This has been bothering me for a while. I experience overwhelming high levels of empathy and in turn guilt too.
This has been difficult as my partner's living situation is stressful, in that he lives in a single parent household and his mum is often stressed and in turn is not easy to live with as she takes her stress out by telling him off for small things even though he is an adult.
When he is telling me about things that have happened for him, I can feel myself getting anxious and lose sleep over the empathy I feel for him in his situation. I don't want to make his sitaution about me which is why I'm seeking support here and maybe elsewhere.
I find it hard to not feeling guilty if I don't experience strong emotions from it, as he is going through it so why shouldn't I? Even though I know this is an irrational line of thinking.
I was just hoping if I could get some advice on how to better deal with this situation from others who experience overwhelming empathy, too.
Thank you!