This is my first time posting a story. I have been reading this site for some time, and it was where I finally began to understand my emphatic abilities.
I've always been able to feel others and could sense things that didn't seem normal to me. It all used to be so overwhelming. I grew up in a family of skeptics which left me feeling alone and crazy. This led to years of medication and therapy for depression which I later realized I didn't have. Eventually I managed to suppress or at least dull down everything and try to be "normal". That somewhat worked until about two years ago.
I pretty much ignored it when things started occurring again. About a year ago, I started meditating with the intention of controlling my temper, which was something I had only done occasionally when younger. That seemed to trigger things. The empathy came back and I embraced it once I learned what it was.
Strange things followed. I began seeing auras, having occasional visions (many have come true), lucid dreaming, somehow knowing what's going to happen, and sensing, seeing, and sometimes communicating with spirits. It feels like I have finally woken up to a world I didn't believe existed.
Sorry to go on forever with background, but I felt it may help understand what's happening.
Eventually I tried astral projection. I was successful twice when trying and had multiple times where I felt like I got out of my body for a few minutes but couldn't see.
After not trying for a few months I started feeling like I was doing it unintentionally while wide awake. Most of the time it was partial like only my arms or legs seemed to separate. Although twice I was floating above myself watching me for a couple of minutes. Both times I was at work, standing and still managing to do my job.
This really has me confused as I don't understand how it's even possible to still be completely functioning while not really there. Sometimes I feel it about to happen and really have to fight it.
Even though I kind of enjoy the feeling I need to figure out what is going on so I can learn to control it. I keep worrying what would happen if it occurs at the wrong time. I'm afraid it could be dangerous.
Any advice or insight would be greatly appreciated. Just knowing this happens to someone else would help me feel better.