CAN WE BE TOO EMPATHIC?

Recently one of my patients said that they were being "too empathic."  She was referring to being understanding of others even when it was stressful for her. She did not feel it was right to not say something or not encourage the others. In exploring this further, it seems that she was making excuses for the others and that she felt that they couldn't help themselves. This seemed like other times when she felt responsible for others. In reflecting further together it seems that my patient's concern about being "too empathic" really represents her being sympathetic as my understanding of sympathy is when we feel for others versus listening to them and to  what their feelings are. This is what I understand what being empathic is. 

So, when we feel we have to say something or respond in some way we might be feeling reponsible for others and this often means that we are managing our own discomfort this way. It might be better to practice listening to others without reacting to what we are hearing so that we will be supporting their ability to manage their own feelings.

What do you think?

SHAME VS EMPATHY

Empathy is good and shame is bad.  So why is this a big deal?  It may be because shame is so destructive and empathy is so helpful. What makes shame so destructive? If you have ever experienced shame [and it is possible that everyone has experienced shame] then you know how bad it feels.  Shame makes people feel alone and separated from others.  We have our unique ways of responding when we feel shame and yet certain patterns of response have been identified by Linda Hartling,Ph.D. Director of Human Dignity and Humiliation Studies, that she calls "strategies of disconnection" [from the pain associated with feeling shame] that include: 1. moving away from people by disappearing into ourselves; 2. moving toward others by people pleasing behaviors; and 3. moving against others by anger and fighting back.

What causes shame?  Some people connect shame with traumatic experiences.  So when we feel overwhelmed we feel shame?  Being overwhelmed does seem to separate us from others and likely from ourselves.  This makes being empathic or responding to empathy from others difficult, if not impossible.  What can we do?  Brene' Brown in a TED Talk about shame indicated the importance of being able to identify things that will cause each of us to feel shame.  These triggers, when we are aware of them, can be avoided at times and our awareness can allow us to cut short the shame response before it becomes powerful.  Our awareness can allow us to stop ourselves from responding in our usual and negative way, substituting a self-affirming response.  Sounds good but how do we break a pattern that often has been established over years? 

Dean Smith [long time coach of the North Carolina Chapel Hill basketball] is quoted as saying that if you make a mistake you should "recognize it, admit it, learn from it and forget it." Maybe this could help us deal with feelings of shame.  It also may be related to recommendations for how people who have been traumatized can help themselves [with the support of a therapist] by choosing to think about the past trauma and tell themselves that they don't need to be stressed by the event anymore and why, then move on and let it go [forget it?]. It also helps if we are able to calm ourselves and clear our minds and then choose to think about past traumas.  So, as I have blogged about previously, to help people recover from traumatic experiences research indicates that it is good to combine mindfulness practices [calming ourselves and clearing our  minds]; Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy [like what I described above] and interpersonal therapy [working with someone that you trust so you are willing to risk trying out new skills to let go of worries about past stresses].

So, what about empathy?  According to Brene' Brown, shame can't survive empathy. So, why is that?  Well, empathy connects people and shame disconnects people.  To respond empathically we need to listen to others nonjudgementally and communicate our understanding of what others are feeling. This invites responses from others and creates a sense of connection and support.  To be empathic we need to be present with others and not be reactive or judgemental.  This seems like a good way to relate to others all the time.  

LISTENING, REALLY LISTENING...WHY IS THIS SO IMPORTANT?

Over and over recently I have seen how listening can reduce stress in our lives and help us to be more confident.  So, how can listening help reduce stress and improve our confidence?  My initial awareness of the significance of listening came when some of my patients talked about trying to help their friends deal with grief.  My patients felt bad that all they could do was listen to their friends. When we discussed their friends response to being listened to, it seemed to be positive. Another patient indicated that when she responded emotionally to her friend who was experiencing grief and said that she knew what her friend was experiencing, her friend became angry.  We then wondered if listening was really being empathic and saying how you feel or that you understand, is not empathic but really being sympathetic.  So sympathy seems to be more about the person who is trying to console the other and actually may separate themselves from the one they are trying to console.

Maybe listening is really like meditation, like being present with ourselves and the person we are listening to. if listening is a way to be empathic then does that mean that being empathic is like being present with someone [and with ourselves]?

Another benefit associated with listening without our own agenda is that when we do this our brains seem to be working optimally as we realize that we remember everything that we are hearing and then we are able to respond without worrying or feelling stressed.  

So, does that mean that listening to others and ourselves is like being present with others [and ourselves] and is a very good way to us our brains?