Every so often these things come out. Perhaps we need them to? I don't know. This is a new way of thought presented to me recently. The first time i heard empath was in Star Trek lol. Good old Counselor Troi and her abilities to feel others thoughts etc. I have always regarded others thoughts and feeling before mine. Never once did i ever think empath. The older i get, along with insight from others, it begins to make sense. There is a need, if that is the correct assumption, to take in those feelings and veer them away from those you wish to help, but in essence, take into yourself. The world has always been screwed up. I have always found myself caught up in that tug-of-war pulling me every-which-way. I am a guy, so deep rooted feelings was something i kept away from others. Every so often they had to come out and i found most ran the opposite direction. So, i suppressed them. Eventually you come to a realization, who cares what others think. It's what you think and feel that really matters. Another friend of mine said, you can't help everyone. We can try. You will burn the hell out and there will be nothing left for yourself. There is a balance somewhere i have not found yet. Perhaps you are not supposed to. We are put here for a reason...not indefinite carvings up of yourself. I believe there may be a select few that you are supposed to touch their lives and that is why you are who you are. I am beginning to understand the draining nature of this. It can peck away at your very being. To make matters worse, there are those 'things' unseen that sense this and come in to strip the bones. Tug-of-war? That's an understatement. It's a battle to keep what is you every single day. Finally after all this time i am able to see and understand this. It is debilitating on your very core. I am a music lover and this is probably where this is stemming from tonight. But, i believe without it, i would've been drained far long ago before actually knowing what was being done. It is like a recharge of your soul. There are those who don't believe/understand this empathic ability. Trust me, i was one of them. It is no made up story or hallucination or tv character. I didn't put it into perspective until recently. I only wish i had far earlier than now. Understanding and closing that gate until knowing it is required is quite a fundamental task in it's own.