Empathy causing Bipolar-like symptons?

[Spirited]

Hey all :wave:


I always had a feeling I might be an Empath, because I'm extremely sensitive. There's also a family-history of people being like this. Today, I was "diagnosed" as an Empath by my psychiatrist. See, this is my question. I've been experiencing all the signs of what seems to be Bipolar, but he (the consultant) believes this is an effect of the Empathy.

My trouble is...what do I do? Bipolar is obviously very dangerous, and whatever this is I need to be able to track it down so that I can begin to control it. Should I attempt to learn shielding in the hope that, if it is bipolar, it will rule out the Empathy being the cause?

All opinions are really welcome and much appreciated, because I'm...lol, very confused _inabox_

[wolf]

Your psychiatrist may have a different definination for "Empathy" than you do ... please ask him to clarify. Psychiatrists do not typically identify psychic abilities in their clients.

[Lunacie]

Does anyone else in your family have Bi-polar, ADD/ADHD, OCD, or clinical depression? Seems like I'm forgetting something in that grouping of disorders, hmmm.

[Spirited]

My psychiatrist seems to have a similar definition. Lol, I see what you mean though, when he said it I immediately had to stifle a giggle because I just thought, "Oh, so he's into stuff like this too huh? Interesting..." The more he talked about it, the more I realised his definition was very similar, if not dead-on, what I'd always classed as meaning you were an Empath. Creativity, disliking crowded situations, most of what I'd read.

And yeah, as my situation has gotten worse, more people in my family have revealed being OCD, having clinical depression, things like that. My father has been on anti-depressants for 20 years. The thing is, since I'm so young they're very unwilling to diagnose me with anything serious *blink* I guess they don't want me to sue or something.

[Little Billy]

Hey all :wave:


I always had a feeling I might be an Empath, because I'm extremely sensitive. There's also a family-history of people being like this. Today, I was "diagnosed" as an Empath by my psychiatrist. See, this is my question. I've been experiencing all the signs of what seems to be Bipolar, but he (the consultant) believes this is an effect of the Empathy.

My trouble is...what do I do? Bipolar is obviously very dangerous, and whatever this is I need to be able to track it down so that I can begin to control it. Should I attempt to learn shielding in the hope that, if it is bipolar, it will rule out the Empathy being the cause?

All opinions are really welcome and much appreciated, because I'm...lol, very confused _inabox_

2d opinion.

[Spirited]

^ I don't doubt that I'm an Empath, though. It seems to me that the thing-pretending-to-be-bipolar is a completely separate issue from being overly sensitive. I'm just not sure how to prove it.

[Lunacie]

I've been hearing lots about how the first line of treatment for ADD and OCD and Anxiety/Panic disorders (that's the one I couldn't remember before) is to give antidepressants. That's all some people need. Some need a medication
tailored more closely to their symptoms. They're prescribing anti-depressants like Tylenol, even for kids these days. I haven't heard about them being used for Bi-Polar, but since all those disorders are related in some way, it could be that taking an anti-depressant would help you. At least with the depressive state - I dunno if that would help with the manic phase.

NOT that I'm advocating that. I'm not taking any prescription drugs for my ADD, just an Omega 3 (fish oil) supplement, and have been pleasantly surprised at how much it's helping. A specific diet, exercise, and certain supplements along with behavior modification therapy or coping skills is the way I'd start treatment as long as the symptoms that seem to be Bi-polar are fairly mild.

I have indeed wondered if Empathy somehow goes hand-in-hand with the other disorders I listed, but at this point I'm only wondering.

[Pesha]

If you are bi-polar, tyou need treatment to help you. your doctor should know that. Please talk to him or see someone for a second opinion. Empathy is a good thing and does occur in people with such things as ADD AHD and Bi- polar. But it is not tro the best of my knowledge something that always occurs together.

BB
DS.

[wolf]

See, that's why I'm suggesting that you really clarify what he meant with him.

If your psychiatrist is telling you he thinks you have psychic powers, get a new psychiatrist.

If, however, your psychiatrist is telling you he thinks you have poor ego boundaries, make your own decision in that regard.

Meeting diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder does not make you an empath.

