Overview
Sarah’s home is a mess, with dirty dishes and clothes strewn all over the place. She knows she should tackle her house responsibilities, but her sadness drains her motivation and energy. When she tried talking to her partner about her depression, she received a dismissive response: “You just want more attention from me and are using it as an excuse.”
People like Sarah, silently struggling with invisible mental health issues, often have their struggles belittled or ignored. In our society, there’s a pressing need for empathy as we grapple with a growing mental health crisis. If we could only put ourselves in others’ shoes, we could rise above criticism and offer greater support to those navigating life’s challenges.
What is Empathy?
Empathy is the ability to understand and share in the feelings of others. It allows for a deep understanding of others by sharing in their complex mental and emotional experiences. This involves taking others’ perspectives, interpreting cues to comprehend unspoken feelings, and envisioning life through their eyes. Unlike sympathy, which connotes only concern, the term “empathy” emerged with the meanings of feeling what others feel and experiencing emotions together.
A high level of empathy is found to be associated with stronger relationships, well-being, and self-regulation, as the ability to connect empathetically at a profound level strengthens bonds. To fully understand empathy, it is important to explore its various dimensions, namely cognitive empathy, emotional empathy, and compassionate empathy.
Cognitive empathy is primarily about understanding. It involves recognizing and comprehending another person’s emotional state. Emotional empathy, on the other hand, involves an immediate and instinctive mirroring of another person’s emotion. Compassionate empathy goes beyond understanding and sharing emotions to include a motivation to help. It is this type of empathy that drives acts of kindness, fuels social change, and fosters a sense of connection.
The Power of Empathy in Reducing Stress and Supporting Mental Health
Chronic stress can have negative impacts on our mind and body. It is also linked to increased risk in anxiety and depression. If remains unmanaged, stress can cause our mind and body to develop a range of unpleasant psychological and physical symptoms. [1]
To effectively handle and thrive in stressful situations, cultivating meaning and purpose in our work and pursuits is of prime importance. Additionally, it is essential to prioritize the nurturing of positive relationships through empathy. By doing so, we can bolster our support systems and augment our capacity to cope with high-pressure periods.
In terms of physical health benefits brought by empathy, it stimulates the release of oxytocin in the brain. Specifically, experiencing empathy for others triggers the release of oxytocin, a neurochemical that serves to foster feelings of trust, cooperation, and social bonding. These pro-social effects of oxytocin help counteract the damaging physical effects of stress on the body by promoting relaxation and calm. [2]
For busy people facing high demands at work, practicing empathy can help protect them from burnout. When employees take the time to understand colleagues’ perspectives with empathy, it helps them build skills to handle challenging situations and enhance their communication with colleagues. By developing the ability to empathize, individuals can better manage workplace stressors, forge meaningful connections with others, and boost work productivity as a result. [3]
In supporting mental health, empathy plays a vital role as well. When individuals struggling with mental health issues feel understood by others through empathy, it provides valuable emotional support that can help alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation. This empathetic support offers comfort that is beneficial to the healing process.
Most importantly, individuals with empathy have a greater ability to understand the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors of other individuals with mental health challenges. This deeper level of understanding helps people who are struggling to feel more meaningfully connected as they cope with their issues.
Furthermore, when others develop a true understanding of another person’s struggles, it helps reduce the stigma surrounding mental health. The reduction in stigma allows those experiencing mental health issues to feel empowered and encouraged to seek help actively. This is a vital approach toward recovery and well-being.
So, Are You an Empathetic Person?
True empathy is the ability to share in another’s emotions or feelings and see the world through their perspective, which takes a blend of emotional intelligence, social skills, and compassion. Empathetic individuals demonstrate several identifiable characteristics in how they interact with and relate to people, as will be analyzed below: [4, 5, 6]
Emotional Sensitivity
- They are highly attuned to emotions and energies of others and can feel what others are feeling deeply.
- They are intuitive and can sense honesty/dishonesty in others.
- They are comfortable sharing their own feelings.
Social Attunement
- They prefer solitary activities like nature and have a hard time in crowds due to sensory overload.
- They are curious about strangers and like to connect with people.
- They are fully present with others and give them their undivided attention.
- They tune into nonverbal communication and ask open questions to understand emotions.
Empathetic Care and Communication
- They show care, compassion, and desire to help others.
- They set boundaries to avoid burnout while providing support.
- They listen without interrupting and judgment.
- They communicate with reflection, affirmation, and encouragement.
Perspective Taking
- They ask questions to gain perspectives.
- They approach others with an open mindset.
- They seek to understand different perspectives by imagining how others might feel.
Self-Awareness
- They need solo time to recharge after social interactions.
How to Practice Empathy?
To practice empathy in everyday life involves several steps to help individuals develop a greater understanding and compassion for others. Here are some strategies:
- Active listening: Show genuine interest in others’ experiences and emotions during conversation by making eye contact and giving them your full attention. Listen to what people say without interrupting or judging, and be fully present in the discussion.
- Perspective-taking: Try to put yourself in someone else’s shoes and imagine their thoughts, feelings, and circumstances to deepen your understanding of others’ different perspectives.
- Practice kindness and compassion: Engage in acts of kindness toward others. Being compassionate not only benefits others but also creates a sense of empathy within ourselves.
- Avoid assumptions and stereotypes: Challenge preconceived notions or stereotypes about certain groups of people. Recognize the diversity and individuality of others.
- Learn from different perspectives: Seek out diverse sources of information, engage in conversations with people from different backgrounds, and be open to learning from their experiences.
- Reflect on personal biases: Develop self-awareness by reflecting on your own biases and prejudices. Acknowledge and challenge them to foster a more empathetic mindset.
- Volunteer and get involved: Engage in volunteer work or community activities that expose you to different life experiences. This can enhance understanding and empathy.
- Practice empathy in daily life: Consistently strive to understand and support the feelings and needs of those around you. Practice empathy in both small and significant interactions.
Final Thoughts
As stress silently endangers well-being, empathy emerges as a beacon of hope, offering a comforting shelter that mitigates isolation. Its understanding lessens the burden of suffering, fostering a sense of shared humanity. As empathy grows among people, acceptance replaces stigma, and the community rises, ready to walk hand in hand through the challenges of mental health. Our shared future brightens as hearts meet and heal each other.
Sources:
- Cox, J. (2014, February 25). How Stress Affects Mental Health. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from Psych Central website: https://psychcentral.com/stress/how-stress-affects-mental-health#causes
- How to Fight Stress with Empathy. (2017). Retrieved December 17, 2023, from Greater Good website: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_to_fight_stress_with_empathy
- Segal, E. A. (2018). Five Ways Empathy Is Good for Your Health. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from Psychology Today website: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/social-empathy/201812/five-ways-empathy-is-good-your-health
- Raypole, C. (2019, November 25). 15 Signs You Might Be an Empath. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from Healthline website: https://www.healthline.com/health/what-is-an-empath
- Delgado, J. (2021, May 10). 7 characteristics of empathic people that make them unique. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from Psychology Spot website: https://psychology-spot.com/empathic-people-characteristics/
- Wilding, M. (2019, January 7). 7 Habits of Highly Empathetic People. Retrieved December 17, 2023, from Inc.com website: https://www.inc.com/melody-wilding/7-habits-of-highly-empathetic-people.html