Emotional overwhelm is a state of being beset by intense emotion that is difficult to manage. It can affect your ability to think and act rationally. It could also prevent you from performing daily tasks.

Emotional overwhelm may be caused by stress, traumatic life experiences, relationship issues, and much more. If you feel emotionally overwhelmed for an extended period of time, you may benefit from seeing a mental health professional.

SIGNS YOU ARE EMOTIONALLY OVERWHELMED

Emotional overwhelm occurs when the intensity of your feelings outmatches your ability to manage them. An individual is most likely to be overwhelmed by negative emotions, such as anger, fear, or guilt. However, people experiencing mania can be overwhelmed by euphoria.  

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it may be difficult for you to pinpoint exactly why. Often there are many stressors contributing to emotional overwhelm rather than one particular event. Your emotions may bleed into seemingly unrelated parts of your life. 

Here are some common signs that you are being overwhelmed by your emotions:

CAUSES OF EMOTIONAL OVERWHELM

You will likely feel a state of emotional overwhelm at some point in your life. Sometimes, this overload stems from a single big stressor. It is common to feel overwhelmed after surviving a traumatic accident or losing a loved one. 

Yet overwhelm can also occur due to many smaller stressors. For example, missing your bus may not feel like too big of a deal by itself. But if you’ve been fighting with your family, having trouble sleeping, and are hungry from skipping breakfast, a missed bus can be the proverbial “last straw” of the day. 

Some emotions may overwhelm you more easily than others. You may find it easier to manage your anger than to tolerate extreme fear or sadness. If you have many conflicting feelings at once, emotional overwhelm can be especially likely. 

Some mental health conditions, such as anxiety or depression, have emotional overwhelm as a symptom.

CONSEQUENCES OF EMOTIONAL OVERWHELM

Emotional overwhelm can make it difficult to take care of yourself. You may forget meals, skip rest breaks, or struggle to fall asleep. These behaviors can in turn lower your ability to think rationally, making it even harder to cope with overwhelm.

If left unchecked, this cycle can lead to physical health problems. You may experience unexplained pain or develop persistent fatigue. As negative emotions increase, your body's ability to fight off infection may decrease.  

Emotional overwhelm may also impact your social life. You may find yourself lashing out at others or avoiding conversation. These behaviors may strain your relationships with loved ones or professional colleagues. 

HOW THERAPY CAN HELP WITH EMOTIONAL OVERWHELM

Therapy is often a helpful way to sort through difficult emotions, especially those that occur as a result of stress or trauma. In therapy, you may be able to:

With each concern that is resolved, you will likely find that dealing with other stressors becomes easier. Even focusing on one or two issues can significantly reduce your distress. Even if your problems seem endless, know that therapy can help you manage your life one step at a time.

CASE EXAMPLE OF THERAPY FOR OVERWHELM

References:

  1. Bersell, M. (n.d.). Empowering Emotionally Overwhelmed Kids. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/experts/archive/2014/08/empowering-emotionally-overwhe.html.
  2. Feeling Overwhelmed is a Common Anxiety Symptom. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.calmclinic.com/anxiety/symptoms/feeling-overwhelmed.
  3. Identifying Signs of Stress in Your Children and Teens. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-children.aspx.