The Empath Experience: What to Do When You Feel Everything

by Sydney Campos, Emily Lawrence (Narrator)

Learn to lead an empowered life with this supportive and positive guide for those who are discovering their empath abilities and looking for information to help in understanding their gift, as well as how to embrace it and thrive in everyday life. Maybe you find that being in a public place is totally overwhelming. Maybe you've noticed that your friends, loved ones, and even acquaintances tend to unload all of their problems on you, looking for advice on what to do. And maybe you can pick up on a person's energy so closely you begin to feel their emotions. All of this indicates that you might be an empath--someone who has the ability to feel the emotions and energy of other people. Being a highly sensitive person may seem like a burden at times, but doesn't have to be. Being an empath is a gift that you can use to your advantage. In The Empath Experience , you'll find detailed information on what it means to be an empath and the different ways this gift can influence your life in positive ways. In addition, you'll find supportive advice from a fellow empath on how to embrace the positive aspects of this special talent, get in touch with and understand your emotions, and tips and techniques to help you feel your best--even when someone else may be feeling their worst.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Psychology, Personal Development, Health, Personal Growth, Mental Health

1 pages, Audio CD

Published February 19, 2019

About the author

Sydney Campos is an intuitive energy healer, strategic advisor, 3x founder, and facilitator with over a decade of expertise guiding visionaries, leaders, and creatives on transformative embodiment journeys. As the best-selling author of “The Empath Experience: What To Do When You Feel Everything” (2018) and “I’m Ascending, Now What?” (2023), Sydney has empowered thousands globally in authenticity, energy mastery, and purpose.

Since 2012, she has supported hundreds of visionary leaders through mentorship and courses, initiated 100+ intuitive facilitators through Soul Source Training, and curated over 20+ life-changing retreats and events worldwide. Her work catalyzes profound journeys in embodiment, visionary leadership, holistic well-being, and spiritual expansion. As an entrepreneur, Sydney has raised over $1M for various ventures, including a new social media template featured in Forbes and the 2019 visionary leadership convergence, Odyssey.

Known for her highly-attuned, emergent approach, Sydney’s offerings inspire co-creators to reconnect with their true selves, unlock their potential, and cultivate deep purpose and fulfillment. Her work is featured in Forbes, Mindbodygreen, Refinery29, New York Magazine, Bustle, PureWow, and more. Currently residing in Brooklyn, New York, Sydney enjoys dancing, writing, and meditating while devoting her life to creating Heaven on Earth.

Reviews

[Soha Ashraf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now I know why I feel so full of emotions all the time. It's because I am an emotional sponge; I absorb energies and emotions from other people and the environment. I could literally relate to most of the stuff mentioned in this book. However, there was a repetition of coping techniques in every chapter.

[Shelley Diamond · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are an empath, this book may help validate your experience and reassure you that you are not the only one. Unfortunately, most of the material is not grounded in the real world challenges. It is not as practical a book as the title implies. It doesn't really say much that is actually helpful nor much that I didn't already know from my own experience. The book makes it all seem simple and easier than it actually is.

[Sille · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was such a challenge to read this book because it was so full of meaningless words and countless repetitions, nearly without any useful or practical information or tips. Maybe - but just maybe - you would benefit from it if it's your first time to hear about empaths, otherwise skip it.

[Hannah Catherine · Rating 1 out of 5]

this was nothing other than an incredibly tone-deaf, repetitive, harmful, and uninformative self-promo for the authors "meditation retreats". the author includes her own experiences- a "lengthy stay" in Bali, hiring a life coach, Reiki sessions, meditation communities in New York City. she includes these experiences under the title, "self-care may not be easy for you at first". well, yeah. unless you're rich and have plenty of time.

perhaps the most tone-deaf page of the entire book is where she tells readers to "protect yourself (before you wreck yourself)" by avoiding the existence of slavery and racism. she writes,

