Perhaps you are mistaking empathy for sympathy? I too cannot empathize with the people they are describing. Not only would I not let it get to that point, I could not. My personality is such that when overworked and over-stressed I naturally screw-off for a while to release stress. It doesn't always help my deadlines (which is sometimes a good thing. Sometimes you just need to say "I need more time"), but it does keep me from getting overworked for the most part.
So, I feel bad for these people (I sympathize), but I don't understand them (I don't empathize).
So, I feel bad for these people (I sympathize), but I don't understand them (I don't empathize).