A question I’ve been asked a thousand time (or more)…“Am I anxious, energy sensitive, or going through a spiritual awakening?”

The honest answer is that it can be difficult to tell because all three can feel surprisingly similar. 

You might experience:

  • Racing thoughts
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • Feeling overwhelmed
  • Heightened emotions
  • Sensitivity to people, places, and situations
  • A feeling that something isn’t quite right
  • A sense that your old life no longer fits
  • Feeling drained for no obvious reason
  • Wanting more meaning, purpose, or connection

It’s easy to become confused and wonder what’s happening. You may have one, two or be experiencing all three at the same time! Instead of picking a label, why not focus on understanding yourself and what’s happening for you.

So let’s explore each a little and see how they differ and overlap.

Anxiety

Anxiety is often rooted in fear, uncertainty, or a nervous system that feels overwhelmed. And it’s on the rise! In young people AND adults alike.  Men AND women. It can impact anyone, and it can feel paralysing. 

The mind becomes focused on potential threats and stays in a state of alert. The nervous system is always ready, not relaxed. And this can be exhausting – I speak from personal experience (mine came from nervous system overwhelm on top of PTSD). 

Your body may feel tense, wired, restless, or constantly on edge. Your energy can feel contracted. You want to isolate and minimise any possible stimulation or threat. This can be very life-limiting when it comes to maintaining a job and relationships. 

Sometimes anxiety is connected to circumstances in life. Sometimes it stems from past experiences, stress, burnout, grief, or a nervous system that has been carrying too much for too long.

Energy Sensitivity

Some people naturally experience life more deeply than others – the energy of people, plants, animals and the earth herself!

You might notice peoples’ moods (even before they walk in the room), you may walk away from busy environments feeling all sorts of emotions and not know where they’ve come from, you may need a lot of alone time to recharge or just be free of other energy for a while, you can feel drained by certain people or situations.

This is NOT weakness. It is actually a beautiful gift. But it does mean the experience of everyday life is a little different. And often overwhelming.

Imagine having incredibly sensitive hearing. You would notice sounds that others barely register. The same can happen emotionally, mentally, and energetically.

Sensitive people often tell me:

  • “I feel exhausted after being around lots of people.”
  • “I need quiet time to feel myself again.”
  • “I can sense tension before anyone says anything.”
  • “Busy places leave me feeling overwhelmed.”
  • “Nature makes me feel instantly better.”

That doesn’t mean something is wrong. It means your system may need a different kind of care.

Awakening

Awakening often begins when the life you’ve been living no longer feels fully aligned. But it doesn’t just happen once! You can have multiple awakenings of different intensities and depths. Awakening can be beautiful, but it can also be uncomfortable (and feel similar to depression on some levels – and of course, anxiety, which is what we are covering in this post).

Old identities begin to fall away. And you often have no control over it.

Questions start to arise such as:

  • What the fuck am I doing with my life?
  • Why am I friends with these people?
  • Who am I really?
  • Is there more to life than this?
  • Why do weird things keep happening to me?

You may feel called to slow down, simplify, spend more time in nature, or reconnect with parts of yourself that have been forgotten.

The mind often interprets change as danger, which is why awakening can sometimes feel very similar to anxiety and or depression.

The difference is that beneath the discomfort, there is often an invitation towards expansion, growth, and deeper self-understanding. Curiosity wins over fear. Your heart and soul start to lead you. 

Why they can feel similar

Imagine moving house. Even if it’s a move you’ve chosen, you may experience:

  • Excitement
  • Fear
  • Uncertainty
  • Grief
  • Hope
  • Overwhelm

Awakening can feel similar because your inner world and your sense of the familiar are changing.

At the same time, if you’re highly sensitive (which you probably are if you’re reading this), you’re likely noticing more information than many people around you.

And if your nervous system is overloaded, anxiety may naturally arise too.

This is why trying to force a label isn’t always helpful.

Life is often more nuanced than that.

Before you assume something is wrong

Ask yourself:

  • How does my body feel?
  • Am I rested?
  • Have I spent time in nature recently?
  • Have I been around lots of people?
  • Am I carrying stress that isn’t mine?
  • Have I had any quiet time this week?
  • Am I living in a way that feels authentic to me?
  • What is happening in my life right now that might be affecting me?

Sometimes what looks like anxiety is exhaustion and nervous system overwhelm.

Sometimes what looks like awakening is anxiety.

Sometimes what looks like anxiety is actually sensitivity asking to be honoured.

And sometimes it is a mixture of all three.

How to help yourself

Whatever the cause, the first steps are often the same.

Slow down

Not everything needs solving immediately. Create space before reacting. Try writing down how you feel. Writing is super powerful because you can only write as fast as you can write – writing slows your mind down. It can also invite channeled information if you’re into that. 

Spend time in nature

Nature has an incredible ability to regulate the nervous system and bring us back to ourselves. Simply walking, seeing the clouds and listening to the birds. Simple is often powerful. And movement plus nature is even better. 

Reduce input

News, social media, endless scrolling, and constant stimulation can leave sensitive people overwhelmed. Give your system regular breaks. Who cares if you don’t reply to that message? If they/it is important, and meant to be, then they/it will wait. Would you keep pouring water into an already full cup?

Notice what gives and takes energy

Pay attention to:

  • People
  • Places
  • Activities
  • Conversations

What leaves you feeling nourished? What leaves you feeling depleted?

Your body often knows before your mind does. Try to tune into your body as much as possible. 

Honour rest

Rest is not laziness. It is a biological need. Many sensitive people spend years trying to push through what their body is asking them to slow down and listen to. And also – did you know that people have low or high sleep needs? Some people feel great on 6 hrs a night, and others need 10 to get the same level of rest. I’m on the high need end of the spectrum haha. And I fought it for years being on calls at 6am with Asia and still online at 10pm working with the West Coast. I didn’t listen to my body and I ended up paying the price with my health. 

Find support

Sometimes support comes through a friend, therapist, spiritual guidance, energy work, or simply someone to listen to you without judegment. Lots of people process better when they talk – so don’t be shy… share! There is no prize for struggling alone.

And remember

Whether this is anxiety, sensitivity, awakening, or a combination of all three, it does not mean you are broken. You may simply be human.

A human navigating a busy world while learning how to understand yourself more deeply.

The question is not “What’s wrong with me?”

The question is: “What is this experience trying to show me?”

Sometimes the answer is healing, sometimes it’s rest, sometimes it’s change.

And sometimes what feels like everything falling apart is actually the beginning of you coming home to yourself.

Sending you love and light wherever you are in coming back to yourself x