Don’t Let Other People’s Frustration Become Your Frustration

If you find yourself taking on other people’s frustrations, first ask yourself, “Why am I frustrated by this”? Is this person known to overreact? In the past, when their frustrations became my frustrations, was their validity to the frustration (meaning was there a valid reason for you to be frustrated)?

It’s important to set emotional boundaries: stop taking on other people’s feelings. This can be a challenge for those of us who are an empath. In addition to setting emotional boundaries, ask yourself if what you are feeling, is that frustration, yours or someone else’s. “If it’s not your emotion, then you can let it go, simply by stating to yourself: This isn’t mine. I don’t have to take this on.” The moment you catch yourself feeling emotions that aren’t yours, raise your awareness of what’s happening within you – do you tense up?

Protect yourself from other people’s stuff. Remove yourself from the situation, whether it be temporary or long-term. Temporary looks like taking a little bit of time away from the person to get back to your center. Long-term may look like making the decision not to spend time with people who consistently drain your energy or want you to feel what they feel. Depending on your relationship with the person, this process may not be so easy, so be patient with the process. Don’t let other people’s frustration become your frustration.