Last Updated on February 25, 2022 by Kelly Ashley
You’ve probably asked yourself that question. I did too, a million times, and it was a tough question to answer. A few years ago I experienced what I can only describe as a psychosis. For quite some time my natural highly sensitive tendencies had been intensifying, as had my spiritual experiences, until they all eventually just blurred together into one heck of an overwhelming, maddening mess. And maddening, it truly was.
I found that my emotions changed unexpectedly and without warning. I was prone to tearfulness, sometimes for seemingly no reason at all, and a powerful all consuming anxiety (which strangely, was worse at the full moon). I had lost all interest in the superficial and material aspects of life and as a result I had reduced my social circle significantly – in fact, I pretty much had nobody but family left. Old places, people and things just lost their appeal entirely and it was hard to keep up any relationships with this peculiar, intense yet strangely synchronistic experience going on. I knew something was happening to me, but I wasn’t quite sure what. Spiritually I felt awakened, but physically I felt completely and utterly lost. Everyone around me knew I had changed. People wondered what the hell was wrong with me. So did I.
But you know it’s strange. We never really take notice of things until they are truly too huge to ignore. I kept fretting that perhaps I could possibly be crazy, and I worried about it from time to time, until I finally reached the point where the experience was so overwhelming that I just couldn’t ignore it anymore. There were no ifs and buts about it – the symptoms I had definitely FELT crazy. I didn’t feel like life had any structure or stability at all anymore. My feelings and senses were attuned to things that didn’t make sense, or that I couldn’t explain.
Signs Of Spiritual Awakening
Here are some of the peculiar things I experienced which are indicative of a spiritual awakening. Perhaps you can relate to the following:
Emotional sensitivity – extreme highs or extreme lows, wild or erratic mood swings, unexplained depression or sudden waves of emotion
Energetic sensitivity – picking up on energies or feelings from people, places or things. Feeling overwhelmed by your own energy or others
Synchronicity – seeing number patterns, peculiar coincidences, meaningful signs or symbolism
Knowing that something has changed within you or your life, even if you can’t explain what
Becoming more introverted or sensitive, craving more time alone
Increased psychic or intuitive abilities – senses, visions, knowing, hearing or even seeing
Vivid, meaningful dreams, or lucid dreaming
Confusion in life or inability to make decisions
Communications with spirit, Creator, guides or ascended masters, angels or even ET beings
Awareness of soul mates, twin flames or soul counterparts
Past life memories or current life issues rising to the surface to be released and healed
And then something REALLY weird happened. It was as if all this seeming craziness and my need to resist it out of fear finally crumbled. Maybe I let go, or perhaps it just became too big to fight anymore, but it all just dissolved, and I surrendered to the experience no matter how odd or inexplicable it seemed. I figured that if I was going down – if this was going to take me to the depths of myself – I was going to purposely push myself down. I wasn’t going to let it take me against my will. I wouldn’t go kicking and screaming, I’d make it a choice because I couldn’t stand to be afraid of it for a minute longer.
The Turning Point
When I let go, every emotional issue I had ever had rose up to the surface. All the shame and blame and panic and low self esteem that I’d been holding down throughout my lifetime bubbled up for me to realize, accept and release. The interesting thing about this was that when I stopped resisting, and just accepted whatever came up – whether it be an emotional issue or a peculiar experience – it was like it lost its power over me. When I was finally willing to look it actually brought a sense of relief, because fighting and resisting it for so long had been strenuous and fraught with tension.
Slowly, but surely, the issues paled and released, taking the overwhelm with them. I immediately became more grounded, and realized that most of the odd experiences that I was having were actually spiritual experiences, and were laced with deep and powerful meaning that was designed to guide me through life. Life began to balance out and feel normal and stable again. My anxiety and overwhelm was entirely gone. But the most amazing thing was that it almost immediately rerouted me onto my life purpose. It ignited a passion within me that wasn’t there before. I felt I had finally found what I wanted to do. I later found that the ‘mystical madness’ that I had experienced had happened to others too – normal, everyday people, like you and me. It had even happened to the likes of Mother Theresa, Buddha and Carl Jung. It comforted me knowing that this sacred experience had transformed these amazing people in a positive and truly inspirational way.
