Are you easily overwhelmed?
Overwhelm is a feeling of being mentally or emotionally swamped, often resulting from a perceived inability to cope with the demands of a particular situation or set of circumstances. It can manifest in many ways, including headaches, nausea, fatigue, anxiety, irritability, and depression.
Feeling overwhelmed is a challenging and frustrating experience that affects us all at one point or another. But if you are easily overwhelmed on a regular basis, have you ever stopped to ask why?
In this article, we’ll explore some of the most common reasons why people get overwhelmed. Armed with this information, you can start to put a plan in place for coping more effectively.
1. Simply put, you’re doing too much.
Having too much to do can significantly contribute to feelings of overwhelm.
When a person has a long list of tasks or responsibilities that they need to complete within a limited amount of time, it can lead to a sense of pressure and stress. It can feel like you’re drowning; like the to-do list is never-ending.
This can be especially true when deadlines are involved and the person feels like they are running out of time to complete everything.
In addition, when people try to do too much, they may struggle with prioritization and time management, further exacerbating overwhelming feelings.
As a result, they may become disorganized and unable to focus, making it even more challenging to complete tasks efficiently and successfully.
When a person has too much to do, they may feel like they are constantly playing catch-up, trying to stay on top of everything without ever feeling like they are truly making progress.
If you are struggling with too much to do, it may feel like your life is spiraling out of control. This can lead to a sense of futility and hopelessness as you struggle to find a way to manage your workload effectively.
When people feel overwhelmed by what they must do, they may experience physical symptoms such as tension headaches, muscle tightness, and fatigue.
Additionally, they may find it challenging to relax and unwind, which can further impact their ability to manage stress and feelings of overwhelm.
2. You’re going through significant life changes.
Major life changes can often lead to overwhelming feelings as they require a person to adapt to new circumstances and adjust their expectations and routines.
Major life changes can be disruptive, challenging, and disorienting. They can challenge a person’s sense of identity and require them to navigate unfamiliar situations, which can be stressful and overwhelming.
Additionally, major life changes can involve a lot of uncertainty and unpredictability, leaving a person feeling anxious and unsure of themselves.
When a person experiences a major life change, they may also experience a sense of loss or grief, which can further contribute to overwhelming feelings.
As a result, major life changes can be a significant source of stress that can impact a person’s mental and emotional well-being.
Examples of major life changes:
– Getting married
– Divorce or separation
– Starting a new job or career
– Losing a job or career change
– Moving to a new city or country
– Starting or ending a significant relationship
– Having a child or becoming a primary caregiver
– Dealing with a major illness or injury
– Experiencing the loss of a loved one
– Going through a major financial change, such as bankruptcy or winning the lottery
– Going back to school or pursuing additional education
– Retirement or transitioning out of a career
– Coming out as LGBTQ+
– Making a significant lifestyle change, such as becoming vegan or quitting smoking
– Recovering from addiction or substance abuse
– Changing one’s religious beliefs or spiritual practices
3. You’re coping with grief.
Grief is a natural and typical response to the loss of someone or something significant to a person.
However, it is a complex emotional experience that can involve a wide range of emotions, including sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion.
Grief can be triggered by a variety of losses, including the death of a loved one, the end of a significant relationship, or the loss of a job or home.
When a person is experiencing grief, they may feel overwhelmed by their emotions and find it challenging to manage their day-to-day activities.
Grief can lead to overwhelming feelings because it is a highly emotional and intense experience. When a person is grieving, they may struggle with sadness, anger, or despair, making it difficult to focus on anything else.
They may also experience physical symptoms, such as fatigue or insomnia, making it hard to function normally.
Additionally, the grieving process can be unpredictable and variable, making it difficult for a person to anticipate and manage their emotions.
Moreover, grief can be a long and complex process, and it can take time for a person to adjust to the new reality of their life. This can be particularly challenging when the loss is unexpected or sudden.
A person may feel like their world has been turned upside down and struggle to find their footing in the aftermath of the loss. As a result, grief can be a significant source of stress and overwhelm that can impact a person’s mental and emotional well-being.
4. You’re experiencing relationship conflict.
Relationship conflicts can be a big source of stress and overwhelm for many people.
When a person experiences conflict in their relationships, whether it’s with a partner, family member, or friend, it can trigger a range of emotional responses, including anger, frustration, and sadness.
These emotions can be intense and challenging to manage, making a person feel overwhelmed and stressed.
Additionally, relationship conflicts can be ongoing and persistent, making it hard for a person to relieve their stress. They may find themselves constantly thinking about the conflict or trying to resolve the issue, which can lead to exhaustion, fatigue, and burnout.
Moreover, relationship conflicts can also trigger physical symptoms, like headaches or muscle tension, which can exacerbate a person’s stress levels.
