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Premonition
A premonition is a perception, usually accompanied by strong emotion, that symbolically announces a future event. It differs from precognition by being more indirect and tied to feeling ("I sense that something will happen") rather than to a specific image. The term is used both in parapsychology and in everyday language.
Features
Premonitions often manifest as sudden anxiety, a "tightening of the heart", an impulse to call someone, an urge to avoid a place or an appointment. Many people report premonitions of the death of loved ones or of accidents. People in mourning report them frequently, as a way for the psyche to process the event.
Explanations
Psychology explains many premonitions as unconscious readings of signals (expressions, behaviour, apparent health) that the conscious mind has not yet registered. When a premonition "does not come true", it tends to be forgotten; when it does come true, it is remembered as proof of precognitive ability. A classic confirmation bias.
FAQ
Are they reliable?
Statistically no: people tend to remember "correct" premonitions and forget the others.
Difference from intuition?
Intuition is rapid cognition based on experience. A premonition is the perception of a future event not explainable by available information.
What should I do if I have one?
If it is negative and makes you anxious, do not act impulsively. Check with the person or the context to see if there are concrete reasons. If the anxiety persists without cause, consider seeking professional advice.