You’re NOT Crazy
My experience looked crazy. My experience sure felt crazy. But I was not crazy at all, and neither are you – its all just healing. Some aspects of your experience may SEEM crazy. They may be hard to rationalize, because they are happening on the spiritual plane and are governed by other laws, but that doesn’t make you crazy.
You see, this experience is not an accident. It’s not a flaw or a mistake. Its designed to transform you into who you truly are. Its an attempt by your soul to strip you of everything that’s not you; to heal the psyche of lifetimes worth of issues. It’s the process of waking up, releasing all of the pain and karmic patterns, and finally completing the lessons so that we can be our true, divine, and pure selves. Until we allow ourselves to recognize, accept and release our pain, our soul will continue to repeat these patterns – like a computer program stuck in a loop. When it does that, it can have the look and feel of a mental breakdown, when in truth it is a spiritual and psychological breakthrough. Naturally, it can be hard to handle. In order to gain control, balance and freedom we need to realign ourselves. We need to come back down to earth, gain a foothold in the structure of the physical and support ourselves through the process of healing the soul. That all starts with grounding.
Our 7 day energy healing course, ’Grounded Awakenings’ can help with this.
Grounding Is Vital
What I didn’t realize in the moment was that when I let go, I inadvertently grounded myself. The best way for you to gain control, stabilize your awakening and sensitivities is to ground yourself. That’s the first step. When we ground ourselves we stop the soul from purging everything overwhelmingly at once. We allow ourselves to release in a healthy, structured way. We balance our energies. We release anxiety and overwhelm. Things get better. It changed everything for me, and I truly feel that it is a vital skill for anyone wishing to have a smoother awakening.
In fact, I’m so passionate about it that I’ve created a FREE 5-day course to help you do just that. In the course I’ll explain what grounding is, why it is vitally important and I’ll teach you some simple yet effective techniques that will fully support you throughout your journey! You can get it below:
If you’d like an extended list of further spiritual awakening signs and symptoms, you can check out another post here.
Hey! If you liked this article you might also be interested in these other popular related resources:
* 6 Reasons Why You Need Energy Grounding For Ascension
* 6 Ways Grounding Can Transform Your Spiritual Awakening!
* Grounded Awakenings
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I have/am gone/going through this process of ascension – first time winter/spring 99/00, second time winter/spring 12/13 and third time and most incredible of all winter/spring 15/16 – spent the last year or so, reading, reflecting, relaxing and digesting this life changing experience but it ain’t easy ?
Totally agree – it sure isn’t easy. It has the most incredible highs, and often the most incredible lows, but, regardless of how it feels, we are most definitely ascending upward, and in it together. Lots of love to you on your journey 🙂
I’ve gone through my awakening process from the summer/fall 03-07 until my second summer/fall 13-16.It keeps getting more intense and exciting!
I have had most of these occurances. Lows, highs, depressions and I have never suffered from any of these feelings before. Am on antidepressants and tranquilizers. Mood changes etc. Have also been told I am crazy? I’ve had a spiritual experience years ago. Had a heart transplant been hijacked been in a serious motor accident, a armed robbery at work . They pulled a gun on me and it did not go off !!!!!!(survived it all). My late husband committed suicide. My dad died in that same year .Been thinking much about all these things. And wondering why I’m still here. What do I still have to accomplish in my life,why I survived all of these events. What is my purpose…….
Bless you Doreen – what a challenging journey. It must feel like one thing after the other. If you are still here, there must be a wonderful reason – I’m sure of it! Learning some healing/ energy techniques could be useful to shift the energy, emotion and trauma of these experiences. It sounds like your soul is trying to heal a LOT at once. But if it helps, I definitely found that my most challenging experiences on this journey have become the value of what I have to share and help others – it may be true for you too. Know that you are not alone, and we are sending much love to you Doreen x
Everything in this article resonated within me… and it seems…right…to take this small but neccessary step forward.
I look forward to seeing where I go from here once the course arrives!
Thank you Steve – I am happy to hear that this is synchronistic for you! Me too! I can feel the energy build as more are joining us – excited to launch it 🙂
I resonate with this so very much. Thank you.
You’re so welcome Doreen, I’m glad it resonates. Sending lots of love to you.
