I Feel Overwhelmed

Most people will feel overwhelmed or worried at some point and sometimes, they may find that having a certain level of stress in their day-to-day life, can be helpful or even motivating.

It is important to remember that stress is different to feeling overwhelmed. Also, understanding the difference between overwhelm and overstimulation is essential too.

Overstimulation is sensory overload from external stimuli like loud noises or bright lights, whilst overwhelm is a broader emotional and mental state where you struggle to cope with certain stressors or multiple tasks. Overstimulation can lead to overwhelm, but they are different experiences with different primary causes.

When stress is ignored or untreated for too long, it can turn into overwhelm. Since feelings of stress or worry are natural, like if you are starting a new job or sitting an exam, or if you are going through a big life change, like moving house or starting university, it is crucial that you are able to recognise when your symptoms of stress are turning into overwhelm.

If your stress levels are becoming too much and you are beginning to feel so overwhelmed that you are struggling to handle daily life, like going to work or socialising, it might be a sign that it’s time to get professional support. At Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we can help you manage your emotions, especially if you are feeling overwhelmed.

You may also be feeling anxious or low as a result of the stresses of your daily life overwhelming you. It’s important to remember that even though you are struggling, you are not alone. We are here for you.

Getting support is an important step in starting your journey to reducing your feelings of overwhelm and learning how to manage daily life. By completing a self-referral, we can help you with the right talking therapy for you, including mindfulness exercises, creating a safety plan or just through offering advice on dealing with your mental health. If you have certain mental health goals you would like to work towards and achieve, we can help you.

What are the causes of feeling overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed often is a result of factors including significant life changes, work and financial pressures, health problems, bereavement or relationship difficulties.

An accumulation of stressors from an extreme workload and financial problems to grief after loss and health issues can lead to overwhelm. They can impact your ability to cope and lead to feelings of anxiety, exhaustion and being out of control.

You may feel like you have so much going on that you are physically and mentally unable to cope with everything or maybe you’re going through something extremely stressful which makes it difficult for you to function, both of which are signs of feeling overwhelmed as a result of an accumulation of stressors.

Modern distractions from constant digital connectivity, like social media on our mobile phones or an email inbox on our laptop, can cause you to feel overwhelmed from information overload. These impact your mental health by draining your mental resources and dividing your attention, leading you to experience mental fatigue, a lack of focus, increased anxiety and the overall feeling of being overwhelmed by so many different aspects competing for our attention.

By juggling modern distractions with trying to socialise, be present with yourself or complete your work every day, it is no surprise that feeling stressed leads to people feeling overwhelmed and struggling with their mental health.

Causes of feeling overwhelmed can include:

Financial Worries

Life Changes

Illness or Injury

Bereavement

Significant Life Events

Non Stop Lifestyle

What are the symptoms of feeling overwhelmed?

Whether it’s a big life event, like losing a loved one or starting a new job, or a build-up of smaller, everyday life stresses, like if you feel overwhelmed at work, feeling overwhelmed can be different for everyone.

It is important to understand when you are feeling overwhelmed, as this can develop into chronic stress, which in turn causes a range of mental and physical feeling overwhelmed symptoms that can negatively impact your wellbeing.

There are several reasons why you might feel overwhelmed, including emotional, cognitive and physical factors.

Emotional symptoms of overwhelm include:

Irritability and Anxiety

Feelings of Hopelessness

Difficulty Concentrating

Sudden Mood Swings

Withdrawal From Social Activities

Alongside these symptoms, you may experience racing thoughts, increased sensitivity and a sense of dread. These may indicate that your mental health may be suffering as a result of feeling overwhelmed. If you feel this way, you should seek support from a professional therapist.

Cognitive symptoms of overwhelm include:

Difficulty Concentrating

Mental Slowness and Confusion

Struggling to Make Decisions and Solve Problems

Losing Your Train of Thought

Physical symptoms of overwhelm include:

Fatigue and Insomnia

Headaches and Muscle Aches

Stomach Problems

Rapid Heartbeat and Chest Pains

Appetite Changes

You may feel only some, or a combination, of these feelings. If you are concerned about how feeling overwhelmed is impacting your daily life and normal routine, it might be time to consider getting support.

At Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, we are here for you. From Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Counselling for Depression to Employment Support and Digital Talking Therapies through either supported online therapy or mental health webinars, we offer services that can be tailored to your needs.

Beginning therapy may feel daunting, but it is actually the beginning of your journey to improved mental health and better daily life. Start your self-referral today through our online referral assistant or via a GP/healthcare professional referral.

What strategies can be used to prevent feeling overwhelmed?

If you are feeling overwhelmed, it may be a result of feeling stressed or could be linked to feeling anxious, low or exhausted.

Through expert support, like working with a therapist at Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, or through self-help tools, you can create a range of strategies which can be used to prevent feelings of overwhelm and further impact on your mental health.

To help you when you’re feeling overwhelmed, you could implement strategies like:

• Trying a breathing exercise or a grounding exercise
• Taking a break from what you are doing, even if only for a few minutes
• Picturing yourself somewhere you feel calm
• Listening to music or reading a book
• Pausing to talk about your feelings to someone you trust
• Practicing mindfulness or meditation

There are also certain stress busters which you could focus on in an attempt to reduce your feelings of overwhelm, including regular exercise, connecting with people, giving yourself some “me time” and trying to be positive even when things are difficult. Thinking positive thoughts can be extremely beneficial when you are feeling overwhelmed because it can calm your nervous system and help you gain clarity.

Working with a therapist means you can get the expert support you need in a calm and welcoming environment. By self-referring through our online referral assistant, by calling us on 0333 091 0414 or through a referral from your GP or other healthcare professional.

What Support is Available for Feeling Overwhelmed?

Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t have to continue and there are ways to overcome or reduce these feelings. If you are starting to feel overwhelmed, it might be necessary to seek help before it begins to impact your mental and physical health, especially if you are feeling anxious, low or exhausted.

Choosing therapy and working with a qualified therapist can support you as you develop coping strategies and resilience to cope with your feelings of overwhelm. At Kent and Medway Talking Therapies, you will work with one of our therapists to create a plan for dealing with your feelings, and they will support you as you begin to develop and implement these coping strategies into your daily life.

After your referral and an initial assessment, our friendly team will work with you to find the best talking therapy option for you.

We can provide dedicated support for men’s mental health or people living with a long term condition, and can offer mental health support for older adults, so no matter how you have been feeling, we can help you get better and move towards feeling like yourself again.

Self-refer today by calling us on 0333 091 0414, by using our online referral assistant or via your GP or other healthcare professional.

If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, get urgent help now.