Before I found my way into holistic healing, I spent years in high-pressure environments of London law firms, often feeling overwhelmed by everything and everyone around me. It took me a while to realise that what I was experiencing wasn’t just stress – it was energetic drain and sensitivity.
I would feel completely drained after a busy day, even though I didn’t do anything physically strenuous. My mood would change just by being around certain people, almost as if I’ve “caught” their emotions. Afternoons were the worst because by then I was physically so tired and drained and all I wanted to do was find a quiet corner and shut out the world. But I had to push through to the end of the day and then sit on a packed train with yet more people and sensory stimulation.
If this sounds familiar, you might be a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP), empath or an introvert who’s especially attuned to the energy around you. Let’s talk about what that really means, why it happens, and what you can do to help you feel more balanced and centred.
Why Do We Feel So Much?
Being highly sensitive isn’t just about having strong emotions. It’s about processing everything – sights, sounds, feelings on a deeper level. Imagine your nervous system as a finely tuned radio, picking up signals that others might miss. This can be a beautiful gift, but it also means we’re more likely to “absorb” the moods and stress of people around us.
Think about the last time you walked into a room where someone was upset. Did you feel your own mood shift, even if you didn’t know why? Or maybe after a social gathering, you felt exhausted, almost as if you’d run a marathon, except all you did was listen and be present.
This is what I call emotional absorption. It’s like carrying an invisible backpack that gets heavier with every interaction, especially in busy or emotionally charged environments.
The Challenge: Carrying What Isn’t Ours
For HSPs and empaths, it’s easy to end up carrying emotions and energy that don’t actually belong to us. Over time, this can lead to feeling anxious, tired, or even disconnected from ourselves. I often hear clients describe it as an “emotional hangover”, a lingering heaviness that doesn’t go away with a good night’s sleep.
When I first started exploring energy work, I realised that much of my overwhelm wasn’t mine to begin with. It was the result of absorbing other people’s stress, worries, and moods – without even realising it.
How Energy Healing Can Help
This is where energy healing comes in. At its heart, energy healing is about helping you clear away what isn’t yours and reconnect with your own natural balance. One of the gentlest and most supportive forms is Reiki.
Reiki works a bit like a gentle spring clean for your energy field. It helps to clear out the emotional clutter you’ve picked up throughout the day, so you can feel lighter, calmer, and more like yourself again. The Reiki energy stimulates your body to heal itself, whether that be on the emotional, mental or spiritual level. It also means neither you nor the Reiki practitioner even need to know exactly what is wrong for Reiki to bring about the positive change.
And the best part? You don’t have to do anything except relax and receive because Reiki can even be done from a distance, so you can experience its benefits from the comfort of your own home.
Other Ways to Support Your Sensitive Nature
If you are a HSP or empath, here are a few other things you can try to help you recover from the energetic drain or overwhelm:
- Check In With Yourself: When you feel “off,” pause and ask, “Is this mine, or could I be carrying someone else’s energy?”
- Create Quiet Moments Daily: Even a few minutes of deep breathing or sitting in nature can help you reset. Even an empty office can do. You can also put on your earphones to listen to calming music or a guided meditation.
- Try Energy Healing: Consider a distance Reiki session. It’s a gentle, non-invasive way to clear your energy and restore your energy levels.
- Visualise Boundaries: Before entering busy spaces, imagine a golden, protective bubble of light around you. It sounds simple, but it really can help!
- Use Affirmations for Energetic Protection: One practice I’ve found especially helpful -both for myself and for my HSP and empathetic clients is repeating an affirmation for energetic protection before leaving the house, especially when I know I’ll be around people who tend to drain my energy (and let’s be honest, sometimes we can’t avoid them, whether they’re co-workers or family).
My go-to affirmation is:
“I move through the world shielded and sovereign. My energy is mine alone.”
A Gentle Invitation
If you’re a Highly Sensitive Person, empath or introvert who often feels overwhelmed by the world, please know you’re not alone and you don’t have to carry it all by yourself. Energy healing, especially Reiki, can be a gentle, supportive way to help you clear what isn’t yours and reconnect with your inner centre.
If you’re curious or want to chat more about how Reiki might help you, I’d love to connect. Feel free to send me a message.
