There are so many articles online lately about empaths. What they are, how they feel, how they perceive life and situations and relationships. When I first heard the word "empath," and read a brief definition of what it means to be one, I identified with it immediately.

When I explain to people what an empath is, I say it like this: Sympathy is feeling sorry for someone when they're going through a tough time; empathy is knowing what someone is going through whether it's good or bad - you know what their emotions are and can truly say "I know how that feels." Being an empath, on the other hand, is actually feeling someone else's emotions; feeling grief when a friend loses someone; feeling sad alongside an acquaintance going through a break up; even feeling sorry or angry for someone you don't like if they lose their job or something like that. It doesn't matter what it is, or who it is - you empathize and feel the feelings yourself, by immediately and vividly putting yourself in the situation.

I've always been highly sensitive, picking up on people's emotions when I'm near them, always wanting to help and be a listening ear, and thinking about people and their experiences for hours after I've interacted with them - and it all happens to me naturally, without my even trying.

As great as it can be to share people's emotions though, it can be exhausting sometimes. Negative people can put me in a terrible mood instantly as well if I'm not careful, or just leave me feeling drained. Seeing or listening to a friend in a sad situation can leave me wanting to cry myself, even if everything in my life is going great. Being highly empathic definitely has its ups and downs. Here's what it's like to be an empath today.

1. I can feel people's emotions without even talking to them.

I'm highly sensitive to people's moods, and pick up on them without them having to actually tell me how they feel. I detect subtle things like facial expressions, body language, and tone of voice. I can feel it. If I go into work and a coworker is having a bad day, I can feel that - frustration, exhaustion, irritation, annoyance, even anger sometimes, despite the fact that I'm not an angry person. I have to be very careful in these situations, and consciously tell myself that I'm okay, my day is fine, my experience is not theirs.

On the contrary though, I can pick up on and channel other people's positive emotions as well. Being around someone who is happy and joyful can make me feel the same way, even if I'm going through something difficult or sad. This is when being an emotional sponge has its perks.

2. I have empathy for everyone, even people I don't know very well (or at all), or those I don't particularly care for.

It's a strange feeling. Empathy doesn't pick and choose. I will feel a terrible sadness or grief or urgency to help someone in need, even if I don't know them very well, or even if they're someone I don't always get along with. It makes me upset to see others that way, and I feel an inherent need to help no matter how well I know them, or how much I can actually do.

3. Social media can be absolutely draining.

Everyone knows that social media can be a toxic, fake world. It's a calculated reality full of illusions. We know it's not real, and that it can really mess up our perception of what is. For an empath, it's even more than that. It's so draining to use all your energy reading status after status, update after update, of essentially useless information. Especially if people are posting about negative things, which tends to happen, as people so often turn to social media for an outlet. Sometimes it's not only good, but necessary, to unplug and take yourself out of the lives of others for awhile, and ground yourself, remind yourself that their lives are not yours, nor are they a reflection of yours. Sometimes I have to consciously separate my experiences from those that people post online.

4. I'm a great listener and problem solver.

As an empath, I have an innate understanding of emotions. Since I can feel what others are going through without them having to describe it, it is very easy and natural for me to understand how they feel in certain situations. I've often found that people come to me with difficult situations, or for advice. I love it because I have a natural ability to listen and understand well, as well as a natural desire to help. I always tell people they can always come to me with anything - because I genuinely want them to.

5. Sometimes I need to be alone and away from other people and their emotions.

Similar to my need to escape social media for awhile, sometimes I need to escape real life as well. Being in crowds, at parties, or even at work (I work at a grocery store so I'm surrounded by people all day, even if it's mainly my co workers), I'm always picking up on the energy of others. It can be hard to deal with sometimes, making me feel overwhelmed or easily irritated. I often feel the need to go to my room and just not be around people. I need to be able to ground myself, and not soak up the energy of others for awhile. I'm perfectly content most of the time just being alone and reading, writing, drawing, doing yoga, taking solo walks, or any other meditative activity that I can do alone, to reset my mind and my own emotions.

Being an empath is definitely a wonderful thing that allows me to connect to others easily, understand them and be able to help them. However, it is important as an empath to make sure you consciously differentiate between your own emotions and those of others, so as not to get bogged down by energy that doesn't belong to or serve you.