The Raging Empath

Empathy is feeling the unspoken feelings, energy and moods of people and places. It’s not fairy dust and toxic positivity like it can seem on social media, it’s carrying a deep, aching compassion for others while trying your best to not let it consume you. For many empaths, 2025 has created a weird in-between of attempting to set boundaries while consuming the daily news cycle like a slow drip of poison. It’s created an internal rage, one that is screaming at the top of its lungs for justice and peace for all, as it seems to be blatantly disregarded by the people who should be listening now more than ever. That said, I now consider myself to be a Raging Empath. In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s as intense as it sounds, and these days it’s absolutely exhausting.

What is a Raging Empath?

Before writing through it, I hadn’t heard this term, though I am confident others out there have used it to describe themselves. To me, a "Raging Empath" is someone who feels emotions on a level that most people would describe as “too much.” Every injustice, every systemic failure, every heartbreak around the globe, a Raging Empath doesn’t just notice the suffering, they carry it with them. We’re like emotional sponges, soaking up everything around us, from a stranger’s bad day at work to the world’s largest humanitarian crises. The empathy part pushes us to care, but the rage part pushes us to act. It’s a fine line between wanting to hold the world’s hand and wanting to burn it all down and most days, it feels like we’re hanging in the balance.

Empathy will lead the Revolution 

I used to make this mistake while self reflecting but in case any of this is resonating with you and YOU need the reminder - empathy isn’t a weakness, these days, empathy is revolutionary. The ability to feel deeply and connect with others is more needed than ever. In 2025, we’re dealing with an avalanche of climate change, racial injustice, economic inequality, political instability, widespread mental health struggles, and the constant noise of digital (mis)information. It’s hard to scroll without feeling like you’re drowning in someone else’s pain and for many of us, these aren’t just headlines, they’re personal - reading about a disaster, a war, or an act of injustice, your heart breaks with the people instead of for them. You can’t simply turn it off and you also can’t help but to think: Is this world even worth saving? 

Even if the Rage is Winning

Rage is not just some destructive emotion anymore, its fuel on the fire propelling you to do something, ANYthing. It pushes you to post, donate, volunteer, protest, speak out, and create. Rage is the thing that turns passive concern into active resistance. I feel that personally my rage has been palpable on Instagram - to a point where posting about anything else feels pointless, privileged, or even shameful. My goal with sharing and posting is hoping to reach ANYONE in the world who has the strength to shift their lens or way of thinking. That may also feel pointless, if you are also a sort of black sheep or misunderstood member of your family/friends - you may be questioning the moral compass and values of  people who you’ve known forever and that is a special kind of heartache. I have straight up CHALLENGED people to unfollow me through my posting and have been happily surprised by a community following who I did not even recognize to be so relatable. It’s empowering to see the little hearts on stories from former clients, airplane neighbors, friend zones and in passing meetings - I see you, I notice you, and YOU help me to feel some sense of sanity and support through the rage. 

Balancing Act

So it turns out, you can’t save the world if you’re burning yourself out. Being so connected feels like you have to be constantly fighting, caring and pushing BUT as a previous therapist (Shout out Carolyn!) tried her best to instill in me, you can’t give what you don’t have. Rest is not an option for empaths, it is now a necessity. Self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and curated  playlists (though they DO help) - It’s about setting boundaries, saying no when you’re overwhelmed, and recognizing that sometimes, your best contribution to the world is stepping back and to recharge. Now, if you know me personally, you know that this is advice I have a HARD time taking, but I am learning that rest is a form of resistance too. When you’re exhausted, you’re no good to anyone - add being a parent into the equation and you’ll find yourself in the backseat more often than driving when it comes to yourself. I am giving you, as well as myself permission to take time to heal, to unplug, and to connect with people who lift you up instead of draining you, and let me tell you, there are more people with hearts of gold out there than even I had realized and I hope you find the same to be true. 

Call to Action

So, my fellow Raging Empaths, I want you to know - you are not too much, you are not weak, you are not overly sensitive, you are exactly what is needed. Your rage, compassion and empathy matter and even though it may feel like the world is spiraling too quickly for you to keep up, your actions and voice make a difference. With that, please remember you cannot save everyone and you cannot fix everything, but you can make a choice to show up for yourself, for your partners, your kids, for others and for the world. So, please, please, please keep feeling, keep fighting and take care of yourself as much as you can - the world needs you.

Resources for Raging Empaths (and Everyone Else)

If you’re feeling overwhelmed (SAME), here are some resources to help you manage your mental health while still staying active in resisting:

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline -Text or call 988 for confidential support anytime you need it.

• NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) - Resources for mental health support and guidance.

• BetterHelp & Talkspace - Online therapy for convenient, affordable support.

• Therapy for Black Girls - A resource for finding therapists who specialize in culturally competent care.

• Open Path Collective  - Affordable therapy for those with limited financial resources.

  
  

Stay safe out there friends and thank you for being here - it's nice to have somewhere to put these feelings and words.