Kara Kihm
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome OR Empathic
"Highly sensitive people are too often perceived as weaklings or damaged goods. To feel intensely is not a symptom of weakness, it is the trademark of the truly alive and compassionate........Empaths did not come into this world to be victims, we came to be warriors." ― Anthon St. Maarten
For years I thought something was medically wrong with me. I got blood test after blood test thinking the doctors had missed something and wondered why I could not re-energize even when I was sleeping well. I would pump up with vitamins all day at work thinking I had a deficiency. There just had to be a way to get more energy!!! Maybe these pills would work???? I went to naturopath after naturopath seeking answers and was tested for everything imaginable. Perhaps I had heavy metals in my system???? Perhaps I wasn't ingesting nutrients properly???? Perhaps I had a leaky gut????? The amount of money spent on trying to figure out my fatigue was astounding.
I remember crying every morning as I drove to my job and it didn't matter which job I had. Many of the jobs I LOVED. As I popped my pack of 7 energizing vitamins with breakfast I'd pray to God for dear life. "Please help give me the energy to make it through today." I'd plead...... With tears in my eyes I'd start the car and head to my social work job too exhausted to remember which clients I was seeing today.
It was such a RELIEF to eventually LEARN that NOTHING is wrong with me!!!!! I wanted to jump for joy and run through every town screaming......I AM NORMAL AND OK!!!!!!! I don't need thousands of vitamins and supplements to function!!! All I need to do is work with my nervous system.
I’m a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP) who has a VERY Sensitive Nervous System AND I'm an Empath!!!!! An Empath is a person who feels the world Very Deeply and can empathize with other's on such a deep level that they can actually feel someone's emotional pain. They are aware of subtleties in their surroundings, and are very easily overwhelmed when in a highly stimulating environment.
I need an Extraordinary amount of down time to Realign, Refresh, and Reenergize. Once I learned how to work with my body and it's needs........ IT was LIFE changing!!!
Honestly I'm probably never going to be able to work a 40 hour a week job in a traditional system again AND have a healthy body with energy.....especially as a Social Worker. While I LOVE people, I'm terribly drained at the end of work after engaging with others all day. Even if I attend a happy event or a really joyous celebration I come back fatigued, drained and exhausted...... AND......I know that I'll need several days to myself following to be a hermit and recoup.
GOSH and parenting as an empath and highly sensitive person adds a whole new level to navigate! It can be really rough when you have the constant demands of a young child and don't get the down time that you need.
If you’re a highly sensitive person or an empath and find yourself exhausted often.......... this article by the Elephant Journal may resonate. Hopefully it will provide you with some tips. Make sure to take the time what you need so that you don’t find yourself with adrenal fatigue.
And come visit ME at Discover Your Wings. I've been walking this Path for my entire life and I know that I can't do it alone.