I spent a lot of years thinking there was something wrong with me because I couldn't stand being in a crowded room; I couldn't handle loud noise, I would feel "fractured." Now I realize that I am so sensitive that when I'm in that room full of people, I "pick up" on their vibrations--their emotions--and I feel like I'm being hit from all sides!
When I finally understood why this was happening, I stopped beating myself up and began to pay attention to what my inner voice was telling me. I need to be in a quiet environment, I need to leave parties early, I don't go to the mall at Christmas, I try to do as many stress relief things for myself as possible because we pick up other people's negativity/energy.
I'm not exactly sure what things have occurred for you that you attribute to the curse of being an empath. But I don't think you can NOT use your gift--it's a part of you. You can read people naturally. Like some people are clairaudient (they can hear messages from incarnated spirits), clairvoyant (they can see pictures of other dimensions, spirits, whatever).
What I've discovered is that it is important for us to heal ourselves first. The rest follows naturally. I think it's also important to understand why you feel that pain so intensely, and then learn to let it go. You don't have to continue to experience others pain to understand their pain. I'm in the process of learning how to psychically protect myself from others energy influence. This is a non-stop process. I'm working in a very stressful environment where people are experiencing major stress, long hours, fast pace, and just walking through the department I pick this all up. I'm trying to find ways to mentally, physically, and psychically deal with this. I belong to a meditation center where others are working on the same thing. I'm not sure where you are, but you might find some place like that where people have the same abilities and are learning how to deal with them.
I don't think anyone can be healed of their intuitive, psychic abilities. That is part of our nature. Please don't think of it as a curse. It is a great gift. In my mind, healing begins with the spirit. Disease is cause and effect, and begins with our thoughts. What's going on in the physical body is a manifestation of what's happening in your "head" so to speak.
I spent a lot of years in confusion and there is hope! Also, I work with a woman whose 5 year old daughter is wise beyond her years and is definitely tuned in to everyone. I'm sure she's empathic. The greatest gift she is giving her daughter is her understanding, and the acknowledgement that she "knows what she knows." And what they (we) know is AWESOME!