Empathy vs. Sympathy

From what I heard empathy is related to the word empathetic in that the person feels as the other person does, and not all of us can do it. We can all be sympathetic in that we will give comfort or feel sorry, but with empathy, lets say on hearing that someone is sick, someone will actually feel ill and really imagine what that person is going through and it would be bad if one is a nurse, because with empathy one cares so much that it paralyzes her from helping. You know the phrase "you do not know how I feel?" that is because the person does not have empathy. Empathy requires someone to show more emotions, while sympathy requires just a pat and a hug. And I do not know when one is better then the other. For me sympathy works all the time. I am not an empathetic person.

Empathy is use when making a decision or giving out advice for another person. Empathizing is putting yourself in the another person's situation so as you would be subjective in making a decision or advise. Sympathy is just giving your concern for the other person by showing your understanding on how she feels. Sympathize is use in comforting the person.

You feel sorry for someone when you know they are hurting and you do not want them to but you cannot really relate to their pain. Empathy is when you truly know the kind of pain they are going through. Like when someone has lost a child and you have too. You can empathize with their pain and sorrow so much deeper because you have been there. You identify with them on the same plane. Where someone else would understand that they were hurting but they just wouldn't quite "get it", you would. Shalom~Adoniah