Signs of psychic overload

Last Updated on February 20, 2016

If you’re highly sensitive or even psychic, your senses are heightened to the feelings, thoughts and actions of others. While some people may be oblivious to all that is going on around them, you tend to notice everything, whether it’s evident or below the surface.

This can be a good thing if you’re trying to get a handle on a situation or you’re picking up information that can be helpful to you. But it can also be a double-edged sword if you’re picking up on the fears, sadness or even excitement from others.  Psychic information can be overwhelming and in some cases, it can lead to psychic overload.

Signs of Psychic Overload

So how do you know if you’re becoming overwhelmed by all of the information that you’re picking up from other people? There are a number of signs that you may be experiencing psychic overload.

You feel claustrophobic. Claustrophobia is the fear of being trapped in closed spaces. Sure a small room and a crowd of people can each leave you feeling like you’re trapped in a closed space, but energy can also surround you, making you feel like you’re cut off from the outside world. If you’re picking up on the energy of those around you, that energy can literally feel like it’s wrapping around you and cutting off your air supply. When there are a lot of people — and a lot of energy — around you, you may feel better if you step out of the room and give yourself a chance to regroup.

You feel anxious  or excited or afraid for no reason. Sometimes when you’re experiencing psychic overload, you’re literally picking up on the emotions of those around you. If you’re extremely intuitive, chances are you’re in tune with your feelings. So if you’re feeling a particular emotion, you likely know why. If you feel a strong emotion and you can’t figure out why you feel that way, ask yourself if it’s even your emotion. A simple way to figure it out is to silently pray that any emotions that don’t belong to you be returned to their sender. If the emotion lessens or goes away, you’ve been psychically overloaded.

You feel physically drained. Using psychic energy or doing any type of healing work can make you feel tired, which is why self-care is important when you’re doing spiritual work. Even if you’re not aware that you’re using psychic energy — which happens to a lot of us —   you’re still creating the same effect on your body. If you’re feeling extremely tired or fatigued, particularly after being around large groups of people, there’s a good chance you’re experiencing the energy drain that comes with soaking up the moods and feelings of others.

The Plight of the HSP

The ‘Highly Sensitive Person’ (HSP)’ is a term made popular by Elaine Aron to describe people who literally have nervous systems that are more sensitive than the average person. HSPs can find it difficult to be in crowds, they can have a hard time with relationships and they literally feel the energy of those around them. They’re also very highly psychic and extremely prone to psychic overload.

One of the best books describing the plight of the Highly Sensitive Person is Elaine Aron’s The Highly Sensitive Person, which gives you an idea if you are an HSP and explains the phenomenon. Many people are surprised to find that there is literally a physical cause to their sensitivity. The book also explains how you can protect yourself from the moods and feelings of others.

One of the things that Elaine Aron has talked about frequently in her work is the fact that relationships are often difficult for HSPs. Her book The Highly Sensitive Person in Love: Understanding and Managing Relationships When the World Overwhelms You deals specifically with this phenomenon. As Aron explains, HSPs often are overwhelmed by even positive emotions, so when they fall in love, the joy and the excitement can cause psychic overload. If you’ve ever felt like you became TOO excited or TOO fearful when a relationship was new and your excitement either crippled you from moving forward or scared someone away, this book could offer you some insight into how to deal with your feelings the next time you fall in love.