I’m Emotionally Overwhelmed Most of the Time

Last updated on 28 August 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team

For some people, emotional intensity isn’t occasional. It’s constant. Even small situations can lead to big internal reactions – crying without warning, shutting down after social interaction, or feeling overstimulated by things others seem to manage easily. Over time, this level of overwhelm becomes exhausting, isolating and difficult to explain.

Holistic counselling with Nathan Gurry supports adults who are sensitive, neurodivergent or emotionally reactive in ways that don’t feel manageable. If your nervous system always feels “on,” and even rest doesn’t feel restorative, this work can help you understand what’s happening and support you in building internal safety.

What Emotional Overwhelm Can Feel Like

Emotional overwhelm doesn’t always look dramatic. It can feel like:

Quiet panic or internal shakiness
Brain fog or mental shutdown
Avoidance of social situations or conversation
Sudden tears, shutdown or snapping under pressure
Feeling tired but wired
Sensory irritation or emotional fatigue

Many people who experience this are highly functional externally. They work, care for others, and get things done – but inside, their system never really slows down. When emotions stack up without time to process, the nervous system begins to feel unsafe all the time.

How Holistic Counselling Supports Regulation

This work helps you recognise how your nervous system responds to the world around you. Sessions offer space to notice what happens when your emotions rise, where you carry tension, and how you’ve learned to protect yourself. Nathan supports this exploration with grounded presence and pacing that respects your capacity.

You’re not expected to be calm. You’re not expected to explain everything. Whether you come in crying, frozen or unable to name what you feel – that becomes the starting point.

Common areas explored include:

The roots of emotional overwhelm
How your system learned to stay on high alert
Boundaries and energetic sensitivity
Internal expectations to stay composed or pleasant
What safety, calm and rest might actually feel like for you

Sessions Available Online or In-Person

Appointments with Nathan Gurry are available in person at Brisbane Livewell Clinic (Wavell Heights) and online across Australia. Many emotionally overwhelmed patients prefer online sessions from the comfort of home.

Quote from Nathan Gurry

“People who feel overwhelmed all the time are often incredibly insightful. But they’ve had to carry too much for too long. Holistic counselling offers a place to slow the process down, understand what’s happening inside, and begin to feel steady again – even if that’s unfamiliar at first.”

How to Book a Session

To book, call Brisbane Livewell Clinic on (07) 3861 5881 or book online. Sessions are available throughout the week in person and by video.

FAQs

1. Can counselling help if I feel overwhelmed all the time?

Yes. Holistic counselling is especially helpful for adults who feel emotionally overloaded, overstimulated or unable to manage emotional responses. The focus is on awareness, regulation and steadying your nervous system.

2. What causes emotional overwhelm?

It may stem from trauma, sensory sensitivity, neurodivergence, high expectations, relationship stress or chronic masking. Often, it’s not one cause but years of internal pressure without release.

3. What happens in a session if I feel overwhelmed?

You won’t be expected to talk clearly or stay composed. Sessions are shaped around your capacity. Silence, tears, or difficulty putting words together are all part of the process.

4. Is this suitable for highly sensitive people?

Yes. Nathan’s work is deeply attuned to sensitivity. Sessions are paced slowly and structured to reduce overwhelm rather than increase it.

5. What if I feel numb instead of overwhelmed?

That’s also common. Numbness is often your nervous system’s way of protecting you from too much. Holistic counselling can help you safely reconnect with your feelings over time.

6. Do I need to prepare for my first session?

No. You can arrive however you are. You’re not expected to have a plan or explain yourself clearly.

7. Can I do this work online?

Yes. Many patients find online sessions more manageable when emotional or sensory overload makes travel difficult.

8. What if I cry the whole time?

That’s completely okay. Emotional release is welcome, not judged. There’s no expectation to hold it together in the room.

9. Is this different from psychology or CBT?

Yes. Holistic counselling is not clinical or diagnosis-based. It focuses on emotional awareness, nervous system regulation and deep presence – not behavioural strategies or symptom tracking.

10. How often should I attend sessions?

That depends on what feels supportive. Some patients come weekly, others fortnightly or monthly. The schedule is shaped around your energy and emotional load.

11. Will I be taught tools to reduce overwhelm?

Only if you want them. Some people explore grounding, breathing or rest strategies. Others need space to feel, not more tasks to complete.

12. Is it normal to feel broken for being overwhelmed by small things?

Yes, it’s common – but not true. Emotional overwhelm is often the result of years of invisible effort and survival. You’re not broken. You’re tired.

13. Can I bring relationship issues into these sessions too?

Absolutely. Emotional overwhelm often impacts boundaries, communication and connection. These themes are welcome.

14. How do I book a session with Nathan Gurry?

Call (07) 3861 5881 or book online through Brisbane Livewell Clinic. Appointments are available in Wavell Heights or online across Australia.

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