Signs of Negative Energy in Your Body (and 20 Ways to Clear It)

Negative energy is essentially what it sounds like. Your body has a natural energy rhythm, and energy can flow freely and directly throughout your body. Your body has a natural flow of energy, and when that flow gets disrupted by stress, difficult experiences, or emotions you haven’t fully processed, you may feel off physically and mentally. Many people don’t realize they’re carrying negative energy at all. Instead, they feel they’re in a rut or funk. That is why learning how to spot negative energy and use energy healing to clear it is so helpful! By learning how to identify, process, and release negative energy you can free yourself and others from the negative energy holding you back from a positive, healthy life. 

What Does Negative Energy Do to the Body?

Negative energy can have both physical and mental effects on the body. Because your body does not have a correct or positive energy flow when you are filled with negative energy, you may feel off. You may also experience pain in the body like headaches or stomach aches.

Learning the signs of negative energy is important. If you have negative energy trapped in your body, you may be wrongly diagnosing it without even knowing it.

What Are Some Signs of Negative Energy in the Body?

Negative energy can affect how you feel both emotionally and physically. When you’re carrying a lot of emotional weight, you might notice it shows up in your mood, your energy levels, or as tension and discomfort in the body.

Learning to recognize these patterns can help you understand yourself better and know when it might be time to slow down, check in, and release what you can.

Everyone experiences negative energy a little differently. You can work with a Certified Practitioner to explore what’s going on for you specifically, but here are a few general things people tend to notice.

Signs You May Be Carrying Negative Energy:

• Feeling mentally foggy or scattered
• Feeling worn out or weighed down, even after rest
• Holding tension in your body, like tight shoulders or a clenched jaw
• Mood swings or a shorter temper than usual
• Feeling restless or unsettled
• Emotions that feel bigger than the situation calls for
• Reacting impulsively, then wondering why
• Seeing the world, or yourself, through a more negative lens

Who is Particularly Susceptible to Negative Energy?

Anyone can carry negative energy. It’s a normal part of being human. But if you’ve been through difficult experiences in the past, or you’re in a challenging season right now, you may be holding onto more emotional weight than you realize.

That’s nothing to fear. It simply means it may be especially helpful to treat yourself with extra kindness, notice how you’re feeling, and make room for practices that help you feel lighter, whether that’s energy healing, time with people you love, or support from a trusted professional.

Where Does Negative Energy Come From?

Much of the negative energy we carry comes from what Dr. Bradley Nelson calls trapped emotions. When you go through a difficult moment, like a disappointment, a loss, an argument, or a stressful season, you feel the emotion and usually move through it. But sometimes, especially when an emotion is intense or overwhelming, its energy can get “stuck” and stay with you long after the moment has passed.

Trapped emotions can quietly influence how you feel, react, and see the world. You might find yourself overreacting to small things, feeling stuck in the same patterns, or carrying a heaviness you can’t quite explain. Curious whether you might be carrying trapped emotions? Take our quiz to find out!

The good news is that trapped emotions can be released. Using The Emotion Code®, you can identify specific trapped emotions with muscle testing and the Emotion Code Chart, then gently let them go. Many people describe feeling lighter, calmer, and more like themselves afterward.

To learn more about how trapped emotions can show up in your body, read our article Trapped Emotions and Physical Discomfort.

Ways to Get Rid of Negative Energy in your body and mind:

Light drives out darkness, so it is best to start by combating negative energy with positive energy. When the negative energy leaves your body, you will need to fill its place with positive light to keep the negative energy away. Whether you do this on your own or with the help of an experienced energy healer, there are several ways to release the negative and fill your life with the positive.

1. Release energetic imbalances with energy healing: Clear negative energy by releasing the trapped emotions and imbalances behind it. With The Emotion Code®, you can learn to find and release trapped emotions on your own, for yourself and the people you love. Not sure where to start? Our free Energy Healing Essentials course walks you through the basics step by step, and includes a free coaching call with a Certified Practitioner. You can also work one-on-one with a Certified Practitioner near you or online.
2. Practice Meditation: Meditation can help us to focus on the positive in our lives by clearing the mind and trusting our intuition. 
3. Self-care and Self-compassion: Taking time to care for yourself and focusing on the many positive things about you and your life can powerfully transform the way you feel.
4. Practice yoga, tai chi, or other positive types of movement: Physical movement can be a great way to release negative energy. It can also lead to positive feelings of accomplishment, self-confidence, and pride in yourself!
5. Repeat daily positive affirmations: Find statements that resonate with you and affirm the positives about yourself and your life. Then, repeat them every day! 
6. Yawn: Yawning clears the body and resets it. If you don’t need to yawn, fake it until you do.
7. Spend time in nature: Appreciating the beauty of the world can help focus your energy on positive emotions. 
8. Learn to Laugh: Having a good laugh can automatically reset negative energy and rejuvenate you at the same time.
9. Confront the negative energy head-on: Sometimes, we simply need to address issues that are causing us to feel negative emotions. If there’s someone or something in your life that causes stress, consider putting up boundaries so that you’re exposed less frequently.
10. Breathe deeply: Breathing usually is not something we think about since it comes so naturally. However, in our day-to-day lives, our breath can easily become constricted, shallow, and stressed. This style of breathing deprives us of much-needed oxygen — contributing to brain fog and fatigue. This problem is easily solved with a bit of awareness, intention, and deep breathing techniques! Taking a few slow, deep breaths can help you feel calmer, more grounded, and more present. Try breathing in for a count of four, holding for a moment, and exhaling slowly for a count of six. Notice how your body feels afterward.
11. Stay hydrated: Drinking water may seem like such a basic action, yet dehydration is extremely common! Drinking enough water can help to flush out any toxins and their associated negative energies throughout the day. 
12. Practice kindness to others: Shift your negative thoughts into positive action! When we’re feeling down about ourselves or the world around us, volunteering time to good causes, helping others, and making a difference can dramatically change how we feel. 
13. Eat healthy, nourishing foods: A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and soul! Nourish yourself with good-for-you foods that you also enjoy eating. 