That was truly inspiring to read. Thank you for sharing your story. I’ve found it difficult at times because I think “How can anyone possibly understand the insanity of what I’ve experienced?”. The truth is that what you mentioned as signs to go through I had ALL of them! Grounding and meditation has helped me a great deal myself. Otherwise I do feel like my mind is all over the place.
Awakening to your life’s purpose is an awesome thing!
Agreed Walley! Exciting and synchronistic 🙂
When does it all stop?
Grounding is the key. If you’re finding it overwhelming, unbareable or out of balance, definitely get grounding – check out our free course to help you do that. Also, you sound like you may be in the healing phase – life can get pretty tumultuous during these times as old emotions are heightened and triggered. I’ll be creating a course of self healing soon, but in the mean time, focus on grounding and things will feel much better. Big hugs.
Lost everything I had my job due to my health, my home, my car. At 60 years old I’m back living with my dad where I grew up. Starting over. This process has taken over a year to go through. But I realize now that this is something I had to go through to get to my true self. Have went through everything thing listed but finally getting grounded to move forward.
Hi Diane, it can be a rough ride – and I often hear that people feel they have lost everything, but in a strange way, it is the stripping away of everything that illuminates who we truly are. Its awesome that you are getting more grounded now. Much love to you!
I am going thru a lot of bitter experience with whom i think is my twin flame. We are almost separated as he never valued or realised me in his life and he sort of is allergic to me because of misunderstandings. It is breaking me..m trying to get over it but i m failing. Plss guide
Hi Jasleen. The twin flame experience is most challenging of all, but can be maneuvered through more easily if you focus on YOU. Focus on healing all of those feelings – especially the ones that have made you feel bitter, as these are all blocks to union (and true balance within yourself). Be gentle with yourself and allow your soul to heal – that is the first step 🙂
I wished i would have seen this while struggling with my own awakening.I truly thought I may have been losing the plot. Lucky for me, my psychologist put me onto a book/books published by Michael Newton. That was the day I realised that I wasn’t alone and there were so many more just like me. Everything I believed and that I had spent my life repressing is coming to pass. The day I ‘grounded’was the day I let go of my fear, faced everything in my life. I basically bared my soul and forgave myself. Then I learned to live in the now. The illusion shattered, where at one time, I thought it was me. I finally feel right. Took me 52 years, but I finally made it. Everything has so much clarity and the earth is a truly beautiful place to be once you can look passed the illusion.
Wow Julie what an amazing experience – a true spiritual transformation. I love to hear these accounts of transcending the challenges. Thanks for sharing, much love to you!
What was the book by Michael Newton? I read Stanislav Grof during mine and it was a relief to know I was not alone
Great to read your story, and everyone else’s too. Mine began in 2012 and was so intense for two years, I was very brave through it all but somehow was afraid to let go and surrender to everything, kept clinging on to ‘what I know’ rather than let go and so I became sick and am still very sick with Lyme disease now.
Is fatigue a part of it, as well?
I appreciate this information because going through this is disturbing. Thank you.
Hi Sherry – it definitely can be. I had fatigue during the DNA upgrade – you’ll most likely go through fatigue when you’re at your peak of spiritual clearing. Thats a good sign! Be gentle with yourself and allow your body to process these spiritual and energetic changes. It will pass and everything will be ok 🙂
Well that explains a lot!
Glad to know it helps 🙂
Hi Kelly
Wow what I wouldn’t have done to have this article to read 15 years ago when I had my awakening !. I was so lost and confused and scared and I too thought that I had ‘lost the plot’. Your descriptions are spot on but I will add that I also felt at times very close to something evil, like a dark energy somewhere around me. Very very frightening.
I am so pleased that there is more and more info on the net for those in need of some sanity. Thank you for your post.
I would love to know more.
Namaste’ Jo
Thank you for your kind words Maria! So glad it resonated. I feel the same, there wasn’t enough info out there when it happened to me either. Looking forward to sharing more with you.
