Feeling Overwhelmed
What Does It Mean to Feel Overwhelmed?
If you are feeling overwhelmed, it could be because there is just too much going on physically, mentally, and emotionally in your daily life.
Especially when you are dealing with major life changes, it can seem like too much to be able to handle it all at once.
Do you ever feel like there are just too many tabs open in your brain? When everything feels equally important, it can be hard to know where to dedicate your time and energy.
This can lead to feelings of stress and panic that might cause you to want to shut down altogether.
Did you know that being overwhelmed can actually cause you to feel physically sick? If you experience chronic feelings of overwhelm, it can lead to a lot of different health issues.
Chronic stress can weaken your immune system, which can make you more susceptible to colds and other illnesses.
Chronic illness can also affect your sleep by keeping you up at night. If you’re not getting good quality sleep, your body cannot do what it needs to recover its physical health, and this can lead to other issues like difficulty concentrating.
Losing sleep can also make you less able to cope with stress in a healthy way.
Have you ever wondered why you may go silent when you’re feeling extra overwhelmed? It is probably because your brain needs a chance to “reboot” itself.
You may be experiencing so many thoughts and emotions at once that it’s impossible to process them all and continue a conversation.
If you’re experiencing overwhelming feelings, you’re not alone. Our team at Sandstone Care can help.
What Happens to Your Brain When You Are Overwhelmed?
When you are feeling overwhelmed, your brain might feel as if it is shutting down.
If you’ve ever shut down when you were feeling really overwhelmed, it was probably just your brain’s way of protecting itself.
This is connected to your nervous system’s survival mechanism, which is often called the fight or flight response.
When you shut down while feeling overwhelmed, you may just zone out or go completely silent.
If you have too many things to focus on at once, you might just avoid these tasks altogether.
Why Do I Cry When I’m Overwhelmed?
You may cry when you are feeling overwhelmed because you’re experiencing too many thoughts and emotions all at once and don’t know how to process them all.
It’s important to remember than crying is not always necessarily a bad thing. It can actually help you find some stress relief as long as it isn’t getting in the way of your ability to move forward.
If you find yourself crying more than you would like, you can try to ground yourself physically by being present in the moment.
Take some slow, deep breaths and allow your nervous system a chance to calm down.
Then, consider changing your environment by going outside or visiting a friend or family member.
Am I Overstimulated or Overwhelmed?
Overstimulation occurs when your senses are taking in too much information at once.
When you remove this excessive stimulation, you tend to calm down pretty quickly. However, feeling overwhelmed can occur anywhere, even in a calm environment.
Why Do I Freeze When Overwhelmed?
You may freeze when you are overwhelmed because you’re experiencing too many thoughts and emotions at the same time.
Causes of Feeling Overwhelmed
What Is the Root Cause of Feeling Overwhelmed?
The root cause of feeling overwhelmed is going to be different from person to person.
For many, it could be because they have an undiagnosed mental health condition like attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or an anxiety disorder.
Why Do I Feel Overwhelmed All the Time?
If you are constantly feeling overwhelmed, it could be the result of different life stressors, unaddressed mental health conditions, or a lack of healthy boundaries.
It could also be a result of simply having too much on your plate at once and needing to cut back.
Everyone feels stressed from time to time. However, if it has reached the point where you can no longer control it or if it’s making it difficult to function, it may be time to speak with a mental health professional.
If you have an undiagnosed mental health condition, it is best to seek treatment for it right away. Therapy can be a great way to learn healthy stress management techniques and other ways to take care of your mental health.
Feeling overwhelmed can also sometimes be a symptom of burnout. This is when you’re feeling mentally, emotionally, or physically exhausted.
It can be a result of prolonged periods of stress, not enough self-care, and having too much on your plate.
What Disorder Is It When You Get Overwhelmed Easily?
This could be an anxiety disorder, a sensory processing disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, panic disorder, depression, or a different type of mental health disorder.
Is Feeling Overwhelmed a Symptom of Depression?
Feeling overwhelmed can also sometimes be a symptom of depression.
Depression is often associated with feelings of being mentally unmotivated, having trouble keeping up with daily tasks, and feeling exhausted. All of this can tie into feelings of overwhelm.
Many people who are experiencing depression may say that they feel exhausted. This exhaustion may still be there even after they’ve slept for many hours.
Many times, this is because the exhaustion they are experiencing goes beyond just physical tiredness.
When someone is experiencing depression, they may feel emotionally drained.
Because of this, keeping up with household responsibilities or even basic self-care can feel overwhelming. The thought of taking on new responsibilities can add to their stress.
Some examples of what overwhelm could look like within someone experiencing depression may include:
- Avoiding responsibilities
- Feeling paralyzed or stuck in place when thinking about their to-do list
- Frequently procrastinating
- Experiencing patterns of negative thoughts
- Feeling hopeless or a sense of numbness
Depression is a serious mental illness that can affect virtually all levels of a person’s well-being, including their physical well-being. If this is something you’re experiencing, our team at Sandstone Care can help.
Can Anxiety Make You Feel Overwhelmed?
Yes, anxiety can make you feel overwhelmed.
Is Overwhelm a Trauma Response?
Yes, overwhelm can be a trauma response.
Trauma can affect the way your nervous system functions and can make you hyper-sensitive to things like stress and feelings of overwhelm.
Is Feeling Overwhelmed ADHD?
Yes, feeling overwhelmed can be a symptom of ADHD.
Effects of Feeling Overwhelmed
What Happens to Your Body When You Feel Overwhelmed?