How to clear negative energy from your home:

Since we typically spend a lot of time in our homes, making our homes a safe, positive place is a great step towards clearing your life of negative energy. Try removing objects that hold negative associations for you. This could include old photographs, notes, books, clothes, or anything else that reminds you of challenging times. Then, think about what you can now add to your space to make it feel more safe, happy, and healthy. 

1. 15. Clean out clutter: This is a great way to remove stagnant energy from your home. Think about what you really value, what items bring you joy, and what is simply taking up space in your home.
   16. Air out your space: Opening the windows and bringing fresh air into your home can help circulate any stagnant energy.
   17. Burn sage, incense, or a smudge stick: Use clearing smudge sticks to ward off the negative energy in a room or around an individual. Herbs like Sage and Mugwort are good for clearing, cleansing, and healing.
   18. Add houseplants: Plants cleanse the air and bring life into your house!
   19. Bring light into your home: Open the windows, add lamps, light candles, and even consider painting the walls brighter colors (if you can). A brighter space can help bring happiness, positivity, and joy back into your home.
   20. Use crystals to protect your space: Healing crystals have been used around the world throughout history to protect and cleanse. Visit a crystal shop and ask for crystals to help clear negative energy or protect your home.

Frequently Asked Questions About Negative Energy

How do I know if I have negative energy?
Negative energy often shows up as a feeling that something is “off.” You might feel mentally foggy, worn out, easily irritated, or stuck in the same patterns, even when there’s nothing big or obvious going wrong. Everyone experiences it differently, so it can help to start by reflecting on how you’ve been feeling lately.

What’s the difference between negative energy and trapped emotions?
Negative energy is a general term for the heavy, stuck feeling many people experience, or feel like they pick up from places or people they interact with. Trapped emotions form when the energy of an intense emotion, like grief, frustration, or fear, gets stuck instead of moving through you. With The Emotion Code®, you can identify and release specific trapped emotions, helping clear any negative energy connected to them!

Can I clear negative energy on my own?
Yes! Simple practices like deep breathing, spending time in nature, and decluttering your space can help you feel lighter. And with The Emotion Code, you can learn to release trapped emotions yourself, for you and the people you love. Our free Energy Healing Essentials course is a great place to begin.

How long does it take to clear negative energy?
It’s different for everyone. Some people feel a shift right away after a simple practice or releasing a few trapped emotions, while others find that layers come up over time. There’s no right timeline. Be patient and gentle with yourself, and release what you can as things come up.

Do I need to work with a practitioner?
Not at all, though many people find it helpful, especially when they’re just starting or working through something they want support with. A Certified Practitioner can guide you through a session in person or online and help you find trapped emotions you might not uncover on your own.

How can I keep negative energy from building up again?
Small daily habits make a big difference. Check in with how you’re feeling, release trapped emotions as you notice them, and make time for things that fill you up, like rest, laughter, movement, and time with people you love. For more ideas, read How to Raise Your Vibration and Protect Your Energy.

As you begin clearing negative energy from your body, mind, and home, you may notice a weight starting to lift. We hope these tips help you feel lighter, brighter, and more joyful! And if you’d like to go deeper, releasing trapped emotions can help you address what’s underneath that heaviness, not just how it feels on the surface.

Ready to get started? Explore our free Energy Healing Essentials course to learn the basics of The Emotion Code, or connect with a Certified Practitioner for a one-on-one energy healing session!

Energy healing is meant to complement, not replace, care from a medical or mental health professional. If you’re experiencing ongoing physical symptoms, anxiety, depression, or other health concerns, please reach out to a qualified healthcare provider. This article was originally published in 2018, and has been updated.