Are Empaths a Sign of Human Evolution?

By in Mastershift

By: Paige Bartholomew
Licensed Psychotherapist

I knew all my life that I was “sensitive” and that I picked up on things that others did not. I also knew that my body didn’t handle sensory stimuli the same way other bodies did. I could easily become overwhelmed by itchy clothes, too much noise or strange smells. High emotion in a room could send me over the edge.

Sometimes if too much input came at me all at once, it would send me into a full blown panic attack. But it wasn’t until I became a therapist that I came to understand that being an “empath” isn’t just some woo-woo label that New-Agers made up to make themselves feel special. I learned that my nervous system is actually wired differently than most humans.

The Gifted Empath

From here forth, I will refer to “Sensory Processing Disorder” as “Sensory Processing DIFFERENCE”. In my professional view, it’s not a disorder, it’s a manifestation of human evolution. Empaths, Sensitives and those with Sensory Processing Differences may well have abilities that regular people often marvel at, including the ability to sense subtle sound, light, and energy vibration, emotional subtlety and even mystical phenomena.

In recent years, we’ve seen a rapid increase in the numbers of children born with SPD. In my opinion, this is a sign that the human race is progressing toward a superior state. The ability to take in much larger amounts of sensory data is an evolutionary leap for our species.


Quick Checklist: Are you an Empathic SPD Human?

1. Hyper-sensitive to touch: touch may be uncomfortable or ticklish, may avoid tactile stimulation

2. Hypo-sensitive to touch: May crave touch or seek out strong sensory input

3. Difficulty with Self-Soothing: Has trouble calming self, requires lots of outside help to process life’s challenges, irritability, emotional roller coaster

4. Sensory-avoidant behaviors: afraid of heights, loses balance easily, avoids fast movements, avoids hugs and eye contact

5. Sensory-seeking behaviors: craves fast movement, spinning, thrill-seeking, chewing on pens, fingernails,

6. Sensitive to negativity: negative talk, scary stories, violence or cruelty on TV, news, etc…

7. Social Avoidance: Overwhelmed by sensory input in crowds, likes to spend a lot of time alone

8. Hyper-sensitive to noise: Distracted by noise that others don’t notice, fearful of noise, shock at loud sounds

9. Hypo-sensitive to noise: Doesn’t respond when name is called, seeks loud music or TV, makes noise for fun

10. Hyper-sensitive to smell: Offended by body smells, bathroom smells, cooking smells, can smell odors others cannot

11. Hyper-sensitive to sights: Sensitive to bright light, enjoys dimly lit rooms, avoids eye contact

12. Allergies: Sensitivities to food, environment, medications

13. Immune Disorders: Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Lupus, etc…

14. Extra-sensory perception: of any kind

16. Mystical experiences: of any kind

17. Inner Conflict: Deep sense of wanting a peaceful world but personally experiences internal turmoil – the two don’t seem to match and it may feel confusing.

If you have a handful of these traits, you are probably an Empathic SPD Human.

Self-Care for Highly Sensitive People

It’s not easy to live as a highly sensitive person. The empathic brain doesn’t filter unnecessary stimuli the way other people’s brains do. ​

Because of this, highly sensitive people tend to take in MORE movement, MORE voices, MORE flashes of color, MORE scents, MORE feelings, MORE energy. Empathic SPDs wear out fast. Their brains use more battery power per minute than the next guy. They tend to get sick more easily than others. Being able to pick up so much sensory and energetic stimulation floods them with more information about the world than other people get – which is FUN! But it can also be exhausting.

If this is true for you, consider abandoning your attempts to fit in and to be like everyone else.

You’re NOT like everyone else – you’re differently-abled.

When you find yourself in an unbearable situation, instead of forcing yourself to suffer through to the point of exhaustion, anxiety or panic, choose to care for yourself in new ways. It’s your right, and in fact, it’s your responsibility to yourself to design your environment in a way that supports your well-being.