Thank you so much for sharing this. I too cut off everyone except family and though I could not explain to my long time friends why I felt and feel as though I need to go through what is happening without them. This choice to cut ties came at the same time that one of my nieces was brutally murdered. But I had felt myself shifting prior to that horrible time to the extent that I had made mention of this shift to those I’ve cut ties with. The day I felt the strongest of pull towards this shift was days leading up to October 28th 2012. Everyone just thought that I had lost it and shrugged when I tried to explain it to them. I cannot explain what October 28 of 2012 has to do with this shift all I can say is that it does, though there were no events that took place in my life that day. Again I thank you for sharing this as each thing you have mentioned in the article has been happening to me for years and it was only at the time of my nieces murder a year and a half ago that it hit full force. Blessings to you
You are so welcome Dana, I’m glad this resonates with you. Yes, its a peculiar thing how certain dates can be catalysts for specific energetic shifts or events for us. I went through a lot of that too. I think it is mostly to do with energetic and astrological alignments which awaken us or allow new energies in. Interesting to hear that someone else has experienced this. Thank you for sharing x
I legit thought I was going crazy,thanks for the knowledge.
After reading this, I began wondering if my youngest son, who is an Empath (like his deceased father and I both) and HSP (me), is working out some of OUR “mystical madness” – which should not be his. I am aware of my own epigenetic trauma and we have talked at length about being an Empath, HSP, epigenetic trauma, etc. We both see a therapist, although his is more intense and doing a lot of in-depth work. My old soul baby is only 21 and struggling. We’re doing everything we can but this made me think of things a little differently.
Its certainly possible. Sometimes we take things on energetically for our loved ones, for many different reasons. But it will only draw to the surface issues within that need to be healed within him anyway. Whether someone else carries it or not, we all need to heal our wounds sometime. Wonderful that you’re able to do that together 🙂
This happened to me when I was pregnant. I knew the answers to everything, the purpose to existence, the reason I was with my ex partner. Knew the answers to the bigger questions. I had heightened dreams. I knew the day before it happened that my son was going to be born tomorrow 4 weeks early. It continued after his birth. I saw things in hospital, had experiences in my room. I even asked the nurses if my room was haunted… The eventually it disappeared and I was normal again. I’ve never been able to explain it
What really worried me was that I was given a number. A date that haunted me for years. I knew it was related to my son and his life span. He was later diagnosed as needing open heart surgery. I wouldn’t allow the operation to take place before this number/date. To tho day tho number hasn’t happened. My thoughts were the age he lived until maybe this number is the age he’s going o die?!?!
Hi Caroline, these senses that we have are often just fears that are triggered by old past life experiences waiting to be healed (which is why they come up). If its full of fear its usually an emotional issue as our intuition is filtered through our perceptions and beliefs and fears. Focus on grounding for now – healing these issues with a skilled healer could be helpful to gain clarity too.
Very interesting thanks for sharing this Caroline!
This was a beautiful article. Thank you so much Kelly!
Thank you Philip, so glad you enjoyed!
It was such a relief to find this article. For months I have been recording in my journal that I felt like I was going crazy. Just recently I have began to wonder if everything I’m going through is my awakening. Lately I have been experiencing depression,I no longer look forward to things and actually dread a lot of things that should be joyous. I have been dizzy and experience shaking and tremendous anxiety. Finally the episodes are becoming less severe and further apart. My workplace had become and tremendous stress spot where everyone was extremely upset and one day I had a total overload. I ended up hitting the floor my blood pressure went up to 251, but yet the emts and my doctor could find nothing wrong. I have also just bursted into tears and become shaky in places such as the bank, restaurants, and grocery store. It got to the point that I wouldn’t leave the house. I am starting to go to a few places now, but with caution. I’m just so glad that I’m not going crazy and that I will return to “normal” someday.
Absolutely Leia, it sounds like you are releasing some old pent up trauma and fight or flight from past lives. It can feel really tough to be amongst that, but rest assured that if you are feeling you are healing! These feelings must be known in order to be released. All will release in time and you’ll find your balance once more. Much love to you! x
Yes I’ve been very up and down emotionally , the other say I was crying over the trees being cut down feeling very alone . Even though I am married and have a family .
It is very isolating but at times very peaceful and amazing. Other times , I quite often go with my intuition and gut feeling , I’m a Reiki healer and have been through the past life I saw recently at a festival .i have been very moved , and I have been following this by painting spiritually , many messages come through .
