[dannyjames (OP)]

Hey, im new to this forum and this is my first thread, and I hope i can get some insights to this thing ive had going on for a long time.
Ever since i was little, I have always been able to tell when electronic devices in the house have been on. I get this strange feeling, where i dont physically feel anything, it just feels like an awareness, whenever something is turned on. And when its turned off, it feels like a sudden emptyness. When i was young and told my parents this they thought it was just that i was hearing the machines, so I told them to test me with the television. I put my face in the couch cushions, covered my ears, my parents turned the radio on really loud, and told me to tell them when the tv was on or off. and i got it right every time. ive talked to a lot of family and friends to see if they felt it too but they dont, and ive always been curious as to what it could be.

[Karen W.]

Welcome Danny,
  I have never experienced that with that kind of intensity. Although when there is no power, the quietness is uncanny.  I hope you find some answers to your inquiries. ....Karen W

[ROBERT]

Apparenty some people are sensitive to electromagnetic fields:-

" A multiphase study was performed to find an effective method to evaluate electromagnetic field (EMF) sensitivity of patients. The first phase developed criteria for controlled testing using an environment low in chemical, particulate, and EMF pollution. Monitoring devices were used in an effort to ensure that extraneous EMF would not interfere with the tests. A second phase involved a single-blind challenge of 100 patients who complained of EMF sensitivity to a series of fields ranging from 0 to 5 MHz in frequency, plus 5 blank challenges. Twenty-five patients were found who were sensitive to the fields, but did not react to the blanks. These were compared in the third phase to 25 healthy naive volunteer controls. None of the volunteers reacted to any challenge, active or blank, but 16 of the EMF-sensitive patients (64%) had positive signs and symptoms scores, plus autonomic nervous system changes. In the fourth phase, the 16 EMF-sensitive patients wer rechallengd twice to the frequencies to which they were most sensitive during the previous challenge. The active frequency was found to be positive in 100% of the challenges, while all of the placebo tests were negative. We concluded that this study gives strong evidence that electromagnetic field sensitivity exists, and can be elicited under environmentally controlled conditions. "

http://www.aehf.com/articles/em_sensitive.html

You could construct a similar experiment.
Note: If you just guess whether a device is turned on or off will be correct 50% of the the time.
 Ideally a 100% record would prove that you actually have EMF sensitivity.

[ROBERT]

quote:Originally posted by dannyjames

 When i was young and told my parents this they thought it was just that i was hearing the machines, so I told them to test me with the television. I put my face in the couch cushions, covered my ears, my parents turned the radio on really loud, and told me to tell them when the tv was on or off. and i got it right every time.

CRT type televisions produce ultrasound: a very high pitched whine, (which young people can hear).
The sound from a radio, which is not ultrasonic, would not necessarily mask the ultrasonic whine of the TV.

[dannyjames (OP)]

everytime i try and test this, i always get it right. and i cover my ears in case i am hearing some ultra high pitched sound. its very hard to describe, and i cant really put it into words. i say "feel" but its not a physical sensation as far as i can tell, its more like an awareness. i can be in other rooms and still sense it. i can be outside of houses and tell too sometimes if im close enough. ive heard of the electromagnetic thing before and that sounds the most reasonable.

[Cut Chemist]

Wow,  I've experienced the exact same thing.  Especially with picture tube TV's, but also CD players and lights which I couldn't see.  I always thought it was sensitivity to background noise, as I have really bad hearing.  But this suggests that it may be different from auditory senses all together.

Could it be like interference with brain waves??  What else could explain it?

[BillJx]

I'm a month late replying, but not all appliances have the same emissions.  We all carry a small ac voltage which is induced in our bodies by the house wiring, and if you hold your hands on the probes on an oscilloscope you can see the waveform displayed.  I don't see how a resistive load like a light bulb, toaster or electric heater would change this.  Some electronic devices will emit various radio frequencies and high pitched sounds.

You should be able to devise a double blind test to find out what, if anything you are sensitive to, or whether you're just reacting to your own expectation.

[nexus]

This is interesting. Well there are animals that use magnetic fields to navigate, and we a nomadic species could have a selective advantage if we could orient ourselves better.

also think of the big things in your body that run off of a difference of potential in your body. neurons and your heart come to mind, two very sensitive organs.