Key Takeaways
- Premonitions often happen when our brain picks up on subtle cues that we don’t consciously notice.
- Experiencing premonitions isn’t necessarily a sign of a mental health disorder.
Ever have a tingly feeling that something is going to happen…and then it does? Or maybe you’ve dreamt about a future event that ends up coming true. Premonitions, which describe the ability to predict a future event, are actually a fairly common human experience.
We are wired to want to be able to know what’s going to happen, and sometimes our subconscious picks up on cues that something is likely to occur. We’re not always right, of course, but when our spidey senses pick up on something that ends up actually occurring, we might think we’ve predicted the future.
The fact is, while it might feel like premonitions are real, there isn’t evidence that it’s possible to correctly predict the future based on intuition alone. Sometimes our premonitions come true, but as the saying goes, “even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
Still, the exploration of why premonitions happen in our psyches, what they feel like, and how to cope with them, is a fascinating subject—one which we’ll tackle here, with experts to guide the way.
Understanding Premonition
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), a premonition—usually referred to as “precognition” in psychological settings—is the ability of a person to predict or perceive that they’ve predicted a future event.
The concept of premonition as it relates to mental health is a fascinating topic. Researchers have noted that the ability to predict the future is an essential part of being human, and has protective and adaptive purposes.
For example, if we see a group of dark clouds looming in the sky, we will likely predict it will rain, and then take an umbrella out with us. If we smell smoke, we can predict a fire might be happening, and take necessary precautions.
But what about when we are able to predict future events not based on anything picked up with our five senses? The idea is that our subconscious likely picks up on imperceptible clues that give us hints, says Brittany Astrom, LMFT, clinical supervisor at OC Revive.
“In the field of mental health, premonitions are often viewed as indications that the mind can pick up on and process subtle cues which are not readily apparent to conscious awareness. Such inklings may range from vague suspicions or intuitions to concrete dreams that seem to foretell what is going to happen,” she explains.
Natalie Rosado, LMHC, licensed mental health counselor and founder and owner of Tampa Counseling Place, agrees with this take. “In the context of mental health and psychology, premonitions are often linked to a person’s subconscious processing of information, where the brain is picking up on subtle cues we don’t immediately register consciously,” she says. “This can lead to a sense of ‘knowing’ something is going to happen without understanding how or why.”
Different Types of Premonitions
Premonitions come into our consciousness in various ways, and each of us experience them in different ways. Here are some of the most common types of premonitions, according to Rosado:
- Dream premonitions, which happen while we sleep and involve dreaming about a future event that later happens
- Emotional premonitions, which involve powerful emotions that feel like predictions of future events
- Visual premonitions, which are when we experience vivid mental images that seem to predict the future
Auditory premonitions, which is when we hear sounds or voices that seem to be providing us with information about the future - Physical sensations, which are when we experience physical symptoms, like a chill or a feeling of unease
Signs You May Be Experiencing a Premonition
The way that premonitions are experienced can vary considerably from one person to another, says Astrom. Some folks feel worried, especially if their premonitions are negative. Others may feel excited—for example, if their premonition was positive and it came true. “How one responds emotionally largely depends on his own context and what kind of premonition it is,” Astrom explains.
But it’s not just an emotional response that will happen when you have a premonition. May people experience a myriad of sensations, emotions, and behaviors. Here are some of the signs and symptoms of premonitions, according to Rosado:
- Anxious, uneasy feelings, most commonly when the premonition is linked to a negative event
- Vivid or intense sensations coupled with a strong conviction that something is going to happen
- Physical sensations, like racing heartbeat, chills, feeling of heaviness
- Calm certainty or a clear sense of knowing
- Strong emotional impacts that cause individuals to change their plans or take precautions based on the feelings of premonition
Causes and Triggers of a Premonition
The truth is, although the phenomenon has been studied, no one knows for sure what causes premonitions from a psychological perspective. However, there are some theories, the most prominent of which is that our unconscious thoughts are at play here—i.e., that our past experiences and feelings about future events may subconsciously be influencing our feelings and cause us to feel a sense of premonition about the future.