"i remember i suffered a particularly bad bout of exhaustion coupled with intense depression in high school after first seeing the film Amistad. ... i was so disturbed at viewing this vivid depiction of the worst horrors of humanity that i undertook a renewed sense of responsibility to find some way to correct the wrongs of humanity's past."

as if this couldn't be any more harmful and ignorant, she goes on to say that by acknowledging slavery, she carried "additional unintentional burdens", and that it's not her job to care for anyone else. yeah. someone actually wrote this.

also, the author discusses Freud, as if his theories are the most credible in the 21st century, while simultaneously shitting on psychology. she hates therapists and prefers to hire life coaches. she writes,

"a common misconception of coaches is that they'll fix something about you -- as though there's something that needs to be fixed. ... a masterful coach is nothing like a therapist". this is her way of self-promotion (for her own brand and for her friend's companies, which she of course mentions) and i find it incredibly harmful and negligent.

lastly, the author explicitly tells readers exactly what she aims to do, manipulate readers to spend money, through disguising it as a "unique empath gift": "EXPERT MARKETERS: a keen ability to understand how to position products and messages with powerful magnetism by tuning into what the collective really desires". the irony is so rich.

[Kirstie · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are an empath or have an inkling you may be - please go get this book ASAP. I repeat, this is not a drill. GO GET THIS BOOK. No I have not fully read it but what I have has already completely blown me away. First off - I've never felt more understood as a human in my life. Sydney is an empath, she knows firsthand what we go through. She not only gives you insights you wish you had 10 years ago but she gives you tools to improve your life and help you onto your path.

If you don't label yourself as an empath, there are still valuable tools for self care. For anyone struggling with self worth or self esteem - I recommend.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, well above my expectations.

My sister and I have talked about this subject for years. It was very interesting to read it from someone's personal experience and researched subject.

There are several types of empaths, something that was new to me. Besides clear definitions of terms it also has much about self-care and meditation.

Highly recommended!

[Lisa Wilkening-Roth · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This was an interesting read and I related to a lot of what the author talked about, but after a while it felt like she was repeating the same talking points in different ways, a few times it was eye-roll-inducing cheesy or…egotistical perhaps? A lot of what the author discussed also isn’t something easily done in the normal working persons life. Getting a life coach? Quitting your job because it’s not great? Meditating 12746282x a day? None of this are really great options for the average person. It also was a lot more confirming of being an empath with not as many suggestions on what to with the emotional struggles that are faced regularly.

Despite some of my more negative takeaways, there were a lot of good points in here too, some things that really deeply resonated with me. There are also a few good tools for working on emotional intelligence and some great meditation techniques that I’ll be saving. Overall a good book that I’ll keep for the tools, despite some of the cringier, not helpful, or boring parts.

[Bookworm Erica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I couldn't do it. I intuitively knew I was about to punch myself in the face rather than finish this book .

1 star bc dnf


So many words and it took so long to even define an empath. Returned to library.

[Andrea Lerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entendí muchas cosas 🤍🥹

[Erin Brophy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was exactly the book I needed as someone who is very sensitive. This book is a mantra (and includes some really beautiful ones). I would literally cry while reading this because I felt so heard and understood. (Again, I am very sensitive).

[Brian Delrosario · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book isn't my usual reading. It's very feminine and feels very "New Age." My sister described me as an empath and suggested I look into it. So I did. Sydney Campos has an impressive list of accomplishments as an entrepreneur and "digital nomad." And I admire that. On one of her main topics of "self-love," if you interpret that instead as "personal responsibility" as it relates to growth, I think we could all connect with that.

