The Empath Test

Jon Ronson famously wrote a book a few years ago called The Psychopath Test, see: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12391521-the-psychopath-test. Now somebody has developed a test for another personality type: the empath. It's on a blog by a woman called "Willemijn". I don't know if that's her real name. It is a Dutch or South African name, but I don't know where she comes from. She says she used to work in the financial industry, one notorious for its attraction to psychopaths, see background link below. Then she had a spiritual awakening and started her website which also offers psychic services such as healing and divination. Her article is called: Are you an Empath? 13 Surefire Signs with a Personal Empath Test. As with the other examples in the background links below, it really strikes a chord with me, perhaps the most out of all of them. It uses the term "energy vampires" which sounds as if it means something similar to the one I coined: "emotional vampires", see here for details: https://hpanwo-tv.blogspot.com/2019/03/a-message-to-steve.html. Willemijn's article's description of relationships and interaction with narcissists is particularly perceptive. Source: https://www.alittlesparkofjoy.com/empath/.

Here are my test results:

Do you feel different or as if you don't fit in with others? Yes

Are you able to feel the pain of people or animals? Yes

Do these feelings tend to manifest physically? Yes

Do you know what others are feeling, even if they are trying to hide it? Yes

Are there times when you (or others) feel you are too emotional or sensitive? Yes

Do you struggle with chronic anxiety or depression that isn't situational? Yes

Does noise, lots of movement, or certain smells make you feel anxious? No

Do you avoid public places because they make you feel overwhelmed? No

Do you feel drained after being around large groups? No

Is your mood affected by the emotional state of others? Yes

Are interpersonal relationships with others hard for you to manage? Yes

Do art, literature, and music move you emotionally? Yes

Do you avoid conflict with others because of the way it makes you feel? No

Are there times when you mimic the accents or mannerisms of others without meaning to? Yes

Does multitasking seem overly difficult for you? Yes

Are you more connected with nature and animals than the average person? Yes

Do people tend to come to you for help with their problems? Yes

Are you affected physically or emotionally by violent images or videos? Yes

Do you overeat, drink, smoke, or engage in other unhealthy habits to deal with strong emotions? No

Do certain medications or caffeine have a strong effect on your physical or mental state? Yes
My score is fifteen yes answers. Anything above eight yeses means you are above average on the empathy scale. Fifteen yeses puts me very high, what the author calls "hyper-empathic". The article concludes with some advice for empaths on how to survive in this world, protect oneself and make the most out of life through spiritual practices and mental discipline.

See here for background: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2015/03/being-empath.html.

And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-dark-side-of-empath.html.

And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2019/08/empathy-spam.html.

And: https://hpanwo-voice.blogspot.com/2013/12/channel-4s-psychopath-night.html.