Relationship conflicts can impact a person’s sense of identity and self-worth. If a person is experiencing conflict with someone they care about, it can be challenging to maintain a positive self-image and feel confident in themselves.
This can contribute to feelings of overwhelm and stress as a person struggles to cope with the emotional toll of the conflict.
5. You have financial stress.
Financial struggles can be a significant source of stress and can overwhelm individuals.
The constant pressure to make ends meet, pay bills, and manage debt can cause anxiety, depression, and feelings of hopelessness.
Financial difficulties can also lead to a sense of isolation and shame, as people may feel embarrassed to discuss their situation with others or fear being judged.
Additionally, financial struggles can impact other areas of a person’s life, such as relationships, health, and overall well-being, adding to the burden and stress.
6. You have unresolved trauma (which doesn’t necessarily stem from one single event).
Traumatic events can leave deep scars that affect how individuals perceive themselves, others, and the world around them. Though trauma can occur from one significant, single life altering event, that isn’t always the case. Lots of “smaller” events or prolonged stressors can also build up to create complex trauma. Examples of such events include, bullying, rejection, emotional abuse, chronic illness etc.
Unresolved trauma can also trigger various symptoms, including anxiety, depression, anger, and feelings of isolation. These symptoms can become overwhelming and interfere with daily life, making working, socializing, or carrying out everyday tasks difficult.
In addition, unresolved trauma can make individuals feel helpless, stuck, and unable to move forward, exacerbating overwhelming feelings.
7. You have a mental health condition such as anxiety or depression.
Mental health conditions such as anxiety can cause a person to experience feelings of overwhelm.
Persistent feelings of worry, fear, and apprehension characterize anxiety. These feelings can become intense and overwhelming, making coping with everyday tasks and responsibilities difficult.
In addition, people with anxiety may experience physical symptoms such as a rapid heartbeat, excessive sweating, and shortness of breath. They may also have negative thoughts, racing thoughts, and difficulty concentrating, further exacerbating overwhelming feelings.
As a result, anxiety can interfere with daily life, making it challenging to carry out work, socialize, and other activities.
8. You’re experiencing malnutrition.
Malnutrition can significantly impact a person’s physical and mental health, including feelings of overwhelm.
When the body does not receive the nutrients it needs to function correctly, it can lead to physical symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, and headaches, which can interfere with daily life.
In addition, malnutrition can affect brain function, leading to cognitive symptoms such as difficulty concentrating, memory problems, and brain fog. These symptoms can become overwhelming, making it challenging to carry out daily tasks and responsibilities.
Malnutrition can also impact mood, leading to irritability, anxiety, and depression, which can exacerbate feelings of overwhelm.
The picture is further complicated as changing a person’s eating habits is not as simple as a lot of health professionals and self-help articles would lead you to believe. Life circumstances, food aversions, sensory challenges, eating disorders, trauma, shame, mental health struggles, mixed messages and a plethora of other factors can all contribute to a person’s eating behaviors and their ability to make changes.
9. You struggle with perfectionism.
Being a perfectionist can lead to feelings of overwhelm because of the constant pressure to achieve high standards.
Perfectionists often set unrealistic expectations for themselves and may struggle to delegate tasks or seek help when needed, leading to a heavy workload and a lack of work-life balance.
When life doesn’t go as planned, or when mistakes are made, perfectionists may become highly critical of themselves, leading to negative self-talk and feelings of anxiety and stress.
Pursuing perfection can also cause individuals to prioritize work or achievement over self-care and relaxation, leading to burnout and exhaustion.
10. You’re lacking quality sleep and proper rest.
Lack of sleep can cause feelings of overwhelm due to its impact on both physical and mental health.
Sleep is crucial in regulating mood, attention, and cognitive function. When we don’t get enough quality sleep, it can result in irritability, mood swings, and difficulty concentrating.
Additionally, the body needs adequate rest to restore energy levels and promote physical health.
Sleep deprivation can lead to physical symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, and muscle aches, which can interfere with daily activities and contribute to overwhelming feelings.
Lack of sleep can also negatively impact the immune system, making individuals more prone to illness.
Finally…
Feeling overwhelmed is a common experience, and it can be challenging to know how to manage it.
However, knowing the reason behind your overwhelm is the first place to start and helps you to focus in on the areas you need to change
Whether it’s practicing self-care, seeking support from loved ones or professionals, or making lifestyle changes, there are many ways to tackle overwhelm and regain a sense of balance and control.
Remind yourself it’s okay to ask for help, slow down, and take things one step at a time. Then, with patience, perseverance, and a willingness to try new approaches, you can overcome overwhelm and find peace and fulfillment in your life.
