Oh yeah . . . I'm right there with you. That empath stuff is something, huh?
I've come to think of my taking on other's emotions as a sort of anxiety ('cause I think down deep inside there is some connection). It's something I have to learn to live with. Alcohol numbs, but it's not a long term solution, obviously. You need more and more. At best alcohol is a very bad coping mechanism.
We've got to learn new, more healthy coping mechanisms.
I've only been sober 22 days so take this with a grain of salt . . . I find walking helps. It didn't make sense to me at first. Why would that help? But I've come to find physical movement forces my attention inward, and away from other's.
Turns out "self care" is helping me get on top of these waves of emotions.