The Empath's Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People Paperback – September 4, 2018

This book felt like it was written directly for me. It not only explains what it means to be an empath but also gives practical tools for protecting your energy, setting boundaries, and navigating relationships without feeling drained. I appreciated how it mixes science, real examples, and actionable advice instead of just theory. It’s one of those books I’ll keep coming back to whenever I need a reminder that being sensitive is a strength, not a weakness.

I’d apologize for the all-caps, but that’s actually how I feel about this book & I’m no longer conforming to others’ feelings. 😉OK, that’s a bit of a joke based on the book, but I am completely serious about how this guide has changed my life.I was always a people-pleaser, sacrificing everything including my own identity just so people would like me and/or not leave me. Of course, most of the time I didn’t realize what I was doing and why, but over the past six months I’ve been on a spiritual journey of self-discovery. This book was recommended to me by a dear friend on a similar journey.This guide isn’t just a one-time read—although of course reading it through at least once is always good. But I’ve marked mine up w/flags, highlighting & pencil comments like a textbook, so I can refer to certain items as needed.This world isn’t exactly built for is empaths and in many ways our lives are stacked against our sensitivities. But rather than blame everything around us for our unhappiness, etc, we can look within ourselves to understand why we feel and/or do what we do. This guide helps with that and encourages readers to continue (or start!) journeys of self-discovery.It’s useful to look into past experiences for the purpose of learning lessons, but not to dwell on what we did, or should have, or could have done. This teaches you how to review past actions in an effort to learn from them while also guiding you towards present and future actions that are right for you.Simply put, unlike a lot of other self-discovery or self-help books, this one isn’t about assigning blame. On the other hand, it encourages readers to take responsibility for their actions, their feelings and their lives. Once we learn how to make the choices that are in our highest good—without just being told what to do or just given the answers—that’s when our actions, feelings/emotions and lives begin to change.I highly recommend this book to anyone ever told they’re “too sensitive,” or advised to “get a thicker skin.” But I also recommend it to anyone who has ever said or thought those things about someone else.Empaths are amazing people with truly awesome gifts and perspectives. We empaths just need to learn how to manage our proclivities for our own highest good, which will send positive energy into the world around us.This book is one of the essentials for your empath tool kit. 💟😊⭐️

Very informative and helpful for those who try to navigate empathetic feelings and not let it take over your life.

If you follow Dr. Orloff (read her books, read her newsletters, watch her YouTube videos, attend events, etc.) a lot of the content of this book is review. Do I feel like I just wasted $14 on this book and Audible version? Absolutely not! This book is filled with tools to add to your arsenal! (I love the idea of putting a meditation cushion in front of the refrigerator to serve as a reminder to stop and check-in with yourself.)This is a good primer on empathy, vampires, narcissists, addictive behavior, triggers, and more. This is one of her shorter books - less than 300 pages. Even though not as big as her other books, this book is chock-full of quizzes to gain insights into your behavior, great advice, and insights into other people.This book is a reference manual for those who are familiar with the subject of empathy and a good book for those new to this all.

It is interesting that Judith Orloff starts off in her book, 'The Empath's Survival Guide' in saying that empaths have a hyperactive mirror neuron system so that we are able to sense what other people are going through, and that narcissists have empathy deficient disorder. I say we have to be careful as empaths not to get pulled in by a narcissist. I have, and it takes a lot of time to undo it. Save yourself some time for more pleasant life experiences and really learn how to protect yourself as an empath. Dr Judith Orloff covers all aspects of how to do this in the book. You can purchase it as a book, as a kindle ebook or as an audio CD.Dr. Orloff goes on to talk about how the medical system tries to diagnose empaths as having a disorder. No no no. It is not true. We have very healthy boundaries and are taking care of ourselves. Yes, we empaths almost always sense what is going on with people, and just have to continue to know there is nothing wrong with us, and continue setting those boundaries such as knowing when to leave when we start feeling overwhelmed around someone or a group of people. This is important for all aspects of our health.I resonate with so many things Dr. Orloff mentioned in her book 'The Empath's Survival Guide'. One thing in particular is that she thought it was a good idea to take a separate car when going to an event or party. I always took a separate car when going to parties with someone to be able leave when I felt overwhelmed. I couldn't stand small talk either. I took side streets, many of the things she mentions that empaths do.I referred a couple of friends to this important book. One of them bought 'The Empath's Survival Guide' thinking it is just what she needed because she has a client that doesn't honor her boundaries and she needs help with that. She was so grateful I told her about it.We as a society should be thinking about teaching this in schools before children go out into the world and it would help in interactions with other kids. Like Dr. Orloff, I too was scared of my own sensitivities in my childhood and tended to withdraw instead. So what did I do after High School? I worked for a Psychiatrist hoping I could also figure out what was wrong with me. I get more out of Dr. Ofloff's lectures, radio interviews and books that help me now than I did then. Psychiatry has taken a more positive and personal stance, thankfully.Read and reread this book, 'The Empath's Survival Guide, so that you don't get yourself in situations you don't want to be in and find an easier way to express yourself. You will be more at ease being an empath.Enjoy!Kathy SE