Emotional Overwhelm:
Don’t Underestimate It

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Overwhelm can lead to extreme sadness, constant anger, fear, extreme anxiety, depression, outbursts, burnout and even physical pains. When you are feeling overwhelmed it can affect your ability to act and think clearly. This can of course impact your ability to perform at work, function at home and show up in your relationships.  Overwhelm is common when we are struggling to manage life stressors and too many things are happening all at once. Feeling overwhelmed is a natural human emotion, however, when it is happening more often than not it can negatively impact us in many ways. Counseling has been found to be helpful in addressing overwhelm. 

Not All Overwhelm is Created Equal

The causes of emotional overwhelm and one’s ability to manage stress varies from individual to individual. The way you react to stressors depends on a number of factors, there are times we are better able to manage distress and other times that it can all feel like too much. For example, there may be times that a disagreement with your partner is upsetting but something you can work through, there are other times this may feel all consuming if you are managing a great deal of other stressors.

Your personal circumstances – kinds of friends and family, interests and hobbies, and nature of job, among others – may also contribute to stress or protect you from it. All of these factors can work with us or against us depending on other circumstances. There is nothing wrong with needing help, even if it can be difficult to ask for. 

Ingredients for Overwhelm 

Life can be chaotic and stressful. There are times we can manage this well, there are times we may struggle more. This is natural. There are some factors that can make us more susceptible to overwhelm. These “ingredients” can include: 

  • Extreme sadness
  • High rates of stress
  • Difficulty staying in the present
  • Excessive worry and fear
  • Depression
  • Ongoing resentment
  • Excessive anger

Left untreated overwhelm can have the following consequences; 

  • Deteriorating physical health
  • Paranoia
  • Panic
  • Severe stress and anxiety 
  • Burnout
  • Feelings of helplessness

Get Help with Counseling

Because feeling overwhelmed is part of the human experience it is often overlooked until we are feeling at our worst. If you are feeling overwhelmed more often than not and it is affecting your ability to live your life as you would like it’s time to do something about it. You deserve to feel better. 

Therapy can help you to identify what is keeping you in a state of overwhelm and help you to find a way out. You’re Not alone. Therapy can help. Carolina Counseling Services – Southern Pines, NC contracts with counselors who know how to treat and overcome overwhelm. Call today to schedule your first appointment!

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