Behavioural science of invisible stress

WHAT if emotional exhaustion isn’t always about doing too much, but about absorbing too much that isn’t yours?

- ANOLENE THANGAVELU PILLAY

We're constantly connected, not just through phones, but through something far more subtle: psychological Wi-Fi.

The moment we step into a room, we start picking up on invisible emotional signals. Especially when that energy is shaped by tension, insecurity, and judgment - they travel silently, syncing with our nervous systems, without permission.

It’s like emotional second-hand smoke: you didn’t light it, but you're still breathing it in. The World Health Organization (WHO) indicates that over one in eight people globally live with a mental health condition.

But what if part of that emotional strain isn't even ours to begin with? We often absorb the moods, frustrations, and insecurities of those around us without realising it, leaving us feeling the awkward weight of unwanted energy.

In extending psychology, behavioural medicine offers a helpful lens as a response to ‘absorbed’ energy. Behavioural medicine, an interdisciplinary field that explores the connection between our behaviours, emotions, and physical health, is a key part of the health equation.

By applying the strategies offered by behavioural medicine, we can develop a deeper inner awareness and learn to skilfully manage the emotional energy we absorb from others.

This newfound awareness enables an automatic mindfulness response and allows us to recharge and refocus with emotional boundaries intact.