You Can "Catch" Someone’s Mood Just by Sitting Near Them

Turns out, my mother was right, yet again. She used to always scold me for the people I hung out with and said you end up being a little mix of all of them. Now, taking that to another level, it seems as though you can actually catch someone’s mood.

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt…different?
Maybe nobody said anything out loud, but the tension was so thick you could practically spread it on toast you left in the oven for 10 seconds too long and is slightly burnt.
Or you’ve sat next to someone on the train who was radiating anxiety so strongly, you suddenly felt on edge too, even though you were completely fine five minutes ago.

Turns out, this isn’t just in your head. (Literally.)

Science now says you really can “catch” someone’s mood just by being physically near them.
And once you hear how it works, you’ll never look at a crowded coffee shop or a grumpy coworker the same way again (sorry to my coworkers yesterday, I was in a foul mood!).

First, the Science: What Is Emotional Contagion?

Emotional contagion is the phenomenon where emotions spread from person to person, almost like a cold, except instead of sneezing, people are “sneezing” their joy, anger, anxiety, or sadness into the emotional airspace around them.

And yes, it’s actually real.
In fact, it’s been studied for literal decades.

One of the leading researchers on this is Dr. Elaine Hatfield, who defines emotional contagion as:

“The tendency to automatically mimic and synchronize facial expressions, vocalizations, postures, and movements with those of another person, and consequently, to converge emotionally.”

In simpler terms (because it might be Monday at 8am for all I know when you’re reading this), your face mirrors theirs, your voice tone adjusts, your actual posture shifts, and your body and mind sync with theirs, without you even realizing it!

Before you know it, their anxiety (or joy, or anger) is bubbling inside you like it was your own.

How Does This Happen?

It’s not magic (although it feels like it), but here’s what’s going on under the hood:

Mirror Neurons are behind the scenes doing their crazy thing.
Way back in the 1990s (which isn’t that long ago, especially if you were born then), researchers discovered mirror neurons, these special brain cells that fire both when you perform an action and when you observe someone else doing it.

You smile → I smile back.
You frown → My brain triggers a slight frown response, even if I don’t fully do it.

These tiny imitations are hardwired into us.
They’re the evolutionary glue that helped early humans survive by staying connected to their tribes.
(Fun side note: Mirror neurons are also why you flinch when you see someone stub their toe on a coffee table.)

Our nervous systems are also highly tuning forks in a way. Your body isn’t just watching someone else's mood, it’s physically responding to it. If someone is anxious, your heart rate may subtly increase, if someone is relaxed, your breathing may slow down, or if someone is angry, your muscles might tense up before you even notice.

This system evolved to keep us safe, if your tribe was scared, it probably meant there was danger nearby.
Fast-forward to now: if your boss is stressed out, your body still responds like a bear is about to eat you, even if the only real threat is an annoying email. Less helpful than it used to be I suppose.

Now, this is the part where science and intuition meet halfway across the dance floor with a little nod.

There’s actually growing research suggesting that our bodies emit measurable electromagnetic fields, particularly from the heart.
The HeartMath Institute, for example, has found that the heart’s field can extend several feet outside the body, and may even influence others' emotional states. It’s not "energy vampire" stuff, it’s actual, physical energy your body creates and receives.

That’s why you can feel "good vibes" or "bad vibes" from someone before they even open their mouth.

Wild, right?

Times You’ve Probably Experienced Emotional Contagion Without Knowing It

Still feeling skeptical?
Here are some everyday examples where emotional contagion happens, whether you notice it or not:

1. The Customer Service Domino Effect

You call customer service.
The first rep is snippy, and now you’re defensive.
By the time you're talking to the third person, you’re practically breathing fire…even if the original problem wasn’t that bad.

2. The Party Uplift

You walk into a lively party full of laughter and good energy.
Even if you were dragging your feet before, you start smiling, chatting, and feeling lighter, even though nothing really changed except the mood of the room.

3. The Group Anxiety Spiral

Ever notice how one nervous person in a group can make everyone else fidgety?
Before long, you’re second-guessing yourself too…even if you were calm five minutes ago.

