When Feeling Everything Feels Like Too Much

There comes a time and place in life where you just feel invisible, unappreciated, overlooked, and unloved. For me, that’s been here recently.

I’ve been hard on myself (and if I’m honest, on those around me too) because I’ve been frustrated. Frustrated with my body and my looks. Frustrated with certain aspects of my job. Frustrated with the state of the world. It feels like stress is this constant background noise that never shuts off.

And social media isn’t helping. It feeds every insecurity: models showing off fitness regimes and fad diets, endless commentary on mass layoffs, and the nonstop reminder that our country is divided and angry. No matter what “side” you’re on, there’s hate. It makes my heart ache that love and compassion feel so rare.

I’m an empath, which basically means I feel other people’s emotions like they’re my own. Joy, sadness, stress, anxiety... I pick it up and carry it, whether I want to or not. And lately, everyone around me feels heavy. Stressed. Sad. Worn out. And because I’m me, I want to fix it. Fix them. Fix everything. But I can’t. I don’t have magical powers, and I’m not superhuman. So instead, I absorb it all until I feel weighed down, emotionally, physically, mentally.

Someone once told me their therapist said: “You are not responsible for fixing other people’s emotions. You can support them, but their healing isn’t yours to carry.” I know that’s true… but I haven’t learned how to live it yet. Just ask my husband - I can feel his energy the second he walks through the door (after a long day), and I’ll immediately ask what’s wrong or how I can help. Sometimes I can sense it before he even says a word. It’s like a wave crashing into me.

And it’s not just him... it’s coworkers, friends, even strangers on the street. Some days, I wish I had a block, or an off switch, because it’s exhausting.

Also, let’s be real, I don’t have my own therapist. I’m the type of person who thinks, “I don’t have anything to talk about.” So I guess these blogs are where I vent. This is my therapy, for now. Saying it out loud here makes it feel a little less heavy?

But it’s not all bad. Being an empath means I form deep connections. It means I can sit with people when they don’t have the words for what they’re feeling and just know. It means my creativity and intuition run deep (at least when I’m not completely drained).

The truth is, I don’t have this figured out. I’m still learning where the line is between caring for people and carrying their emotions with me. I wish I could say I’ve found a balance, but right now… I haven’t.

Maybe part of the work is just admitting when you’re in that space - feeling invisible, overlooked, or worn thin - and letting yourself say it out loud.

This is me saying it out loud.

Sitting in my (and everyone else's) emotions today,

-CC