Every home has a general feeling. Some things you might notice when you first walk into a location is if it is warm, sunny, welcoming, peaceful, relaxing, cold, dark, uncomfortable, energized, disorienting, and so on. We create these environments through care (or lack thereof) and our presence within the space. When we are suffering physically or mentally, our space can change, making us feel uncomfortable and even suspicious of the negative feeling that now permeates what should be a safe space. If this goes on for too long, the negativity can grow and this can sometimes be misinterpreted as something paranormal. 

Does our energy really affect the environment? Yes, it does. When working in community mental health, I spent much of my day visiting people in their homes. My clients were dealing with a variety of mental health issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, post-traumatic stress disorder, and more. I could always tell when a client’s health was improving or degrading based on their home. Not just the state of cleanliness but the overall feel of the environment. I remember walking into the home of a particularly anxious client, everything was clean and orderly but the energy was off. My heart rate seemed to increase and my breath caught a bit in my chest. This was all before I sat down with the client and started to observe her fidgeting and hear a slight tremor in her voice. Her space told me there was a problem before she even opened her mouth to say “hello”. 

This is something that occurs in every home, not just the homes of people who are struggling with mental illness. I have gone on residential investigations where the largest energy concern was the client, not a ghost. It is important that investigators be comfortable talking to clients about how their own mental state impacts their living environment. Clients can take back control of their own home by finding ways to relieve stress and anxiety. If they do have a paranormal problem, in addition to the personal energy concern, learning to be confident and setting boundaries can do wonders for making a space feel safer. 

In addition, investigators should be aware of the energy they bring into an investigation. If you have had a rough day/week, you have been feeling bad, or your mental health is suffering, you may “infect” an environment with that energy. This will impact everyone in the environment and cause a variety of interpersonal problems in addition to impacting the success of the investigation. You must be able to model good personal boundaries for your clients and know when to step back from a situation and take care of yourself. When you can recognize these things in your own environment, it becomes easier to identify them when you are in new spaces. 

We often talk about “feeling” or “sensing” a space. This isn’t a paranormal ability, this is a human ability to notice how someone is affecting the environment. It is an important skill to hone so you are better able to identify all of the factors causing a client distress. When you are strategizing with your client, you can give them ideas on how to improve their situation by not just saging the house but asking them how they cope with stress and anxiety. Problem solving the everyday concerns can sometimes be more effective than mystical solutions. I know most of us are not trained to do this, so having someone on your team who has some therapeutic background can be helpful. If not, take some time to learn a little for yourself so you can care for your own energy and help clients improve theirs too. 

Until next time, take care of your energy and Happy Hunting!