Why do so many struggling/recovering addicts call themselves empaths and light workers?

[CautiouslyOptimistic]

Is this something that's taught in recovery groups?

[Foxhall]

I would imagine the desire comes more from their own conscience or soul 

it reminds me of someone I know who runs a treatment centre for problem gamblers mainly and alcoholics,

In his case he would mention that he feels grateful for a second chance - a second happy marriage after becoming cut off from his first family,

he feels compelled to spread his wisdom as such and help out young men in their 20s and so on who are losing their way, ending up in court for breaking the law and things,

helping these individuals gives this guy a kind of personal satisfaction and helps him deal with his own guilt from his past mistakes,

and in perhaps getting folks back on track, he or people like him are providing something very beneficial for society. they may feel a certain remorse and doing something to benefit others is redemption.

Edited August 18, 2020 by Foxhall

[Angelle]

Certain self-help authors, probably, plus communities on the internet.

[Wiseman2]

Because lying to themselves and everyone is a learned lifestyle. These New age mumbo jumbo terms just sound better than "I pop opioids" as far as an identity goes.

[basil67]

Where do you hear all this?   Online or IRL?

Edited August 19, 2020 by basil67

[FMW]

It all depends on your view of whether or not empaths or lightworkers exist. 

For those that do, then an explanation is that people who are more sensitive to energy and vibrations, receptive to things beyond the 3D, are more vulnerable to drugs and drinking or things that help take them out of the 3D state.  

For those that don't believe any of it, then the explanation is it's all crazy mumbo used to excuse and divert attention from the addict's limitations and failures.  

Edited August 19, 2020 by FMW

[Curious-Sam]

On 8/19/2020 at 3:36 PM, FMW said:

It all depends on your view of whether or not empaths or lightworkers exist. 

For those that do, then an explanation is that people who are more sensitive to energy and vibrations, receptive to things beyond the 3D, are more vulnerable to drugs and drinking or things that help take them out of the 3D state.  

I agree - good answer.

I would also say that the correlation I've seen is not so much to alcohol and drug use. The common factors I've seen most often for those who identify as "empaths" is they are usually trauma victims or someone who has gone through a very intense traumatic experience at some point in their life. (loss of a wife/husband/child traumatic divorce etc etc). There seems to be something about going through one of these experiences of great loss that triggers a heightened sense to spiritual and emotional energy. I would guess the trauma can have an effect to weaken a person natural energy field - and also a lot of the ones I've spoken to have normally had an experience of "grace". After the loss they at some point after have a kind of spiritual awakening type experience. A short period where they have a big influx of spiritual energy. A profound sense of peace, love suddenly comes over their life. This helps them to heal and move on from the trauma but often leaves them with increased sensitivity. As you say many turn to drugs or alcohol to dull this. It almost seems like they get an extra helping of spiritual energy to help them heal - but this has the side effect of increasing their sensitivity which they often struggle with in todays world. 

It leaves them feeling like they are supposed to be healers - to help others going through difficult circumstances - but at the same time struggling with their own hypersensitivity. The Jungian archetype of the "Wounded Healer"

Edited August 22, 2020 by Curious-Sam

[Angelle]

I would probably be considered an empath, going by what I've read. I'm not in the mood to go into it. 

The people I've seen talking about being lightworkers, came to that through Louise Hay authors. 

[CautiouslyOptimistic]

On 8/19/2020 at 5:00 AM, basil67 said:

Where do you hear all this?   Online or IRL?

I've never actually "heard it" in real life.  But I see it online, both from personal acquaintances/family members and strangers.

[CautiouslyOptimistic]

On 8/22/2020 at 12:43 AM, Curious-Sam said:

I agree - good answer.

I would also say that the correlation I've seen is not so much to alcohol and drug use. The common factors I've seen most often for those who identify as "empaths" is they are usually trauma victims or someone who has gone through a very intense traumatic experience at some point in their life. (loss of a wife/husband/child traumatic divorce etc etc). There seems to be something about going through one of these experiences of great loss that triggers a heightened sense to spiritual and emotional energy. I would guess the trauma can have an effect to weaken a person natural energy field - and also a lot of the ones I've spoken to have normally had an experience of "grace". After the loss they at some point after have a kind of spiritual awakening type experience. A short period where they have a big influx of spiritual energy. A profound sense of peace, love suddenly comes over their life. This helps them to heal and move on from the trauma but often leaves them with increased sensitivity. As you say many turn to drugs or alcohol to dull this. It almost seems like they get an extra helping of spiritual energy to help them heal - but this has the side effect of increasing their sensitivity which they often struggle with in todays world. 

It leaves them feeling like they are supposed to be healers - to help others going through difficult circumstances - but at the same time struggling with their own hypersensitivity. The Jungian archetype of the "Wounded Healer"

Hmmm, interesting.  Hard to separate for me since those of whom I am thinking fall under both categories - have experienced extreme trauma, but are also recovering addicts.  I mean, obviously there's a connection between trauma and addiction, too!

[CautiouslyOptimistic]

On 8/19/2020 at 9:36 AM, FMW said:

people who are more sensitive to energy and vibrations, receptive to things beyond the 3D, are more vulnerable to drugs and drinking or things that help take them out of the 3D state.  

 

Also a very interesting perspective. 

[major_merrick]

I've never run into an empath, and I have no real idea what a "light worker" is (someone who works 20 hours per week instead of 40+?) 

