What Happens When We Feel Emotionally Overwhelmed?
Understanding the concept
Under stress, attention can narrow and access to flexible problem-solving may be reduced. Grounding, sensory orientation, movement, and interpersonal support can sometimes help create enough space to respond.
What this might look like
In the middle of an argument, a short agreed pause can be more useful than trying to solve everything while both people are flooded.
A question to reflect on
What early signs tell you your capacity is becoming stretched?
Research & further reading
- National Institute of Mental Health. Psychotherapies: Finding a therapist and understanding treatment.
- Macri & Rogge (2024). Psychological flexibility as a treatment mechanism in ACT: A systematic and meta-analytic review.
These sources offer background reading and do not necessarily substantiate every sentence in this article. This is educational information, not diagnosis or personalized advice. Content should be clinician-reviewed prior to public launch.