Physical Empathy

**Dr. Metallic** · 02-07-2009, 10:10 PM

I usually am indifferent to others' suffering. This gives me a good ability to administer first aid, and to keep a cool head when need be.

A few times in my life, right now included, I have experienced a strange phenomenon. When individuals tell me of their ailments, I experience the same.
e.g., Last week this casual acquaintance of mine told me of a chest cold he was suffering. The next morning, I coughed out a splotch of congealed blood. 1.) I never hack up blood 2.) No, I didn't catch his cold.

Now, my father is complaining of some minor tendinitis. Wonder of wonders, my forearm is a tad sore in the exact same place.

And others.

Q1: What the heck is happening?
Q2: Has anyone heard of this or something similar?
Q3: How can I make this useful?

gOpheR · 02-07-2009, 10:12 PM

Q1: Who knows
Q2; yes, a lot of people will take on symptoms of others.
Q3: get a sponsor and track the events on a live journal with video and make lewd gestures and comments...

Nightriser · 02-07-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoeMetallic

I usually am indifferent to others' suffering. This gives me a good ability to administer first aid, and to keep a cool head when need be.

A few times in my life, right now included, I have experienced a strange phenomenon. When individuals tell me of their ailments, I experience the same.
e.g., Last week this casual acquaintance of mine told me of a chest cold he was suffering. The next morning, I coughed out a splotch of congealed blood. 1.) I never hack up blood 2.) No, I didn't catch his cold.

Now, my father is complaining of some minor tendinitis. Wonder of wonders, my forearm is a tad sore in the exact same place.

And others.

Q1: What the heck is happening?
Q2: Has anyone heard of this or something similar?
Q3: How can I make this useful?

It's strange because I sometimes experience the same thing when I look at others' injuries. Mostly, it's when I see particularly nasty cuts or gashes. I usually feel some kind of jolt in my heart. One time, a friend of mine was depressed and spiraling into worse and worse conditions. It's possible I was already on the path, but I soon experienced three or four of the darkest months of my life.

A1: Not really sure. However, I'm curious how often this occurs. Right now, it seems to me that it's still like Lance's 666 sightings (on both of our accounts, really).
A2: Apart from the "pure coincidence" thought, I also thought of mirror-touch synesthesia. However, if this were what you had, you would be unusual, as mirror-touch synesthetes have a higher empathy quotient, I think.
A3: Start a new religion? I have no idea.

**DayLightSun** · 02-07-2009, 10:34 PM

Somatic symptoms some times happen when people feel guilty or are scared of an illness.

**Dr. Metallic** · 02-07-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlackFeatheredMask

Somatic symptoms some times happen when people feel guilty or are scared of an illness.

Yes, I see. But I do not feel guilty, nor am I scared of an illness. It's not like when hypochondriacs complain of having a new disease every week........

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llixgrijb

A3: Start a new religion? I have no idea.

Hmmmm. Maybe you and Daylight want to be goddesses?

**DayLightSun** · 02-07-2009, 10:48 PM

I'm already a goddess. ( sorry

)
You don't have to be aware of it.
It's your subconscious acting out on your body.

Nightriser · 02-07-2009, 11:32 PM

Yeah, I'm with daylight on this, I'm already a goddess. I even have my own propaganda poster, somewhere.

Now bow and worship me.

**Dr. Metallic** · 02-07-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Llixgrijb

Yeah, I'm with daylight on this, I'm already a goddess. I even have my own propaganda poster, somewhere.

Now bow and worship me.

Ooh, sounds a little s&m-like. The safe word is "pandora"

In the meantime while I'm trying to start this new religion, I'll have to solicit the skills of my ENFJ friends. They can be my bishops.

Nightriser · 02-08-2009, 12:01 AM

**NephilimAzrael** · 02-08-2009, 12:10 AM

Easily solved... You "goddesses" are not acknowledged. In deities of sorts, the main point is having command, and if you cannot control the simplest of life-forms, you cannot claim to be a deity. I can command numerous lifeforms, of which some are sentient, yet, I also do not claim a god-like prowess. Why? You may ask, is because gods hold an immortality, which is infeasible in terms of mortal beings. So until that day - SNOOCHIE BOOCHIES.