As a former addict, I think a lot of people who slip in and out of addiction find some sort of spiritual path to keep them away from their addiction or justify their addiction.  Kind of like self-deception.  I've heard a lot of addicts say that they found God, the various 12-step programs essentially require some kind of faith in a higher power. 

[CautiouslyOptimistic]

15 minutes ago, major_merrick said:

I've never run into an empath, and I have no real idea what a "light worker" is (someone who works 20 hours per week instead of 40+?) 

 

From what I gather, "light workers" claim to have some kind of super power to.....I don't know....heal people's emotional wounds?  

[Curious-Sam]

 

On 8/29/2020 at 11:28 PM, major_merrick said:

I've never run into an empath, and I have no real idea what a "light worker" is (someone who works 20 hours per week instead of 40+?) 

  

On 8/29/2020 at 11:44 PM, CautiouslyOptimistic said:

From what I gather, "light workers" claim to have some kind of super power to.....I don't know....heal people's emotional wounds?  

Really never run into an empath ? I don't consider myself in any way shape or form to be a healer, light worker, energy worker or any of the other various buzz words used - but I am an empath and I can tell you ..... it can be incredibly challenging in today's world. 

Simplest way to explain it is just being much more sensitive to emotional / spiritual energy. It isn't really that crazy - everyone has this to a degree. When you are around happy people you feel happy. When you are around sad or angry people you feel agitated but for most people this is a very subtle background thing they barely notice. Its not a strong or instant effect they are consciously aware of. For empaths - its very different - its like this sense has been dialed up to 11. When you are around somebody who feels stressed or angry or sad or happy - you feel that emotion tangibly in your body. Its not in the background - its front and center. 

Its hard to really explain it to someone who doesn't experience this but maybe the best analogy I can use is to imagine the feeling you get when you approach a fire. You feel the "warmth"  radiating off the fire on your body. Even if your eyes were closed you would know you were approaching a fire. The warm feeling you get becomes stronger the closer you get to the fire and weakens when you move further away from it. For an empath - this is what it can be like with the emotional energy of certain people - and also certain places. There is an emotional energy that is radiating off them that you can tangibly feel as you get closer.  

Now the catch of being an empath - is your more sensitive to all the negative emotional s*** floating around out there and you are forced to figure out strategies to counter, transmute and clear these. Many of the ones who learn how to do this successfully transition into healing - because the skills they learnt - to effectively clear and cleanse all the horrible emotional energy they are more sensitive to can then be used to help other less sensitive people. They are also more aware of people who have issues. Most people conceal their emotional issues but an empath can feel these so they get insight into peoples issues. They bump into a guy from the office at the coffee machine and its like they get punched in the face by a stress tornado - or a girl from work in the elevator and they can feel the deep depression and sadness she is carrying - or another guy from their sports team who is just radiating lower sexual energies. You know what people are struggling with because you can feel it. Hes dealing with chronic stress - shes dealing with depression and grief - hes likely got a pornography and prostitute addiction. You can diagnose the issue - because they infect you with it by coming near you. 

Most empaths - due to necessity - will end up being drawn to cleansing and clearing practices like - Yoga, meditation, Essential oils and incense, vibrational healing music, chanting, prayer, dance therapy, healing crystals etc etc. But many empaths dont develop the skills or aren't disciplined enough to maintain these and they can often spiral into negative circumstance because they simply can't deal with the constant bombardment of energies they are hit with every day.

Edited August 31, 2020 by Curious-Sam

[major_merrick]

@Curious-Sam Interesting.  I don't think I've run into anything quite like what you've experienced.  But both my husband and I do have a mild ability to influence someone's physical or mental healing by a weird kind of "radiation."  I don't know how else to describe it.  When Wife #1 is sick or distressed, I kind of wrap myself around her and focus my energy into her for a time.  My husband has also brought me out of a couple of near-death illnesses in a similar manner, in combination with other forms of treatment. 

I doubt those experiences have anything to do with being an addict.  Probably not special either....I imagine it is something common to humans in general. 

[Ruby Slippers]

A smart guy asked me on a date a few years ago if I'm an empath and a light bulb went off for me. I figured out a long time ago that I'm "highly sensitive," but after his question began reading up on it and things started making a lot more sense. 

This really helped me learn techniques to protect myself and keep negative energy of others out. My problem when younger is that I'd absorb the energy of others and feel strongly drawn to help those who were struggling, almost forgetting myself in the process, assuming I'm strong enough to handle whatever - which is generally true. I still do this, but I've learned not to let anyone drag me down. If I sense anyone trying to sink any negativity hooks into me, I immediately disengage. I do meditation, daily salt baths, yoga, healthy eating, visualization, and other things to keep my energy clean and pure. 

I don't call myself a "lightworker," but I fit all the descriptions, have felt strongly from a very young age that my main mission here is to uplift, inspire, and heal others.

I think this type of person is probably more susceptible to addiction. The fundamental reason people use drugs/alcohol habitually is to escape/numb emotional pain. Highly sensitive people feel emotional pain more acutely, especially before they mature to the point that they figure out how to handle it. Eventually, you figure out that this sensitivity is a gift that can be used for good, to help uplift yourself and others in a big way. Then hopefully you gain the strength and clarity to put the drugs/alcohol aside.

[Ruby Slippers]

On 8/23/2020 at 8:22 PM, Angelle said:

I would probably be considered an empath, going by what I've read.

I've totally felt this from you in your posts - your softness, sensitivity, insight 😊

Edited September 2, 2020 by Ruby Slippers