The present invention provides a resource-sensitive parser for use with a session initiation protocol (SIP) network. In one embodiment, the resource-sensitive parser includes a resource condition indicator configured to provide an overload indication for a network element in the SIP network. Additionally, the resource-sensitive parser also includes a parsing engine coupled to the resource condition indicator and configured to parse a SIP request employing an overload protection mode corresponding to the overload indication for the network element.