[jess (bibliophilicjester) · Rating 1 out of 5]

a more accurate title:
my empath experience: finding healing through spirituality, meditation, and introspection

you'll probably like this book if:

- you cope with being an empath in unhealthy ways.
- you hate yourself.
- you've never kept a journal or been an introspective sort of human.
- your number one desire in life is to be accepted and to fit in.
- the way other people see you and how much they like you is VERY important to you.
- your personality type (MBTI) has F instead of T.
- you love memoirs.
- you believe repetition helps thoughts and ideas sink in and don't find it annoying at all.
- you don't know who you are because you always reflect back what you think others want to see from you.
- you are into or open to meditation. like every hour.
- you're insecure. you think things like standing up straight can change the frame of your entire day.
- you like being constantly told that you're special, unique, have a superpower, a divine gift.
- things like yoga, clean eating, and standing outside barefoot (DON'T FORGET MEDITATION) interest you.
- feeling like someone understands you and is with you on your spiritual journey of self discovery is more important than practical advice on how to cope with overwhelming empathic feelings in a practical way.

i've edited my review because i really don't want to use this space to rant about why i disliked this book. i went into this hoping it would be helpful to me, and i came out of it wondering if i'm even empathic at all. i feel negativity in a room and emotions of people around me like they're my own. i'm an INTJ and so other people's feelings overwhelm me and i have no idea how to process them because my own emotions are so internally intense and confusing. this book gave no practical advice and since campos presents as an outgoing extrovert entrepreneur who spreads positivity and light after overcoming her identity crisis and alcoholism... i just can't relate to her or her experience at all.

i really hope this book resonates with some people and helps them feel understood. personally, i'll stick to my own healthy methods of relaxing and de-stressing (NO THANKS, MEDITATION), which included the helpful release of throwing this book across the room upon completion (it is unharmed).

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mehhhhhhhhhhh *breathes* ehhhhhhhhhhh.

Broad brush; little depth. Poor learning design. Has a don't-trust-science-or-rules-except-mine vibe. Was especially flabbergasted at the dismissal of psych counselors. White gaze on Eastern thought common in the genre. Ableist.

It was validating to read about another empath existing, but other than that...

[Alexandra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I guess I should have looked into books about Highly sensitive people. This one was a little too metaphysical for my taste.

[Seren · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a developing empath who only really started embracing and examining my gift, this book fulfills its intended purpose: empowering people discovering they're empaths, and giving them information about emapthy while teaching them ways to navigate this new awareness about themselves. It also highlights the book's weakness - in trying to empower readers and showing they are not alone in their experiences, the author tends to repeat stories of their own experiences before learning to properly cope with her empathy. Not to undermine the author's struggles - she really did work hard to empower herself, and now she's empowering others with what she's been through, and that's amazing. But from an objective perspective, the book could've done with less repetition. As it is, it's very empowering and informative, and I'm grateful. I will definitely be using the methods and processes suggested inside for my own mental self care.

[theStorykeeper · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 37%

I didn't pick up this book to hear intimate details about the author's sexual experiences! Talk about TMI, and lack of boundaries...

The whole thing was far too "woo-woo." Equating empaths to psychics is doing empaths a disservice. Most of the text wasn't even specific to empaths at all.

At one point the author suggests using social media as an outlet for expression, without any notes on how to deal with the intensely hurtful comments that are inevitable. Wtf is she thinking!? Social media is THE most dangerous place for empaths. It's full of sociopaths and narcissists.

The author also keeps insisting that "the world doesn't need saving," without ever explaining how she came to this conclusion. Anyone with their eyes open can see how f'd up the world is. It absolutely does need saving.

[Lexee · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was extremely frustrating to read and I DNF. The author would start a section and basically explain what something was, then before going deeper she would move on. It was all extremely repetitive and felt more like a memoir or like the author was writing to herself. I couldn't relate to most of what she was saying, it was like she assumed that as an empath herself her path was naturally the only one. For example, I like being alone and in the book she constantly talked about how to be alone. I was mostly annoyed with how unfinished certain sections were and how she just bounced around and droned on and on. I honestly don't even know what the premise of the book was.

