Navigating Emotional Resonance: The Experience of Empathy as a Psychopath
Have you ever wondered how someone without typical emotional responses might experience empathy? This article explores the emotional landscape of an individual who identifies as a psychopath and shares personalized insights on navigating the profound experience of emotional resonance.
Empathy as an Emotional Energy Bank
For me, empathy operates much like an emotional energy bank. Just as withdrawing too much from a bank account can drain its resources, emotional energy can be drained when I empathize with others. When I experience another’s pain or joy, it withdraws energy from my balance. The deeper into the red I find myself, the less effective my general function becomes.
Resonance and Emotional Resonance
My empathy manifests through emotional resonance. Imagine a tuning fork being struck; its vibrations can cause another tuning fork to vibrate at a nearly identical frequency. Similarly, when someone experiences pain or joy, it resonates with me, causing my own emotions to align and vibrate. This often obstructs my self-care, as it can overwhelm my ability to manage my own emotional balance.
For example, a mentor for a 12-Step recovery program had to stop sharing details of her childhood trauma because I was unable to breathe or function as she recounted the events. To this day, the nightmare scenario she described haunts me. Empathy can be both a burden and a blessing.
The Cost of Connection
Living with empathy is not without its cost. As an INTP, I often find emotions a bit messy and am unsure of how to cope with them. However, the act of connecting with others and stepping out of my own world through empathetic experiences can be incredibly nourishing. For instance, attending meetings at homeless shelters and prisons, I am able to recenter myself and find a sense of connectedness.
The Human Community and Empathy
Empathy is deeply ingrained in our human nature. Have you ever found yourself laughing without hearing the joke or yawning after watching someone else yawn? These are examples of how we empathize with others through shared emotional experiences. Moreover, have you ever cried for someone else's profound loss, even if you didn't know them personally? That, my friend, is empathy.
The somatic experiences of empathy can be quite powerful. Your heart rate begins to align with the person you are empathizing with, and your breathing automatically attunes. You might feel a gut-wrenching sensation, a prick of tears in your eyes, or even a smile on your face as joy bubbles up within you. The intensity and nature of these experiences can vary depending on the emotional state of the person you are empathizing with.
The Fragility and Beauty of the Psyche
Empathy teaches us about the fragility and preciousness of the human psyche. While it may sometimes cause us to act illogically, rushing to help someone in need, it also provides us with a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness. It is better to understand the vulnerability of the human experience than to only know about relentless self-gain.
Understanding empathy does not come easy for everyone, particularly those who might question its existence. Yet, it is a fundamental aspect of our shared humanity. As John Donne once wrote, “No man is an island / No man stands alone / Each man’s joy is joy to me / Each man’s grief is my own.” Let us endeavor to be more compassionate and connected, even if it means occasionally stepping outside of our comfort zones.