Examples of Self-Care

Emotions: Many Empaths feel other people’s emotion so exquisitely that it can be hard to tell who the emotion belongs to. Practice asking yourself, “Is this feeling mine, or theirs?”

Merging: Empaths have a tendency to merge with others. Some call it “leaky boundaries”, but this label overlays a negative connotation to something which is actually pretty wonderful. Merging with, and feeling another’s experience as one’s own isn’t a weakness – it’s a superpower! Society just hasn’t caught on yet. Take care of yourself by choosing wisely who you merge with.

Sensory Overstimulation: Just living in your own body can be overstimulating. The feeling of digestion in the belly may be interpreted as a strange, uncomfortable feeling. Pain may be felt more intensely than it is by others. The sound in the ears can be extreme. Being too warm or cold may be too much for the brain to process. Caring for yourself means learning to read the signs your body is giving you. If your internal sensations feel like too much, take a break and sit alone in a quiet place for 20 minutes.

More Wattage: Living in a body may seem simple enough for most people – a non-issue even. But for you, it may take a certain level of purposefully focused attention just to manage it. Because you are starting out of the gate using more attention and energy to manage internal and external stimuli, it means that less is available for regular life. Your brain is literally running more programs than the average human being. Self-care means getting enough rest and alone time. You may need more frequent breaks or to work fewer hours than other people.

Love and care for the special body you’ve been given!

You are literally the miracle of human evolution happening right before the world’s eyes!

About the Author: Paige Bartholomew is a licensed psychotherapist in Austin, Texas. She has been a devoted student of Sufism since 1998, where she is ordained with the station of Sufi Master Teacher by the Shadhuliyya Higher Sufi Council.  She is a long-time spiritual healer, student of A Course In Miracles, shamanic journey guide, energy healer, certified hypnotist and passionate writer about consciousness and existential issues.

6 Comments

  1. Cecily 7 years ago

    I love this! The sensory overload, sensitivity to medication, hot cold, scratchy clothes, even brushing of the hair. I’ve spent nearly my entire life trying to numb these beautiful accentuations. The last two years I have let them come full bore and the vibrant world that I am able to enjoy is so so much more! Giving myself permission to go home early, to be alone and to avoid foods that destroy me instead of attempting to force my triangle to fit in their square hole has been the most beautiful transformation. Thank you for bringing light to this as a gift.

  2. Maralore 7 years ago

    Beautifully written and with a unique perspective offered at a time when the world needs more acceptance and less negativity. Thank you!

  3. Paige 7 years ago

    Hello everyone! I would like to invite you to join my movement, THE LOVE REVOLUTION on Facebook, where we have daily discussions about things like being empathic, living a loving, spiritual life, and healing the wounded heart.

    Please visit: http://www.facebook.com/therevolutionofevolution

    I send you my love!

    Paige Bartholomew, Author of the above article

  4. Cynthia 7 years ago

    Very informational and I wonder if, since my 11 yr old son has many of these symptoms, he should be seeing a therapist to understand and learn to live with all of these feelings? His anxiety comes across as anger and I’m worried that with the teen years coming up he will have trouble controlling that even more so.

  5. Lindsey 7 years ago

    Yes, yes, yes!

  6. Wow Page, I’m sensitive to it all, the muscle condition, hypersensitive to Neurotoxins, all the evil,hate,hurt &killing of our brothers & Sisters, I know if I don’t confront my PSPD, my destructive cellular memories, fill the void,the lonely ness,the stress,fill my vessel with light, with courage, Love,with warmth, completeness,Alive,happiness,joy, the wisdom & knowledge to unwind my insides, to unlease my blockages, how do we get to the heart & Soul of life Page, I keep looking at my end goal in hopes that a miricle secretly does the rest, but what about all my hurtful memories will dissolve all on their own, I’m not a church goer but I remember Paul saying something about dealing with thorns as he went about his work, but which is it can we heal this, the memories, stress,sadness,physical pain and tightness I stretch morning til night all with these thoughts, thanks for caring Jeremy

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