I know that it's an idea that a lot of people believe in/relate to, but I feel as though a not insignificant portion of people who identify as "empaths" are just folks who have been traumatized in such a way that reading other people's emotions became of strong, self-defensive importance. Sorry if I @'d anyone with that take lol.

Not, of course, to imply that it's not a term you should relate to, if you do. Ultimately whatever brings you validity is usually what's best, especially if it's a fairly harmless belief.