Empath Glossary
A Zenpath approach to understanding sensitivity, energy, and the nervous system.
This glossary is here to help you recognise aspects of yourself or your loved ones with gentleness
and clarity. These words aren’t labels — they’re invitations to deeper self-awareness.
A
Attunement
The ability to sense and respond to others’ emotional states. Empaths often attune deeply – but this can lead to self-neglect without balance.
B
Burnout
Emotional, physical and spiritual exhaustion caused by prolonged stress or energetic overload. Empaths and HSPs may experience burnout quickly, especially when boundaries are weak.
C
Central Nervous System (CNS)
The brain and spinal cord – our body’s main control system. In sensitive individuals, the CNS can become easily overstimulated. At Zenpath, we believe that when the energetic body, physical body, mind, and heart are in harmony, the CNS can self-regulate. Our thoughts – including the placebo effect – play a powerful role in this process.
Co-regulation
A natural, often unconscious process where one person’s calm presence helps another return to balance. Co-regulation is especially important in families, relationships, and healing work.
Compassion Fatigue
A kind of soul-level exhaustion from witnessing too much suffering without support. Common in carers, therapists, healers and those who “feel too much.” Recovery begins with rest and energetic boundaries.
D
Dysregulation
When the nervous system shifts out of balance – into hyper-arousal (fight or flight) or hypo-arousal (freeze or shut down). Sensitive people may move between these states more easily in response to energy or emotion.
E
Emotional Absorption
Taking on the feelings of others as though they are your own. Empaths often do this without realising, which can lead to confusion or burnout if not supported.
Emotional Contagion
The natural, energetic way emotions pass from person to person – often without words. Sensitive people tend to absorb this easily. But with the right tools, you can learn to hold your own frequency and radiate outward.
Empath
Someone who intuitively and often involuntarily absorbs the emotions, energy, or even physical symptoms of others. Empaths feel the world deeply and may become overwhelmed in crowds or emotionally drained after interactions. Their open-hearted nature is a gift – it simply needs understanding and protection.
Energetic Boundaries
The invisible field around us that protects our personal energy. Empaths often have porous or undeveloped boundaries, which can lead to emotional exhaustion. Strengthening these boundaries is a core part of Zenpath’s teaching.
Energetic Field
The subtle energy body (sometimes called the aura) that surrounds all living things. Empaths often sense or respond to shifts in others’ fields – consciously or not.
Energetic Hygiene
Regular practices for cleansing, protecting and restoring your energy field – like rinsing the emotional “aura” after a heavy interaction. At Zenpath, we teach fast, effective methods to make this second nature.
Energetic Imprinting
The belief that people, places and even objects can carry emotional energy. Sensitive individuals may pick up on these imprints without knowing why they feel affected.
F
Fight, Flight, Freeze
The nervous system’s automatic responses to perceived threat. Sensitive people may experience these more frequently – sometimes even in emotionally charged or busy environments.
G
Grounding
Practices that bring your awareness back to the body and the present moment. Grounding helps regulate the nervous system and is the first step in our Root & Reconnect journey. Sensitive people often need deeper or more frequent grounding practices than others.
H
Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)
A term coined by Dr. Elaine Aron to describe those with finely tuned nervous systems. HSPs process sensory information deeply and are often empathetic, emotionally responsive, and highly aware of their surroundings.
Hypervigilance
A constant scanning for danger or tension, often rooted in past trauma or energetic overwhelm. It’s exhausting, and very common among those who haven’t yet learned how to feel safe in their own energy.
M
Mirror Neurons
Brain cells that allow us to reflect or ‘mirror’ the emotions of others. These may be more active in empaths, which explains why they often feel others so clearly.
N
Neuroception
A subconscious process (from Polyvagal Theory) by which the nervous system detects cues of safety or danger. In sensitive people, neuroception is often on high alert – especially when there’s a history of fear or a lack of felt safety.
O
Overstimulation
When too much sensory or emotional input overwhelms the system, leading to fatigue, withdrawal, or irritability. Common in empaths and HSPs, especially in noisy or fast-moving environments.
P
Polyvagal Theory
A model developed by Dr. Stephen Porges that explains how the vagus nerve helps us regulate emotions, feel safe, and engage socially. It’s key to understanding sensitive nervous systems.
R
Resonance
The inner sense of “this feels right.” Sensitive people often feel strong resonance – or dissonance – with places, people, and words. Trusting this can become a powerful compass.
S
Self-Regulation
The ability to consciously manage your emotional and physiological states. For sensitive people, this is a life-changing skill – and the heart of everything we teach at Zenpath.
Sensory Processing Sensitivity (SPS)
A trait found in many HSPs where the brain processes sensory information more deeply. This can heighten awareness but also increase sensitivity to fear, discomfort, or overstimulation. It’s not a disorder – just a different way of experiencing life.
Somatic Awareness
The ability to tune in to sensations within the body. This awareness can offer guidance and help regulate emotions and energy. It is foundational in the Zenpath approach.
Somatic Regulation
Using the body to shift emotional or energetic states – through breath, movement, or touch. It’s one of the fastest ways for sensitive people to return to calm.
Supersensitive
A non-clinical term sometimes used to describe individuals with particularly porous emotional and energetic boundaries. They may respond intensely to subtle changes in people, places, or sensory input. At Zenpath, we see this as an invitation to deeper integration – not something to “fix.”
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