Empathy

Are You an Empath? Take the Self-Assessment Test

An empath is an emotional sponge. Learn more.

Posted December 31, 2018 | Reviewed by Jessica Schrader

Are you an empath? An empath is an emotional sponge who absorbs both the positivity and the stress of people and the world. Empaths need to learn strategies to keep their energy high and stop taking on other people’s distress.

To find out if you’re an empath, take the following 20 question self-assessment, answering "mostly yes" or "mostly no" to each question.

Empath Quiz

Have I’ve been labeled as “overly sensitive,” shy, or introverted?
Do I frequently get overwhelmed or anxious?
Do arguments or yelling make me ill?
Do I often feel like I don’t fit in?
Am I drained by crowds and need alone time to revive myself?
Am I overstimulated by noise, odors, or non-stop talkers?
Do I have chemical sensitivities or can’t tolerate scratchy clothes?
Do I prefer taking my own car places so I can leave early if I need to?
Do I overeat to cope with stress?
Am I afraid of becoming suffocated by intimate relationships?
Do I startle easily?
Do I react strongly to caffeine or medications?
Do I have a low pain threshold?
Do I tend to socially isolate?
Do I absorb other people’s stress, emotions, or symptoms?
Am I overwhelmed by multitasking and prefer doing one thing at a time?
Do I replenish myself in nature?
Do I need a long time to recuperate after being with difficult people or energy vampires?
Do I feel better in small cities or the country than large cities?
Do I prefer one-to-one interactions or small groups rather than large gatherings?

Now calculate your results:

If you answered yes to one to five questions, you’re at least partially an empath.
Responding yes to six to 10 questions means you have moderate empathic tendencies.
Responding yes to 11 to 15 means you have strong empathic tendencies.
Answering yes to more than 15 questions means that you are a full-blown empath.

Determining if you’re an empath will clarify your needs and which strategies to use to meet them. This is essential to gain a comfort zone in your life.

To learn more about being an empath and strategies on how to stay grounded and centered, check out Orloff’s book, The Empath’s Survival Guide: Life Strategies for Sensitive People.