Emotional Overwhelm:
Counseling Can Help

If you are a human, odds are you have felt overwhelmed at one time or another. Unfortunately, this is part of the human experience. Life requires a lot from us and at times it can all feel like too much. When this happens, we can begin to feel overwhelmed. It can be difficult to know what to do or how to break free from the emotions that come with being overwhelmed. Counseling can help.

The Causes and Symptoms of Emotional Overwhelm

The causes of emotional overwhelm can vary. You may feel overwhelmed due to life changes, relationship conflict, financial problems, loss of someone close to you, demands at work etc.

If you experience any of the following, you may be struggling with overwhelm:

  • Changes in appetite
  • Difficult sleeping
  • Sad mood
  • Excessive worry
  • Difficulty focusing
  • Irritability
  • Decreased interest in things you previously enjoyed

If any of the above symptoms sounds like depression or anxiety to you, you’re not far off. Many symptoms of both can look like overwhelm and feeling overwhelmed is common with both conditions.

An emotionally overwhelmed individual may become depressed or irritable, anxious and stressed over seemingly ordinary things. This is because when we feel overwhelmed everything may begin to feel like a huge task. You may be unable to distinguish how thoughts or beliefs impact your daily life. It is also possible to feel the symptoms of physical illness. It may be difficult to express the source of your emotional overwhelm because it is often caused by a multitude of things. As a result, under the burden of emotional overwhelm you may begin to act differently.

A litmus test to indicate your emotional overwhelm is unhealthy is to look at how the important areas of your life, such as relationships and career have become disrupted. If you find you are experiencing difficulty communicating with your family members, missing out on important personal and social activities, have a decreased performance level at home and at work, are becoming withdrawn in your intimate and friendly relationships; chances are your emotional resiliency is suffering too. Feeling emotionally overwhelmed isn’t uncommon and you don’t have to go through this alone.

The Benefits of Therapy

When faced with emotional turmoil, it can mean it’s time to gather your inner resources and address your difficult emotions. It may be very helpful to talk to your family members and some trusted friends, though they may be supportive, they may not be able to provide the necessary degree of help. While talking about your feelings with them can help, talking to a trained therapist is much different.

Seeing a counselor can be a sensible first step if you want to sort through your emotions and improve your functioning. Talking to a professional can help you discover the roots of your overwhelming emotions, explore these challenges, learn the skills to lessen the impact of stressors, and make positive changes in many important aspects in your life.

Facing your overwhelming emotions alone is a daunting task and you may find yourself overcome with more anxiety if you don’t seek the right assistance. If you feel your emotions are overwhelming you, don’t keep it bottled inside. You do not have to continue struggling with your feelings alone. Call Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC for help.

At CCS – Pittsboro, NC, you will be matched with an independently contracted counselor who can help you to feel less overwhelmed. Call today to get started.

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