Emotional overload: what to do?

Emotional overload corresponds to the fact of taking on oneself and accumulating several emotions in oneself. It can manifest itself in a feeling of overflow, which makes daily obligations become increasingly burdensome.

What can be the consequences of this overload? What are the causes ? How to cure it ? How to prevent it? Here are our explanations.

What is Emotional Overload?

Emotional overload, also called affective overload, corresponds to the weight represented by the emotional investment linked to the concern for others and the attention paid to others in order to:

• relieve them;
• support them;
• put them at ease socially.

This overload is expressed and manifested in marks and signs of affection or attention, which, when accumulated, can end up:

• weigh heavily on the overall operation;
• mentally exhausted.

The two most observed types of emotional overload are:

• emotional overload at work;
• emotional overload in the couple.

Whether it is an emotional overload at work or an emotional overload in the couple, it is often linked to the expectations that society places on women and men such as:

• empathy ;
• self-giving ;
• help others ;
• caring for others;
• etc

What can be the consequences of emotional overload?

Emotional overload can cause a person to accept things that are not right for them and cause their self-esteem to melt away. It can manifest as a feeling of overwhelm, through which one becomes unable to perform simple, routine tasks such as playing with children or going to a party.

Emotional overload can also have the following consequences:

• anxiety;
• tiredness;
• loss of appetite;
• sleep disturbances;
• a lack of joy in life;
• irritability;
• a feeling of no longer being able to cope with the things of life;
• even depression.

This phenomenon can lead to an emotional burn-out associating the mental load and the affective load. Due to a lack of psychic resources, the affected person is no longer able to take care of themselves and repair themselves on their own.

What are the causes of emotional overload?

The overflow of emotions can result from:

• a succession of annoyances, hardships or pressure;
• excessive happiness;
• unusual excitement;
• an emotional shock.
  

Triggers for emotional overload also include:

• overwork;
• the arrival of a child;
• a job change;
• the desire to accomplish several tasks at the same time;
• lack of time to rest;
• investment in various professional and/or personal projects.

What to do in case of emotional overload?

In case of emotional overstrain, it is essential to:

• become aware of one’s weaknesses;
• know how to listen to your emotions and your body;
• become aware of this overload;
• spot the early warning signs;
• do emotional work to regain self-control and balance.

To do this, it is take time :

• to take a breather by cutting oneself off from one’s telephone, computer and social networks in particular;
• to refocus on oneself;
• to breathe deeply to savor the present moment by evacuating all the rest ;
• to give yourself a real break;
• to listen to his intuition.
  

It is also recommended to stop all intellectual activities for a while in order to establish a connection with your body and nature, by going for example:

• take a walk;
• caring for a plant or animal;
• practice a sport outdoors.
  

To overcome emotional fatigue, it may also be necessary to consult a health professional, such as a psychologist who can help:

• overcoming emotional overload;
• free yourself from your beliefs;
• identify, understand, accept, regulate and live with one’s emotions.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle helps to cope with emotional overload via :

• the regular practice of physical activity and sports;
• restorative sleep;
• a balanced diet, rich in vitamins, minerals, trace elements and essential fatty acids.

To prevent the risk of emotional overload, it is also necessary to:

• knowing how to delegate certain tasks to colleagues or spouse in order to slow down the pace;
• sorting out its activities by favoring quality over quantity;
• avoiding harmful relationships and negative emotions.