I go with the flow and have my spirit guide as my companion . So grateful and often talk to God and The Angels. Feel more relaxed . About it all
So don’t worry trust in the Universe as they know what you need ✨
Bless Carole, it can be really hard. But please know that you are healing! These emotions over the trees are likely resonating with past related pains for you in someway. You are releasing and that is wonderful. Thank you for sharing 🙂
I’ve been through these stages and same question in my mind, “do I am crazy”. Until I realized to stand with it and learn to accept it the way it hold purpose in my life. Now, that I am into this awakening I found my real place on the universe. Grounding keeps me going and no more doubts and questions. Now I am free.
This is wonderful, thank you for sharing with us x
Your article came when I most needed it..
Thank you! ❤️
Gotta love synchronicity! So glad it came at the right time 🙂
What about my unexplainable neurological symptoms? I am so ill and it’s getting worse over the past year. Some say I am awakening and others say a I am sick and I just don’t know anymore I am defeated
Hi Willow, often we have old ill health issues or ailments that come up for healing in THIS life. So it may be an old issue but your system is trying to process it now. Alternative healing may be useful, but above all, be gentle with yourself x
I am going through this now. So glad I came across your article. Actually hearing conversations of others in the house about me, all negative. Everytime I confronted my sister, she said it didn’t happen. I would swing the door open and no one was there. My tinnitus went off the roof. Scared me bad.
Hmm, sounds like there is a lot of triggering going on. You might benefit from our new free course on healing and processing negative emotions that often accompany awakening. You can find that here: https://spiritualawakeningsigns.com/free-joyful-awakenings-ecourse/
In 1976 and beyond as I went through 3 giving birth and nursing 3 sons in five years, my kundalini awakened as part of the process…at that time I actually thought I might be better off in a mental institution. (Fortunately my sons are now healthy men in their 30s and 40s with kids of their own.)
During the late 1970s I learned of Christina Grof who, after similar experiences, created the spiritual emergence network (SEN) to assist others in finding support for what she termed a Spiritual Emergency. Here is a link to more information
https://groffoundation.org/global-spiritual-emergency-support/
My heart goes out to all who are awakening without support, and I encourage everyone to reach out for help…you are giving birth to your Self, and a spiritual midwife can help?
Thank you so much Kelly! I found you only today and can’t stop reading your blog. It made me cry, because I did think that I am crazy, I had serious thoughts to submit myself to the mental hospital…It’s been about 7 months that I feel like Im loosing myself and my mind. Never felt so lost and lonely before. Now you give me hope that Im on the right path and that it’s going to be better. I had signed up for your free course, can’t wait to dive in…
Yuliya, thank you so much for your beautiful message. I’m so glad that you found it comforting. It means a lot to me because I know exactly how you feel. But please know that things absolutely will get better, and with it, so will a renewed energy and a fulfilling purpose that brings you great joy too! x
I was raised with an understanding through my grandmother and had pride in the fact that she was so proud of her spiritual side and so was I until I started feeling it at around 17 or 18. It scared me and I pushed it out. I’ve always been good at feeling other people’s feelings and knowing parts of there personality but that made me second guess myself. Recently I’ve had a lot of stuff going on and it’s been quite terrifying and some of the scary parts have gotten weirdly comfortable/ ok.. or maybe I’m just used to it. I just wish I had someone who actually has some answers and help that I could talk to because this crazy feeling is not a happy place for me. I get what’s going on but doing it alone… I don’t want to.
Hi Taylor, thanks for sharing. I know its certainly not easy. Focus on grounding as best as you possibly can – this will reduce challenging symptoms. Check out our free course too, it lets you join our facebook group. Its nice to have some community with similar like minded people x
I too had a very intense spiritual awakening felt so hard to bring “reality and spiritual” together in life my kids think I’m crazy and I too was thinking I’m going to get locked up soon lol.. In the end I lived my “normal life ” now I’m so missing my spiritual side but feel blocked.. I need it back.. I was so happy and content on my rightful path.. I feel blocked in some way.. How do I reawaken please help thankyou
Hi Sharon, firstly I know this will be a difficult time but if it helps, it happened to me too. Sometimes our spiritual gifts do seem to shut off for a time and this is usually so that our energies can fully ground to our bodies. Think of it like a circuit breaker designed to shut you down if you get too ungrounded before your body can handle it. They WILL absolutely come back, and when they do they’ll be clearer and more accurate than ever before. You don’t need to do a thing – you are still very much awakening, but being taken care of too. Sending big hugs! x