Feelings of emotional overwhelm can happen to anyone at any point in life. Overwhelm is common when certain people, situations or tasks require more attention than usual. Others feel it when things seem to be happening too fast. If you are experiencing conflict in you relationships or major life changes you may also begin to feel overwhelmed. This is a common experience for most that can lead to your functioning being impacted. When we are overwhelmed it can feel hard to function at our best and it can also impact those closest to us.

What It Means to Be Emotionally Overwhelmed

The term “emotionally overwhelmed” is often referred to using a variety of terms, such as stress, anxiety, fear, or a feeling of “stop the world….” In regard to mental health, it is described as a sensation of being “flooded” or “drowning.” Just like being carried away by a strong current, being emotionally overwhelmed can be described as the inability to thrive among wave after wave of emotionally provocative stimuli.

While emotions are vital and healthy indicators of living and being engaged, your ability to understand them may be limited or damaged in some way. In fact, being emotionally overwhelmed can be considered an expected response in the face of powerful events taking place. There are times in our lives when we may be able to channel our emotions more positively and productively, then there are other times where this may feel impossible.

The struggle happens when we cannot effectively focus on the present moment or cannot positively channel our energy in the appropriate directions. Our level of stress, coping skills and the amount of support available are often significant factors that impact if we feel emotionally overwhelmed.

When You Feel Emotionally Overwhelmed in the Family

People have an intrinsic need to be connected emotionally. The desire to be loved and accepted is an important element in the family as a place where members can receive safe nurturance of their emotional needs.

The family systems theory developed by psychiatrist and researcher, Dr. Murray Bowen, supports the view that the family is an emotional unit composed of members who are intensely connected emotionally. Family members can be so profoundly affected by each other’s thoughts, feelings and actions. A change in one’s functioning can reciprocally cause a change in the functioning of others.

It is for this reason that when tension and unrest happen in the family, the emotional connections can become stressful. One or more members may eventually feel emotionally overwhelmed and off kilter. If you are inclined to take on the emotions of others and assume an accommodating role, it is not surprising that you may become emotionally overwhelmed along with your family member(s). This may leave you susceptible to depression, anxiety, substance abuse, relationship conflict, and possibly eating or sleeping disorders.

Emotional overwhelm is correlated to a variety of physical health problems. As negative emotions increase, the body decreases its ability to fight off infection. Due to poor or insufficient sleep, the body can suffer from fatigue. When this happens, you may find that you suffer physically as well.

Symptoms of Emotional Overwhelm in the Family

The causes of emotional overwhelm in the family vary. This may include relationship problems, financial difficulties, death of a family member, relocation, the birth of a baby, or past abuse. Whether it is an underlying physical, emotional or behavioral issue, the signs which indicate that the family is not emotionally connected in a healthy manner may be one or a combination of the following:

• Withdrawal or isolation of family members in different rooms or on their devices when in the home
• Turning to drugs, food, work, or hobbies to provide comfort
• Home conversations center on a member’s activities rather than feelings
• Relationships outside the home are given priority over the family

If you note any of the above, emotional overwhelm may be impacting your family’s dynamics. While this can be upsetting, know that help is available.

Family Counseling and Overwhelm

While feeling overwhelmed is not a unique experience, finding resolution is. Each family and individual is different and will require different types of support and interventions to “feel better”. Finding a therapist that is right for you and your family can make a world of difference.

Family counseling can help you and your family to improve your communication, learn valuable skills and resolve conflict. You can overcome overwhelm and become stronger together.

Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC contracts with kind and effective family therapists. Call CCS today to get started.

Related Articles:

• Improving Family Communication: How Counseling Can Help
• Are Your Experiencing Distress or Crisis?
• Living without the Emotional Baggage of Depression: What You Should Know
• Opposing Oppositional Defiant Disorder in Your Child

• Emotional Overwhelm: Counseling Can Help