When you’re feeling overwhelmed, your body will likely activate your fight or flight response.
What Are the Symptoms of Being Emotionally Overwhelmed?
Common symptoms of being emotionally overwhelmed include crying, feeling hopeless, and feeling irritable or angry about seemingly little things.
Other symptoms may include:
- Not having as much patience as usual
- Having difficulty making decisions
- Feeling extremely down
- Having trouble controlling negative thoughts
- Experiencing overwhelming thoughts that seem to spiral out of control
- Having trouble concentrating
- Forgetting things more than you usually did
- Getting distracted easily
- Experiencing burnout or low motivation during your everyday life
One of the most common symptoms of your body shutting down from stress is when you just go completely silent. This is because you may be feeling so overwhelmed that even the thought of talking causes you further stress.
What Are the Physical Symptoms of Feeling Overwhelmed?
If you’re feeling extremely overwhelmed, your mind and body may respond in physical ways. For example, you may feel sick to your stomach, incredibly anxious, or on the verge of tears.
Your body responds to symptoms of being extremely overwhelmed in more ways than you may realize. There are physical signs that you can look out for that indicate when you’re starting to get overly stressed.
Some examples may include:
- A racing heart
- Chest tightness (this often happens during a panic attack)
- Stress headaches or migraines
- Feeling shaky or clammy
- Losing your appetite
- Feeling nauseous
- Feeling pain or tension within your back, jaw, neck, or shoulders
If you are feeling these symptoms of getting overwhelmed, there are actually some things that you can do to calm yourself down. This can include practicing some deep breathing. Breathing exercises are a great way to calm your nervous system down and prevent a panic attack.
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How to Deal With Feeling Overwhelmed
What to Do When You Feel Overwhelmed?
The first thing that you should do if you’re feeling overwhelmed is to pause and take some deep breaths.
Once you’re feeling more calm and clear-headed, you can then take a look at your to-do list and decide what your next priority should be.
How to Clear Your Mind When Overwhelmed?
You can clear your mind when feeling overwhelmed by taking deep breaths, taking a break, grounding yourself, and talking with a trusted friend or family member.
How to Feel Less Overwhelmed by Work?
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by work, it is important to validate your feelings, take some deep breaths, and consider the best path forward.
There is a reason that you are feeling this way, and ignoring it isn’t going to make it go away. If anything, it will likely make it worse.
Taking a quick break is a great way to get some perspective and prevent your thoughts from spiraling. You could do this by taking a quick walk or talking with friends or family. Taking that step back can make it easier for you to identify what you need to change so you don’t keep feeling this way.
In today’s society, social media can make it seem like everyone is being productive all the time. This can cause you to put unfair and unrealistic pressure on yourself to keep up. This can lead to poor mental health and other problems.
If this is something that you’re experiencing, it is important to remember that what you see on the internet is not real life. When you scroll through LinkedIn, you may see lots of people celebrating promotions and big achievements. This can cause you to feel as if you’re not where you should be and can lead to burnout.
In order to avoid this, consider trying the following tips:
- Foster gratitude by writing down three things you’re grateful for each day
- Make sure to surround yourself with people who support you and lift you up
- Consider journaling as a way to process your thoughts
- Take a social media break from time to time
- Practice setting healthy boundaries by saying “no” when you’re feeling overwhelmed
- Make more time to practice self-care
- Remember to take time to celebrate your achievements in life (even the seemingly small ones)
- Consider speaking with a therapist
It’s possible to stay positive at work even when you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed from time to time. Just make sure to take proper care of yourself, put your mental health first, and stay connected to your support system.
How to Feel Less Overwhelmed by Family Responsibilities?
For parents and caregivers, it is important to not forget to prioritize your own needs. It’s impossible to care for everyone else if you’re not first taking care of yourself.
Practicing self-care on a regular basis can help reduce symptoms of burnout and overwhelm.
How to Help Someone Else Who Is Overwhelmed?
If you have a loved one who may be feeling overwhelmed, it can help to reach out to them to offer social support.
Remember that people who are experiencing high-stress levels and feelings of overwhelm can respond in different ways. Just because they may seem to have it all together doesn’t mean that their mental health is in a good place.
If your family member is struggling, try to surround them with a safe and supportive environment where they can feel comfortable opening up about how they feel. Be present and listen attentively to them before jumping in or trying to offer advice.
It can mean a lot to show empathy to someone who is feeling overwhelmed by validating their feelings. For example, you could say, “I see that you are going through a lot right now.” This can help them to feel understood and less alone.
Try to be as patient as possible with your family, and avoid pushing them too far. You can try to offer practical solutions for them, but make sure you don’t try to force them to make any immediate decisions.
As an outsider looking into their situation, it may be easy for you to identify the main reasons why your loved one is feeling this way. For example, maybe they are in an unhealthy relationship where the other person is not pulling their fair share of the weight. Or maybe they have simply overcommitted themselves at work.
You can bring these possible issues up to your loved one in a respectful way. However, it is up to them to take the necessary steps to change their situation.
In the meantime, you can continue to help your loved one by offering them social support and a listening ear when they need one.
What Not to Do When Someone Is Overwhelmed?
You should avoid pushing them too far or trying to make decisions for them.
You can try to offer practical solutions for them, but make sure you don’t try to force them to make any immediate decisions.
Does Therapy Help With Feeling Overwhelmed?
Therapy services can be a great way to learn healthy stress management techniques and other ways to take care of your mental health.
