How Counselling Helps When You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
When Everything Feels Like “Too Much”
Feeling overwhelmed can sneak up slowly… or it can hit all at once. Maybe you’re juggling work, parenting, school, caregiving, relationships, or big life changes. Maybe you’ve been “holding it together” for so long that now the smallest thing feels like it could tip everything over.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re not “failing.” You’re a human being who has likely been carrying more than anyone can reasonably manage. Counselling can help you make sense of what’s happening beneath the overwhelm and give you space to breathe again.
What Overwhelm Can Look Like
Overwhelm doesn’t always appear as chaos. Sometimes it’s quiet, subtle, or surprisingly physical.
Emotional Signs
Feeling on edge or tearful for “no reason”
Irritability or snapping more than usual
Feeling stuck, numb, or disconnected
Difficulty making decisions — even small ones
Physical Signs
Tension headaches, tight chest, or stomach knots
Trouble sleeping (or wanting to sleep all the time)
Feeling exhausted, even if you haven’t done much
Behavioural Signs
Avoiding tasks or people
Losing motivation
Overthinking or replaying situations
Feeling like life is happening to you instead of with you
If you’re having these experiences, counselling can meet you exactly where you are — no pressure to “have it together.”
How Counselling Can Help You Feel Less Overwhelmed
Counselling isn’t about fixing you. It’s about supporting you as you understand what’s going on internally, learn tools that actually work for your life, and reconnect with the parts of you that feel steady and capable.
Here’s how therapy often helps:
Making Space for Your Experience
Sometimes the overwhelm comes from having no room to feel your feelings. In counselling, you get a space where you don’t have to be the strong one — a place where what you’re carrying can finally be acknowledged.
Understanding the Roots of Your Stress
Together we explore what’s feeding the overwhelm:
burnout
anxiety
trauma responses
grief
life transitions
people-pleasing patterns
perfectionism
caregiving strain
relationship stress
Once we know what’s underneath, things often feel more manageable.
Building Tools That Fit Your Real Life
Not everyone benefits from the same strategies. We work together to find what actually feels doable and supportive for you, whether that’s grounding strategies, emotion regulation skills, boundary setting, or ways to reduce mental load.
Feeling Less Alone
One of the most powerful parts of counselling is realizing your reactions make sense for what you’ve been carrying. Overwhelm is not a personal flaw — it’s a sign you deserve support.
What It’s Like to Work With Me
At Silver Linings Counselling, I support individual adults and youth (14+) across BC (virtually), and in person in South Surrey. My approach is warm, gentle, and grounded. You don’t need to know the “right words” or understand psychological jargon — we go at your pace, and we make sense of things together.
When to Consider Reaching Out
You don’t need to hit rock bottom before seeking support. Counselling can be helpful if you’re noticing things like:
You feel constantly tense or overstimulated
You cry or shut down more easily than usual
You can’t seem to “reset” or get ahead
You’re overwhelmed by responsibilities or emotions
You’re tired of feeling alone in what you're carrying
It’s okay to ask for help. There’s no “small enough” problem for counselling — if it matters to you, it matters.
Feeling overwhelmed doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re navigating a lot, often without the support you deserve. Counselling can help you find steadiness again, understand yourself more deeply, and create space to breathe.
Whenever you’re ready, I’m here.