What Is Overwhelm, Really?
Overwhelm is more than just “having a lot on your plate.” It’s a physiological and emotional response to stress, sensory input, or internal pressure that exceeds your nervous system’s current capacity. For neurodivergent individuals—especially those with ADHD or bipolar disorder—this response can be heightened, frequent, and harder to recover from.
Overwhelm can look like:
- Emotional flooding or shutting down
- Difficulty initiating tasks or making decisions
- Irritability, tearfulness, or panic
- Sleep disturbances or fatigue
- Physical tension or dissociation
While overwhelm is common in the general population, it often shows up differently and more intensely in people with neurodivergent brains.
The Neurobiology of Overwhelm in ADHD
ADHD isn’t just about attention—it’s about regulation. The ADHD brain struggles with executive functioning, which includes planning, time management, emotional regulation, and impulse control. This makes it harder to buffer against stressors.
People with ADHD often experience sensory and emotional overwhelm due to:
- Working memory overload
- Sensory sensitivity
- Rejection sensitivity dysphoria
- Task paralysis
Evidence: Research in Current Psychiatry Reports (2021) shows heightened emotional reactivity in ADHD.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33666806/
Bipolar Disorder and the Rollercoaster of Internal Overwhelm
Bipolar disorder involves cycling between depressive and manic or hypomanic states. Each of these states brings its own form of overwhelm:
- During mania/hypomania: racing thoughts, overstimulation, impulsivity
- During depression: difficulty with basic tasks, fatigue, sensory shutdown
Evidence: Dysregulation in the limbic system contributes to emotional stress processing in bipolar disorder.
Source: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/13995618
What Overwhelm Can Feel Like in a Neurodivergent Body
Overwhelm isn’t just mental—it lives in the body. Common physical experiences include:
- Tight chest, shallow breathing
- Numbness or sensory overload
- Clenched jaw, stomach discomfort
- Fidgeting, pacing, or freezing
- Dissociation or feeling 'checked out'
Somatic and Creative Strategies to Soothe Overwhelm
1. Orientation to the Present Moment
2. Movement-Based Expression
3. Creative Play to Reset
4. Structured Rest
5. Safe Containment with a Therapist
Why It’s Not “Too Much”—It’s a Different System
If you’re neurodivergent and often feel like you're “too sensitive” or “too emotional,” it’s important to reframe this. Your brain and body are processing more input more quickly. Your overwhelm is valid—it’s not a flaw.
Therapy That Honors Your Neurodivergence
At Balanced Life Movement, we offer neurodiversity-affirming therapy grounded in somatic and creative approaches to help you regulate and restore.
Ready for Support?
If you’re navigating overwhelm with ADHD or bipolar disorder, we offer trauma-informed care both in-person and online.