Struggling to Heal as an Empath? Here's Why

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Saturday, 25 May 2024

Written by Diane Katherine

Struggling to Heal as an Empath? Here's Why

Have you tried doing many different things to heal as an Empath, but you still find yourself suffering with ailment after ailment?

Or do you find you are not dealing with any type of stress?

If you answered yes, you are certainly not alone. Many Empaths are constantly working on their mind body and spirit, in the aim to find balance, but still struggle both with being a human, and with being an Empath.

As I always say, we are all different. What one person needs to heal is not what another needs. Even if we have identical symptoms, it doesn’t mean we need the same healing modality. For one Empath, using crystals to heal was enough, for another a change of diet worked. But some Empaths try literally everything to find balance, and still struggle with issues either physically, mentally or spiritually.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you will probably already know that I like to address the many different issues that can weaken us as Empaths. Because, in this world, there are many.

Experiencing the physical and emotional energy of other people can take its toll, especially when we have been physically weakened by one of the many toxins out there in our environment.

There is also one thing that we have to take into serious consideration as a destabilizing influence for us as Empaths, and that is an out of balance limbic system.

When the limbic system is not functioning as it should, not only does it mean we won’t handle any type of stress well, but we can also get one illness after another or have autoimmune conditions to live with.

Now, I realize you have probably heard of the limbic system, I have touched on it both in books and articles, but you may not be too familiar with the role it plays in our lives as Empaths. So, here is a little explanation:

The limbic system is a complex set of structures located in our midbrain, known as the feeling or reactive brain. It helps manage our emotional responses. For example, the pleasure you may experience when eating a large block of chocolate is your limbic system at work, as it is when you are feeling anger or fear, whether that be your own, or the emotions you pick up in others. These emotional reactions then activate the endocrine system to release the necessary hormones, e.g., pleasure hormones or stress hormones.

This is all well and good when the limbic system is functioning optimally. However, in many Sensitive people, this is not always the case…

Anything considered worrying or emotionally demanding can activate the stress hormones: adrenalin and cortisol. Stimuli that is classed as harmless generally has little in the way of hormonal release. However, in an out of balance limbic system, small things become big things.

A lot of us Empaths and Sensitive folk assume that we don’t react well to certain stress triggers because we are simply too sensitive, and it is just something we have to live with. And for some, this could very well be the case, but something we have to take into consideration is that our sensitivity to external stimuli and emotional energy could actually be worsened by having a ‘broken limbic system’.

Obviously, this system doesn’t just break without provocation or without reason. There are several factors that may impede the normal functioning of our limbic system. These include:

Viral, bacterial, or fungal infections
Physical trauma
Psychological or emotional upset
Chemical exposure
Mold toxicity
Inflammation
Chronic stress
Immune system dysfunction

More often than not, this limbic system damage is caused without us even realizing. Generally, it will happen over the course of several years, and by numerous contributing factors.

When our limbic system has been damaged, it tends to remain in a highly reactive state, which, to cut a long story short, means we overreact to external stimuli and stress. This also means that, as Empaths, we can overreact to any type of energy such as emotions, electrical energy, noise, visual stimuli, etc.

When in a state of high alert, our brain dials down certain body systems, including the immune system and detoxification pathways, so that it can give us the energy to get away from what it considers a life-threatening situation. And, as a result of this regularly happening, we can then become more vulnerable to chemicals, bacteria, and viruses. Which in turn might lead to illnesses and physical conditions such as:

Epilepsy
Brain Inflammation
Dementia/Alzheimer’s
Anxiety disorders
Schizophrenia
ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
Chronic fatigue
Fibromyalgia
Irritable bowel syndrome
SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth)
Chemical sensitivities
Pain disorders
Autoimmune conditions

The list above is limited. There can be many other issues caused by a broken limbic system. So, if after trying many ways to find balance of your mind, body and spirit, and you have not healed, or if you really struggle with Empath life, this has to be a consideration.

When your limbic system is broken or out of balance, you will have an overreactive stress response to things that other Empaths just don’t seem to be impacted by. This imbalance can then influence your mood from day to day, it can determine how you show up in any type of relationship, and it can govern both your physical and emotional health.

What to do about it

Obviously, we don’t just want to resign ourselves to a life without hope of healing emotionally or physically. And we don’t have to. The good news is there is something that can be done to repair the limbic system. Something really quite simple. And that is improving the limbic response.

The healthier your limbic response, the more resistant you will be, not only to the normal stressors you face every day, but also to all those issues that come part and parcel of being an Empath.

Basically, improving your limbic response is key to improving your health and quality of life.

