Carrying another person's pain

[Moonstruck]

Dear friends.....I didn't know which thread to post this on....hoping this one will do...

I read some blogs on Tiny Buddha website to help me with having "too much"empathy...i.e. just now (it has happened before with me) a close family member is going through a very bad time, seemingly unsolvable problems, and is very very low. They have been suffering emotionally and mentally for a long time now without confiding in anyone. Since knowing how bad their situation is, I think of it constantly, feeling the urge to "fix it" for them, just let me take over, make things right.

It is more than "worrying" about them although of course I do worry terribly. I sort of "know" how they feel and I feel it too. It's a heavy burden even though I dearly love this person and would do anything for them......am I "carrying around their pain"? I think I am. I cry easily when I dwell too much on it...not for myself...I am OK...but for another's pain. it's almost like grieving, a deep despair that I cannot help them.

I foresee more pain for them unless "I" can fix this for them. I am hurting and in pain, even though I realise it is someone else's pain that I am sort of "carrying for them". Any advice how I can put this down? Should I put this down? How do I stop dwelling on another's pain....I love this person and would do anything for them to "make them happy". I think of what they are going through practically 100% of the time.

any thoughts from you would be greatly appreciated...........love...Moon S

[Moonstruck]

Hello 2quik and thanks for your caring words.

I couldn't agree with you more re the therapeutic benefits of writing. I write all the time. been keeping a journal for years and have a large pile of notebooks containing my thoughts, emotions, happenings, reactions, despair, joy, hope,relief.....year after year. I find it incredibly interesting to go back and see how I dealt with, or reacted to various situations; the ebb and flow of good times and bad......

I am certainly a write,not a phoner. I would much rather send a text, email or letter than pick up the phone. and yes before email was introduced...(back a few centuries ago...LOL) I certainly wrote letters....(some I wish I hadn't now actually)..

It's good to hear you understand about being an empath too. I am not sure exactly if I can lay claim to being one....but perhaps you are right....do you think I show the signs of being an empath? I haven't studied up too much on the subject I'm afraid....but sounds like it, from what I have read.....

thank you again, and happy writing.....Moon S