How Feeling Overwhelmed Can Be a Sign of the Need to Grieve

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by the pressures of life. 

Whether it's from overwork, strained relationships, or taking in too much information, overwhelm shows up. Being a therapist, I know feeling overwhelmed is often more than just the result of external stressors. It's usually a sign of emotional need, especially the need to grieve. This post introduces the connection between feeling overwhelmed and unresolved grief and how therapy can help.

The Connection between Overwhelm and Unresolved Grief

Overwhelm can feel a lot like anxiety, irritability, or a lack of self-control. It can also show up as exhaustion and make it hard to cope with the demands of life. For my clients, overwhelm comes from holding in emotions over a long period that needs validation instead. Thus, unresolved grief. 

Grief is a natural response to loss and isn't just limited to death. It can also be from losses like the end of a relationship, significant life changes, or unfulfilled dreams. Most of my clients are still needing to grieve their experience of childhood emotional neglect. Due to this trauma, as adults, they feel the loss of childhood, family connection, and identity. 

Their unresolved grief further overwhelms them as they deal with pressures to "move on" and "get over it." Due to childhood emotional neglect, they often lack the necessary skills to grieve. They also learn in childhood to avoid most of their feelings as a way to cope.

Signs Indicating the Need to Grieve

Grief requires attention and healing. When we avoid grieving, emotions can build up and contribute to a sense of overwhelm. While unresolved grief can take on various forms, it often shows up in similar ways for my clients. My clients often experience unresolved grief as feeling emotionally numb. When they do feel, they experience persistent sadness and anger. They are unsure how to handle these feelings, and as a result, they do not eat or sleep well and often withdraw from others. Overall, they find it challenging to engage in their everyday activities. These are usually the symptoms that bring them into therapy. 

Grief Therapy Can Help

Allowing ourselves to grieve is a vital step toward finding relief from overwhelm. Grief is a natural and necessary process that enables us to accept losses. It provides an opportunity to work through emotions, make meaning, and find peace.

I know facing reality and seeing the need to grieve can be challenging. Grief therapy allows you to share your thoughts, feelings, and concerns without judgment. In treatment, I work with clients through the different stages of grief. I also support clients in finding self-care strategies that help them cope with intense emotions and feel relief. 

Begin Grief Therapy in Mahomet, IL, Peoria, IL, and Across the State

Feeling overwhelmed can be a powerful sign that you are experiencing unresolved grief. But recognizing this connection is crucial for your emotional well-being. It's important to acknowledge that grief is a normal response to loss and allow yourself to grieve. I can offer support for coping with the challenges of grief. You can start your therapy journey with Live Lekko by following these simple steps:

1. Take the first step by calling or texting 217-402-7817
2. Schedule your first appointment at my Illinois-based practice
3. Embrace your feelings and break free from overwhelm.

Other Services Offered with Live Lekko

Grief therapy isn't the only mental health service I offer. I offer a variety of services to provide you with mental health support. Other services include counseling for women and therapy for stress. I also offer counseling for people-pleasing and therapy for childhood emotional neglect. Whether you are in Peoria, Springfield, Mahomet, or somewhere in between in Illinois I can help with teletherapy. Feel free to visit my blog for more helpful information.