When is overwhelmed normal?

Being overwhelmed is a normal part of life, especially when there is a major change in life; moving, new job, getting married, divorce, having children, etc. Feeling overwhelmed can be both a positive and negative indicator. When we are trying to improve a part of our life, feeling overwhelmed tells us we are beyond our normal limits allowing us to grow and improve. At the same time feeling overwhelmed can tell us we are beyond our safe/health limits and need to decrease what we are doing. The feeling of being overwhelmed should come and go as we push ourselves to improve and adjust to major changes in life.

When is overwhelmed abnormal?

The duration and severity of feeling overwhelmed determines if it is a real problem or not. Chronic feelings of being overwhelmed can lead to mental health issues like anxiety disorder, depression, or substance abuse. The intensity of being overwhelmed range from an uncomfortable anxious feeling to complete shutdown, unable to function in life. When our feelings of being overwhelmed are constant or those feelings are disrupting our day-to-day life (experiencing the above list of Symptoms and Associated Behaviors), it is a real problem that need to be address.