Is it normal that i feel sad because others are sad?

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3 Comments

I go through periods where I feel profound empathy for others, to the extent that I cry because I know other people are sad. Not necessarily people that I know, simply the understanding that other people are suffering right now is enough for me to tear up. For example, upon the discovery or Robin Williams' death, I shed a tear because I knew someone, somewhere was grieving this. Is it normal to experience this kind of empathy?

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90% Normal
Based on 30 votes (27 yes)
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Comments ( 3 )
  • perfectxsilence
    9 years ago

    I'd say it's normal. I actually got pretty upset as well when I heard the news of William's passing. I can't say I shed a tear but I was definitely hurt by it. I am also very sensitive to tragic stories that are shown on the news and can definitely get emotional over them.

    I think this is normal to feel empathy for a fellow human being even if you didn't personally know them. I think if you get down about it for more than a short while, that's when it may not be normal. It's obviously good that you're empathetic but if someone were to get upset over everything they heard unrelated to them and remain sad for a while, that's not healthy and I wouldn't say it's normal either.

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  • sega31098
    9 years ago

    It's called sympathy.

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  • polina.janisevska
    9 years ago

    You're just very empathitic, it's a good people skill and others will praise you for it

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