD' everyone seems to be an empath these days - lol, and I am one of them. My feelings and emotions are far to 'in tune' but I love it because it reminds me of my mortality (being able to feel).

I am totally not a Vampire, because I have never felt the need to 'feed' anything (except for Italian food). I do not need to consume blood, and my energy is so damn strong, the last thing I need is someone else's.

I understand however, we all have different needs.

im not to sure if its inborn or if all vampires are empaths but it seems that there are some of the same traits linking the two

I myself am a strong empath but if it is a vampire triat as well? hmm maybe.

Very informative but empathy is something I don't have and don't want. I have enough trouble dealing with my own emotions.

Question.. Have any of you read anthing by Michelle Bellanger..(( if you spell her name like that ) well in her vampire codex she mentions the various forms of vampirism.. One mentioned.. empath.. Most empaths are PSI.. there is a difference of being scientifically empath. Any one person can attain that emotion without difficulty. Being a PSI- Empath is completely different. some people are born with this condition and some people "Awaken" to this condition.

I suggest reading Bellanger. She does not have all the answers. No one really does. but she can help with an understanding through her own personal research and experience.

many of us have read it- I posted her site in another thread 'laws of the vampire':

http://www.michellebelanger.com

Thank you both so much. I'll look into it.
All information is welcome.

According to Anne Rice several vampires can read minds and feel other`s feelings. That would go beyond empathy though... personally I think empathy depends on the individual, be they human or vampire...

I am an empath and as for feeding on peoples energy it's dangerous to try and feed off anothers energy unless you are trained to do so...there are some cultures that feed of peoples emotional energy as a way of cleansing the person, the the energy is transfered into something else like a rock or a tree. This is only done with the permission from the spirit inside the object.

I myself am empath. believe it or not.

That's a beautiful concept, Kevil.

I have heard of that Kevil, I am glad you mentioned that type of energy syphoning.

a good reason for cutting off the emotion is when you try to sympathize with your own feelings is a good way to get yours mixed up with someone elses.

I would have to agree with the sandbox thing from Images...Everyone seems to think they are an empath, an indigo, a vampyre whatever....Ummmmm....it really isn't that cool, and shouldn't be bandied about so lightly by wannabe's who only see the "galmourized" version that they read in a book or saw on tv...it kinda sucks actually

I don't see where's the "cool" part of being treated as an odd creature that might aswell have antenas and green skin, because other people's emotions lead you to leave a room without being able to explain your indisposition, or the "Cool" part of having a vampiric condition that leads you to be alone because you drain other people, and even not knowing what you're doing, they will eventually start avoiding you.
If people think that having empathic abilities is "cool" they're dead wrong. It's not "cool" to be invaded by other peoples feelings. It's not "cool" when you just know that someone is lying in your face with a smile. It's not "cool" when you feel bad things coming from others and it makes you feel sick and awkward and diferent from everybody else. If people want to use this to be cool/diferent, I suggest they try painting, drawing, or something else that will distinguish them from the crowd.
There's nothing romantic or glamorous about being an empath or a vampire - and I'm talking about the real deal: The condition, not Anne Rice or White Wolf creations.
This always leads me to think of that saying "Be careful with what you wish for..."

EXACTLY the point....there isn't anything cool or romantic about it, but some, because of the perception available from media, books, movies etc think that if they claim to be that, they are somehow more accepted instead of dealing with their own issues as they are...

I think that the empathy is the worst thing that you can give a human, because they turn it around on you.

it doesn't seem like they have much in common

Most people don't "turn it around on you." In fact most people don't even know how to use their empathy. They just feel whatever everyone else is feeling, thats all. Sometimes too strongly to cope with the real world.

I don't believe that you have to be a vampire to be an empath or vice versa. You can be one without the other. And not all empaths feed on other people's energy or feelings. Some are just perceptive to other people's feelings. Once an empath starts to feed on those feelings then it becomes an emapthic vampire.

I just refer to the Codex about empathic awareness and psy vampirism.

I swear, this book is nearly my bible as of late.

an excellent post and no, empaths are not vampires or psi vamps although there are some that feed solely off pain and misery of others

Kevil I want to add to your response that type of empath is a kitra. A type that recycles energy for a healing purpose. Which is pretty much what I do. From information I gather empathis just a word as it states a person who feels emotions of theose around them. these individuals are known also as Psi. Through energy currents caused from an emotion an individual can take that in to themselves.

I believe that there are alot of empathic people out there and I hope that they would put their gift to good use...to help others and themselves....But this is an extremely different subject, compared to Vampires, altogether. Even, they too, can help mankind.

It's a heightened sence, don't they really go hand in hand? It depends on your definition of vampire of course, but I don't think all 'vampires' have to be.

i'm not sure if they're so unrelated to psy vampires... but what do i know ::smile::

I would love to share some empathy with some vampires out there, but aside from turning in to a bat now and then there is nothing to connect with people. I don't do crazy Ass stuff.

I don't think the two are all inclusive. Humans feel, thus are able to relate to strong emotional stimulus. Feeding off the energy, it becomes a part of us, to me it's two different responses.

hahaha this reminds me of SATs. if all cadillacs are cars, does this mean all cars are cadillacs?

i would vote that not all empaths are vampires and visa-versa. i know a few empaths who are most certainly not vampires. i'm lucky enough to be both : )

i do believe that there is a strick line between empaths, and vampires.

i know when i am around my friends i can feel everything they are, but i'm not so good at it with people i dont' know