[Luis Lopez · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this book has some great lessons and wonderful insights, I don't appreciate the author's use of the word, "superpowers" to describe an empath's natural inclination. Depending on who reads this, their maturity and station in life, such word can be harmful despite their well-intended meaning. To parade this word is to assume that everyone is exceptional. If the world has taught us anything is that if everyone were exceptional, then, no one would be. I would have liked for a word more rooted in reality along with the recognition that empaths have to face the world just like the rest, not as superheroes, but as regular people who are more sensitive to... well read the book to find out

[Gabrielle Lafrank · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading others reviews I do see how some who are looking for “quick fix”, “here’s how to feel better” type of books might be misled by the title. The truth is, no book can tell you how to be a functional empath! Is there a book that tells you how to be a human! I believe the purpose of this book is to inspire spiritual and emotional introspection...and that can’t come from anyone but you :) the change comes from the work that follows, and this book has certainly sparked my motivation to take on this work! I hope it does the same for others as well.

[Elizabeth Hogg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I cannot get behind an author that promoted being a jerk in the name of validating one's needs. And justifying it because other people have done it who aren't Empaths. No one. No one has the right to ask a complete stranger to pay for their Starbucks. No one is entitled to order items that are off the menu at a restaurant. To set boundaries does not mean to go to an extreme opposing the door mat. If you order something and it did not come out how you expect it then yes let wait staff know with understanding. If you're feeling kind and generous offer a complete stranger to buy *their* coffee.

[Celine · Rating 3 out of 5]

It wasn’t quite what I expected. It covers the reality of an empath and also many other tangets from the different clair-s to quite a bit about manifestation to the authors experience with substance abuse. I find it hard to follow at times as it was so jumpy and not always obvious how it all tied to the authors views of being an empath. Also, all the different fonts and formatting seemed to make it a bit disjointed. Had some good nuggets but not sure I’d recommend it overall

[Katie Hedgepeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good overview of the empath experience and how to navigate it. Positive and affirming. I would’ve liked more details about how to shield and cleanse your energy, though I think the only way to really understand that is to just do it. The instructions for those exercises were good though. Good book if you have a little knowledge of empaths and want more.

[Queonna White · Rating 3 out of 5]

To be honest, I didn’t finish the book 😬 If you know who you are, how you interact with different personalities and you’re in tuned with your feelings, this book is not for you. You already know you’re an empath, you just didn’t know that “empath” was the term to describe you. I hope that makes sense to you...lol. I would recommend this book for young adolescents.

[skullrsm · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book guide me to understand more about myself — how to control my feelings, thoughts so I’ll not absorb all of my surroundings experience which I LOVE IT 💛 Yet, there’s so many exercises to do while you’re reading the book and it will interfere yr concentration. Personally fr me, it would be nice if the reading and exercises divided to two parts.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

This took me well over a year to finish... incredible.
I wasn't impressed, which is rather unfortunate. I'm not sure what I was truly looking for in a book about being an empath, but this did not meet whatever standards I seem to have set.
There were a few ideas that struck me as gold, but overall I felt let down by this.

[Elizabeth Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re a true empath, this is a helpful tool, guide. It takes some reflection to understand if you are an empath or have empathic abilities which this book will help you with. Along with exercises to help you put yourself first, set boundaries with energy vampires, and develop daily/grounding routines for self care.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of advice and strategies to use while navigating daily life as an empath and empathetic person; highly recommend taking time to do some of the activities while you read the book to soak in all the healing.

[Sufia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not the best book about highly sensitive people and empath. a lot of it is full of non-scientific stuff and a lot of things that doesnt make sense. i wouldn't recommend anyone to read this book. there are better books about empath and hsp out there.

[Roxane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found reading this very eye opening for me and rewarding. It has really helped me learn so much about myself and why I feel the way I do at times.
I took my time with this book as I wanted to put all my effort into it completing journal writing and other exercises introduced.

[Amy Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love love love. It made me understand myself so much more and I could relate to a lot of what Sydney was saying and her experiences. Albeit, there were parts I couldn’t relate to, but everyone’s journey in life is different. This is a book I will keep returning to.