Psychologically, premonitions may result from the brains’ ability to unconsciously synthesize large amounts of information and recognize patterns quickly without having conscious access to them.
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BRITTANY ASTROM, LMFT
“This happens more during periods of stress or significant change when vigilance is higher up there in the head,” she says.
In other words, we are more likely to experience premonitions when we are experiencing emotional triggers and stresses. These may include major life changes and significant stress.
Some researchers have hypothesized that premonitions are actually a way for us to try to cope with serious stressors. After all, knowing what’s going to happen in the future means you have some control over what is going to happen, which can calm down some of the out-of-control feelings that people feel when they’re stressed.
Coping With Powerful or Frequent Premonitions
Experiencing premonitions, especially powerful or frequent ones, can be emotionally taxing, and you may be finding it difficult to cope. Rosado shared some methods for managing premonitions:
- Incorporate mindfulness and relaxation techniques into your day; these may include deep breathing exercises, progressive relaxation, meditation, and journaling
- Cognitive restructuring, which involves challenging and reframing negative thoughts
- Practice acceptance, which may look like accepting that sometimes premonitions are part of your mental and emotional landscape
- Limit exposure to premonition stimulants, such as stressors or certain environments
- Consider therapy—cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may be particularly effective in managing anxious or intrusive thoughts like premonitions
- Focus on hobbies, social relationships, and self-care modalities that bring you joy and may help shift focus off premonitions
Harnessing Premonitions for Personal Growth
Although experiencing frequent premonitions may feel unpleasant, in particular when they are linked to anxious feelings, being someone who has premonitions isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Experiencing premonitions frequently can be a useful tool in self-growth, says Astrom. “They act like triggers that make us reflect on ourselves, thus making us self-conscious so we get more familiar with our deep thoughts and feelings,” she describes. “Reflecting on these things will enable one to develop good decision-making skills by enhancing their intuition.”
Rosado suggests that you can spin your experiences of premonitions in a more positive light, thinking of them as clues to your inner life and thoughts, as well as vehicles toward understanding yourself better.
Embrace premonitions as tools for self-discovery, exploring your fears, desires, and motivations, and use positive premonitions to set and pursue personal goals
“Additionally, let premonitions inspire creativity and innovation in problem-solving and creative endeavors,” Rosado says.
She encourages people to reflect on their experiences with premonitions through journaling, practicing mindfulness, and sharing your experiences with others. “Regular reflection, balancing rationality and intuition, seeking support, and educating yourself about the psychology of premonitions are practical steps to effectively harness their power for personal growth,” Rosado offers.
Debunking Misconceptions About Premonition
There are a couple myths and misconceptions about premonitions that it’s worth exploring.
First, as much as we would like to believe premonitions have a role in predicting the future, or that they do so in some spiritual, supernatural, or mythical manner, this isn’t true. “In most cases, they’re simply products of our highly complex information processing system in the brain,” Astrom describes.
And what about when our premonitions come true? There are many factors that may cause a premonition to become reality, and none have to do with something otherworldly. It’s usually because our premonition was based on good evidence, or that something happened by chance. “In reality, many premonitions do not come true, and those that do may be coincidental or based on subtle subconscious cues,” Rosado notes.
Another important misconception to clear up is that premonitions only happen to people with mental health disorders. This isn’t true. “Experiencing premonitions does not necessarily indicate a mental health disorder,” says Rosado. “While frequent or distressing premonitions can be associated with anxiety or other conditions, they can also occur in mentally healthy individuals.”
That said, if your premonitions are causing you a great deal of anxiety, or if they are coupled with hallucinations, such as seeing things or hearing voices, you should get in touch with a mental health provider as soon as possible.
The Bottom Line
Most of us have had premonitions at some point or another—and sometimes these premonitions even come true. From a mental health perspective, premonitions are basically our subconscious mind influencing our thoughts and feelings about future events. Premonitions aren’t facts—they are simply intuitions and inklings that we may have.
Although premonitions can be disturbing at times, it’s possible to harness them for good—to gain greater self-understanding and experience growth. “Premonitions are like little whispers from our subconscious,” Rosado concludes. “They guide us to dig deeper into our intuition and really embrace the journey of getting to know ourselves better.”
