Introduction to Mental Overload

We’ve all probably heard someone say, “I’m so burnt out, I need a break.” People usually feel burnt out when they put too much on their shoulders for a prolonged period of time and this can often lead to them feeling mentally burdened, exhausted or overloaded. I can’t begin to count the number of times I’ve seen people in my life experience this, but let’s go further with the concept of ‘mental overload’ with questions I’ve seen be raised on this topic.

Who experiences this?

People who are prone to anxiety, low self-confidence, and perfectionism can have a tendency to over-research, overthink and excessively complicate their decisions. This can result in a constant sense of mental overload.

A large number of people deal with mental overload on a weekly or even daily basis.

Isn’t stress normal?

While experiencing stress is normal and actually good, too much of anything can make anyone exhausted. Mental overload causes long-term stress and makes you feel emotionally drained. One starts to feel detached from their personal and work life causing huge havoc. This is something that is extremely detrimental to the mental health of the person and the people around them.

In Indian culture, overworking yourself is EXTREMELY normalised. With a workweek that averages 48 hours, India ranks fifth among nations that the International Labour Organisation records. Just the other day a relative of mine said that “Indians work best under pressure.”

As a teenager, I don’t know where to begin to somehow put an end to this now toxic mentality, but I do know that sharing this with the people of my age group can make a difference in the coming years. Because then we’ll know that this isn’t normal and understand to put our well-being first.

How do you overcome this?

Mental overload can feel like it's going to last forever. But like all things it doesn't- even if you think it will. There are several methods you can adopt into your lifestyle to deal with mental and emotional overload.

One of the first things you could do is to learn to recognise it, and from there you can try figuring out what you can do to help yourself according to your needs on your own or with the help of someone. Although this is easier said than done, it’s a process that needs continuous effort and care.

As a person who has dealt with mental overload a good amount of times I can say that getting back on track isn't easy, but you can take your time. I have started this blog page for people who have dealt with/are experiencing/ learning about mental overload. Mental health advocacy is something I am extremely passionate about and serious about, hence this page will contain numerous topics related to and concerning mental health.

Yes, I’m just another teenager. Yes, I’m not a licensed professional. But I would still like to make a difference, even if it is minimal.