Judith Orloff M.D.
Positive energy as a coat of armor
Delicious Reddit

OCTOBER 03, 2005
By Judith Orloff, M.D.

By Judith Orloff, M.D.
Each day we encounter a wide range of energies, both positive and negative. Positive energy includes compassion, courage, forgiveness and faith. Negative energy includes fear, anger, hopelessness and shame. We need to be experts at dealing with energy so we don’t get demolished by draining situations or people who’re energy vampires.
Like me, you may be an intuitive empath—someone who’s so sensitive to energy you pick it up but you’re also drained by it. This goes way beyond feeling sympathy for a distraught friend—we actually take on their pain either emotionally or physically. To cope we take refuge in solitude. We empaths are so attuned to others that we can feel what’s going on inside of them. This can put us on energy overload and aggravate everything from chronic fatigue to overeating.
Empaths, unintentionally, can make even a good doctor's life hell. They manifest so many "unexplained" symptoms, that frustrated physicians write them off as hypochondriacs. Empaths are notoriously misdiagnosed. Patients have come to me with obesity who’ve failed diets because they needed strategies other than eating to protect themselves from negative energy. Others were labeled "agoraphobic" or with "panic disorder," having received only minor relief from traditional treatments. Some were nearly house-bound. They'd all say, "I dislike crowded places where there’s no quick escape. Forget department stores, busy streets, elevators, tunnels. I just avoid them." Sounded very familiar. So I decided to take a history of how these people processed energy in the world, something all health professionals must be trained to assess. Voila! I found many were undiagnosed empaths. For me, this changed everything. My job as a physician then became teaching my patients to center themselves and protect their energy.
How do you know if you’re an empath? What are the signs?
Quiz: Are You an Intuitive Empath?
Ask yourself:
1. Have you ever sat next to someone at a dinner who seems pleasant, but suddenly you're nauseous, have a headache, or feel drained?
2. Are you uncomfortable in crowds, even go out of your way to avoid them?
3. Do you get easily over-stimulated by people or prefer being alone?
4. When someone is in pain, do you start feeling it too ?
5. Do I overeat around people I’m uncomfortable with?
If you've answered "yes" to one or more questions, it's likely you have experienced intuitive empathy. Responding "yes" to every question indicates empathy is draining your energy.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR ENERGY
1. In crowds or stressful situations take a few deep breaths to exhale negativity from your body
2. Meditate daily to center yourself—visualize roots going through you and planting firmly in the ground
3. Take daily baths or showers . Water is a potent purifier and can wash away stress.
4. Eliminate draining people from your life or set clear boundaries with them.
This story was produced by Happy News columnist, Judith Orloff M.D. Orloff is a psychiatrist, and the author of the new book Positive Energy: Ten Extraordinary Prescriptions for Transforming Fatigue, Stress, and Fear Into Vibrance, Strength, and Love (Three Rivers Press) upon which this article is based. She is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at UCLA, has a private practice in Los Angeles and leads workshops on intuition, energy, and medicine.For more information about Dr. Orloff's workshops, books and tours, visit her Web site.
For more information on contributing to Happynews, click here.