[Lunacie]

Honestly, I know very little about Bi-polar disorder so I used the search engine and typed in "Bi-polar and empathy". It seems much more common for people with Bi-polar disorder to have less empathy or none at all. Hmmm.

[Spirited]

I don't think he was "diagnosing" me as an Empath, more as a personality style or something, but for me it's just settled what I'd always thought. The way he thinks it relates to the mood swings is that he believes after days of "collecting" up not-pleasant emotions and the negativity of the world around me, I just go into meltdown either way; very happy or very depressed. Does that make any sense?

[LostSheep]

this is very interesting, as I've often thought that i have bipolar-like symptoms, but when i've seen doctors and people like that, apparently I haven't ticked all the right boxes on their forms to meet their criteria. So I've wonderd if it's empathy that causes these symptoms too; maybe it is with you.

i understand 100% what you've been going through.

[KEishin]

I've known many Empaths to get major depression, but not bi-polar disorder. Then again the two bi-polar people I knew both had the emotional intelligence of a child, so they might not be the best sample.

Go get a second opinion, because if your doctor is going to ignore the physical aspects of BPD in favor of the psychic, then you need a new doctor.

[Lunacie]

I don't think he was "diagnosing" me as an Empath, more as a personality style or something, but for me it's just settled what I'd always thought. The way he thinks it relates to the mood swings is that he believes after days of "collecting" up not-pleasant emotions and the negativity of the world around me, I just go into meltdown either way; very happy or very depressed. Does that make any sense?

YES ! That does make sense. I wondered about it myself in my teens and twenties especially, but I didn't really fit what I had heard/read Bi-Polar was like. Now I know that there is also a Bi-Polar II with a more rapid cycling which sounds like the bloody emotional roller coaster I was riding. Once I was successful in creating a shield that gave me time to find my own path without all those continual ups and downs I felt so much better. That gave me the space to learn what -I- felt like so I could tell when that changed without a good reason and I was able to tell which were my own feelings and which were feelings I was picking up from others. Even non-Empaths respond to the people in their environments, picking up visual or verbal cues about their mood.

So, with this perspective my advice becomes: before you take any drugs for the Bi-Polar - try to create a shield. There are several threads with really good ideas on shielding here on MW - use the "search" button in the bar on top. PearlS has a wonderful class in the Circle of Teaching called Defense Against the Dark Arts or something like that with a marvelous thread on shielding.

[Spirited]

Thanks, I'll give it a try :) I'd rather not take any drugs, and it can't hurt to try, even if just for a month or so.

[LacunaCobra]

I'm bipolar II and borderline on top of that. Fun, fun! Hehe... I am on lots of meds now and have been the past 7 yrs. I've found lately that a lot of my comfort and grounding can be found in crystals. I don't know what I'd do without them! Right now I'm loving lepidolite, dioptase, fluorite, and kyanite. I'm waiting to get a lithium quartz and kunzite in the mail. The stones however are not a substitution for meds, so don't feel bad if you decide to go that route. Some meds are just necessary. Mindfulness and meditation are also really good for me. Keep us posted on what you decide to do! :hugz:

[Walking Spirit]

I would have to say that you need to make another appointment and clarify if he was making this statement as a true "diagnosis" or personality statement in his eyes, or was it an off the cuff remark by him. I suffer from Depression, have even gone to a Psychiatrist to look into Bi-Polar. My father is, several family members have depression (not just the kind that keeps you in the dumps for a day or two). I am also empathic. I would never think to lump them together. I dont even think I would say being empathic is a personality type. If you do have Bi-Polar signs and symptoms, I would stongly suggest that you look further into it before things get worse. I don't know your history or what you have experienced with Bi-Polar, but it is much much much more than empathy. This type of remark is what I would expect more from an "alternative" Doctor, or a Doctor that I have been with for years and a relationship has been set for these type of remarks to be safely made.

I am in no way saying that you are not empathic, I am just saying that you need to really clarify why it was said, is it something he would document and allow you to take to another Doctor (if not, there is your answer) and was it meant to use as a diagnoses of what you are going through or "on top of" what you are going through.

I hope that you get the answers you are looking for from the Pyschiatrist.