As I listened to my patient’s story, watching tears roll down her face describing the emotional trauma she had endured and was desperately trying to overcome, I found my throat develop a lump, my stomach began to tighten and tears just silently rolled down my face as I listened quietly while trying to offer the strong support and healing this patient required. As an empath, I'm a living antenna, constantly tuned into the emotional frequencies of those around me. It's a gift, yes, but sometimes it feels like a curse. That day, the emotions hit me like a tidal wave, leaving me gasping for air, dragging me down into a whirlpool of overwhelming sadness. My own feelings, usually easily identified, were lost in the emotional ocean. This is the flip side of being an empath – the exhaustion, the confusion, the struggle to stay afloat. But through this journey of overwhelm, I've also discovered my strength, my resilience, and the transformative power of embracing my sensitivity. This isn't just about surviving as an empath; it's about thriving.