4. The "Heavy" Room

You enter a meeting room after two coworkers had a heated argument.
Even though they’re pretending everything’s fine, the air feels heavy, and everyone is quieter than normal.

(Spoiler: Your body picked up on it before your brain could even analyze it.)

Are Some People More Sensitive to Emotional Contagion?

Short answer: absolutely. My husband is more emotional intelligent than I am and he can always pick up on these things.

While everyone is affected by others' emotions to some degree, some people absorb emotional energy like a little dry sponge left out in a thunderstorm.

Traits that make someone more susceptible would be high empathy, introversion, a highly sensitive nervous system, or even past trauma, unfortunately for me (especially if you learned hyper-vigilance early in life!).

Basically, if you’ve ever felt drained after a busy social event, or if you’ve cried during a random commercial about dog food or helping others in need, you’re probably a little more "tuned in" than most.

It’s a gift, by the way, but it needs guarding so others don’t take advantage of you.

Can You Build an "Immunity" to Other People's Moods?

Not really, sorry.
(Unless you’re planning to live alone in a yurt somewhere, in which case, no judgment.)

But you can build better emotional boundaries and protect yourself without turning into a stone-cold robot that was cranked out of a Telsa factory.

It’s all about awareness, energy hygiene (yes, hygiene like a bath or shower!), and practical tools.

Quick Ways to Protect Your Energy If You’re Sensitive to Others’ Moods

If you're the type who catches feelings like other people catch colds, don't worry, there are simple ways to keep your emotional immune system strong!!

1. Ground Yourself Before and After Social Time

Before entering a crowded place (work, party, grocery store), take 30 seconds to plant your feet flat (bare feet in grass is best). Next, imagine some literal roots growing down into the earth. Breathe deeply three times as slowly as you can.

This anchors your energy before you get swept up in everyone else’s.

2. Use a Physical Anchor (Wearable or Object)

Wearing something intentional can give your mind a "home base" feeling.
It can be as simple as a grounding stone bracelet, a favorite ring, fidget toys, or even better, something tech-enhanced like a PEMF wearable that helps stabilize your nervous system energy when you're around a lot of people.

Small physical reminders help your body remember:
"I am safe in my own energy."

3. Clear Yourself After Heavy Interactions

After intense meetings, emotional conversations, or draining environments, physically shake your hands out. Brush your arms down as if dusting yourself off, then take a minute to breathe or splash cold water on your face.

It’s simple but powerful, you’re signaling to your nervous system that it’s time to reset.

4. Choose Your Environments When You Can

Sometimes you can't choose your boss or your coworkers (even if you wish you could unchoose one or two of them).
But you can choose who you spend your free time with, which cafes or restaurants you go to often, and how much news you consume. For the love of all things holy, put a time limit on all of your social media apps. Mine are set to 5 minutes per day. Be someone who creates content, no consumes it.

Protecting your energy doesn’t always mean walls, sometimes it just means better doors.

5. Create a Recovery Ritual

If you’ve had a particularly draining day, build a mini "emotional shower" ritual at home by putting on calming music (I like Tibet bowl sounds or whale songs). Light yourself a nice little candle or burn a branch of sage (carefully). Drink something grounding (like a chamomile tea, not alochol). Journaling works too, even just scribbling random thoughts out if you have the mental fortitude to do so.

It helps your system return to your natural frequency, instead of whatever you absorbed during the day.

Why Protecting Your Energy Matters More Than Ever in 2025

We’re more connected than ever, digitally, physically, and especially emotionally.
While that’s amazing in a lot of ways, it also means more opportunities to get swept up in collective fear, outrage, depression, or just general sadness.

Understanding emotional contagion (and learning how to manage it) isn’t just about self-care anymore.
It’s more like an essential survival skill.

It’s about staying steady when everyone else is spiraling, holding peace when chaos shows up uninvited, and being a lighthouse, not just another ship caught in the storm.

You’re allowed to feel what’s yours and aren’t required to carry everything you touch.

The next time you feel your mood shifting out of nowhere, ask yourself: Is this mine, or did I catch it?

Because sometimes the best thing you can do for your mental health isn’t "fixing" yourself.
It’s realizing that you were fine all along, you might have needed to just step back into your own energy.