> The grass may be greener

I think one thing that people don't realize is that with high levels of empathy you risk enmeshment with others, and a loss of your own self boundary. You don't know where there thoughts and pains end and where yours begin.

It leads to desperately wanting to fix those around you, because you suffer as long as they suffer. And when you discover you can't fix everything, you either detach from everyone, or begin the process of numbing yourself. (Most of these are unconscious reactions to painful stimuli.)

So I guess: be careful what you wish for!

I still want empathy, I just wish I could tune it down by like 50% without numbing.

Thank you. I don't at all mean to be unempathetic myself to your experiences, and I'm sorry if it appears that way.