Have you ever walked into somewhere and instantly felt like you wanted to leave, without knowing why?
Or perhaps you’ve suddenly felt heavy, emotional, anxious or unsettled for no obvious reason.
If you’ve ever experienced that, you’re definitely not alone.
For a long time, I couldn’t explain it either. But after more than thirteen years working as a craniosacral therapist and supporting thousands of people, I’ve become fascinated by why some of us seem to be more affected by places, people and environments than others.
This article isn’t about telling you what to believe. It’s simply sharing where I’m coming from and what I’ve observed in my treatment room over many years.
Understanding ourselves
We hear a lot these days about the connection between the mind and the body. People like Gabor Maté have helped bring this relationship into the spotlight.
When I talk about the mind, like Gabor Maté, I’m not just talking about the brain. I’m also talking about what many of us experience as the intelligence of the heart and the gut.
Have you ever had a gut feeling about something?
Or felt your heart tell you something before your head had caught up?
Most of us have.
For me, understanding ourselves begins by learning to listen to all three – the mind in the head, the heart and the gut.
But over the years, I’ve also come to believe there is another equally important part of the picture.
Why Sensitive People and Empaths Notice Energy Around Them
In my work, I don’t just consider the physical body. I also pay attention to what I describe as our personal energy field.
Some people call it an aura. Others refer to it as the biomagnetic field.
Whatever language you choose, my experience has shown me that many sensitive people and empaths seem to notice far more than they realise.
It’s as though they’re constantly receiving information from the world around them.
Not just from people, but from places too.
Why Busy Places Can Feel Overwhelming for Highly Sensitive People
Think about the last time you went to a busy airport.
People are rushing.
Some are excited.
Some are anxious.
Some are worried about missing their flight.
Others are frightened of flying.
Now think about a supermarket, a shopping centre, a school or even a concert.
Each place carries its own atmosphere because of those who are there or have been there beforehand.
Many people simply move through these environments without giving it much thought. If you have a sensitive nervous system, you may notice that your body responds more strongly to busy environments than other people’s.
You might leave feeling overwhelmed without understanding why.
That doesn’t mean there’s something wrong with you.
It may simply mean your system is noticing more and it’s trying to tell you something.
My treatment room has been my laboratory
One of the greatest privileges of my work has been listening to thousands of people’s stories.
Every client teaches me something.
Patterns begin to emerge.
Questions arise.
Observations repeat themselves.
That’s why I often describe my treatment room as my laboratory.
I’m constantly learning about the relationship between the physical body, the nervous system, emotions and what I experience as the energetic field around us.
How to Tell Whether the Feelings You’re Experiencing Are Yours
Then, if I walk into a crowded place and suddenly feel something different, I don’t automatically assume it’s mine. Instead, I use what we call the sway test (or body pendulum) to check in with my own body.
Rather than analysing everything with my thinking mind, I allow my body to guide me. I ask simple questions such as:
“Am I overloaded?”
“Would it be good for me to slow down?”
“Would it be good for me to have some quiet time in nature?”
The answers often surprise me. More importantly, they help me come back to myself instead of becoming overwhelmed by everything around me.
“Is this actually mine?” is the biggest question of all.
Sometimes it is.
But a lot of the time, it isn’t.
That simple question has changed everything for me.
Coming back to yourself
We live in a busy world that constantly pulls our attention outwards.
We’re taught to look for answers everywhere except within ourselves.
Yet our bodies are constantly communicating with us.
The more we learn to slow down, become present and reconnect with ourselves, the easier it becomes to recognise what supports us and what overwhelms us.
For some people, that might be standing beside water.
For others, walking in nature.
Sitting quietly in the garden.
Leaning against a tree.
Or simply slowing the breath and allowing the nervous system to settle.
There isn’t one right answer because we all all different!
The important thing is discovering what brings you back to yourself.
The children are showing us something
One area I’m especially passionate about is helping parents understand sensitive children.
Many children today seem to feel everything very deeply.
Busy classrooms, shopping centres and crowded environments can become overwhelming.
Rather than asking, “What’s wrong with this child?”
Perhaps we could begin asking,
“What is this child experiencing?”
When adults understand themselves more deeply, they’re in a much better position to help children understand themselves too.
Start by slowing down
If there’s one thing I’d encourage you to do after reading this, it’s simply this:
Slow your breathing.
Become still.
Notice your body.
Notice your heart.
Notice your gut.
Notice how you feel before you walk into a busy environment, and then notice how you feel afterwards.
The more familiar you become with yourself, the easier it becomes to recognise what belongs to you and what doesn’t.
For me, that’s where real self-understanding begins.
The sway test isn’t about giving your power away to something outside yourself. It’s about learning to listen to the wisdom that already exists within your own body.
If this resonates with you, I’ve created a number of free resources on the Zenpath website, including my Return to Presence practice, designed to help you reconnect with yourself and bring your nervous system back into balance.
Together, we can learn to understand ourselves a little more deeply.
I’d love you to explore my YouTube videos more, here’s the link to the latest one.