And here are 6 ways you could do that…

1. Make Some Simple Dietary Changes

I have covered this topic many times over the years. I have even written a book on the subject for Empaths. And this is for very good reason, because the diet really can make us or break us.

Many people have found they healed from physical ailments, just by removing certain foods from their diet.

This is a vast subject (hence the book I wrote), but if, for example, you eat genetically altered food, such as wheat, that has no right being in your body, it can eventually lead to many problems of the body and mind, and indeed the limbic system. And just because eating these foods doesn’t impact your digestive health, doesn’t mean it is not affecting other parts of your body.

Every system in the body is connected to each other. So, for one person, eating modern wheat, or genetically altered food, might give them irritable bowel or stomach problems, another might get migraines, another person might get plantar fasciitis, and another might have depression or intense mood swings.

As I said, this is a vast subject, so here are the links to some posts with more information on the topic. Here, Here, and Here

2. Avoid Mold and Toxins

Mold is toxic to all humans. Especially when living within a moldy environment, which many people are without realizing.

Mold is often lurking in places you don’t look. Between walls or behind electrical appliances.

Keep your eyes peeled for it. Mold really can play havoc with the limbic system, and thus your emotional and physical health.

If you know you have mold, and can’t clear it from the home, it might be a good idea to change location if you can

Also, toxins are everywhere, especially in personal care and cleaning products, and they can play havoc with our health. However, unlike with mold, we can easily remove many of these toxins from our life.

Perhaps start by using organic skin and hair products. It doesn’t have to cost a fortune either. I use coconut oil, not only in my cooking but as my moisturizer for my face and body. It can even be used as a hair treatment or for teeth brushing. Works a treat.

3. Still the Mind

This is also something I have written about many times over the years because it is so important for Empaths, or anyone of a Sensitive nature.

When we calm our mind, through practices such as meditation, it will go a long way towards healing our body, mind and limbic system.

Here are some posts, here and here, that can help you start or get back into practice.

4. Do the Right Type of Exercise

When we are imbalanced, in any which way, exercise is often the last thing we have any energy or inclination for. But this is a big mistake. Exercise can have a profoundly positive impact on our stress levels and our health.

But there is a trick here: start short and build up.

The right type of exercise can help produce more human growth hormone (HGH), which has many benefits on the limbic system.

Now, I say the right type of exercise because the wrong type can do more damage than good. Generally, the wrong type will be extreme sports or exercise, or just doing it for too long. Keep it short and sweet.

Dancing to your favorite music is exercise, as is walking, swimming and yoga. Start off with 5 to 10 minutes then build up. If you get fatigued cut back.

Believe it or not, you can get a great workout done in 4 minutes. Look up Tabata workouts online.

5. Balance Electromagnetic Frequency Exposure

This is becoming more and more of a problem. Without many even realizing how much EMF is impacting them, not only as Empaths but also as human beings. I have got a post discussing the subject in depth here.

I know it is virtually impossible to avoid EMF, so we have to mitigate the damage done. This is where regular grounding comes in.

Grounding, (also known as earthing) where we connect to the earth, has so many incredible benefits and is so healing. It is also free. If you are not already doing it, now is the time to start. Click on the video below.

6. Try Emotional Freedom Technique

Emotional freedom technique (EFT) also falls under the umbrella term of limbic retraining. Basically, it is known to rewire the brain in a positive way.

EFT is so simple to do and serves many purposes. It is particularly good to do at bedtime, especially if you struggle with sleep, or when in any stressful situation.

This post gives you more details on EFT, it also gives you the technique.

In conclusion, the above are ways to help rebalance the limbic system. However, this is not medical advice. If you are struggling with suspected autoimmune condition or other health related issues, try the above techniques, but you are also best to see a healthcare provider, who can offer tests for nutrient imbalances, toxins, hormonal issues, etc. I say have tests because being given medication can sometimes do more harm than good. Especially if you have been misdiagnosed.

Sadly, being an Empath is not very often something that is straight forward. It is often work, work, and more work. But the hurdles we get to overcome are something not many other people will get to experience. As long as we are pushing towards evolvement, and asking the right questions, we will always find ourselves in the right place.

Hope this helps on your journey.

Until next time,

Diane

Credit

Diane lives in Manchester, UK. She spent the past twenty years researching everything from human anatomy to the law of attraction. She is a qualified colour and crystal therapist, massage therapist, reflexologist, aromatherapist, healing practitioner, yoga and meditation teacher, and has done in-depth research into diet and nutrition and how it affects Sensitive people.. ©Diane Kathrine