Many people go through stages in life where they regularly find themselves asking, “Why am I always so overwhelmed?” or “Why can’t I control how I react?” If you’ve found yourself here, you’re not alone, and the good news is, there are evidence-based approaches that can genuinely help.
One of the most effective therapies for emotional overwhelm and reactivity is Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). It’s a structured, skills-focused approach that helps people better understand their emotions, reduce stress, and create healthier relationships, even in today’s high-pressure world. If you want a quick read to learn more about how DBT works, check out Australian Psychology Society’s article on Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).
Why Do I Feel So Overwhelmed All the Time?
In today’s fast-paced world, feeling overwhelmed has become more common than ever. You might be juggling work, study, relationships, or parenting, and underneath it all, you’re running on emotional fumes which can be reactive, drained, and on edge. This kind of emotional overload is more than just having a lot on your plate. It’s often a sign of emotional dysregulation, where your nervous system is constantly in overdrive and never gets the chance to reset.
That’s where DBT therapy comes in. DBT was developed to help people who experience overwhelming emotions, and it offers practical tools for calming your nervous system, understanding your triggers, and handling stress in a more balanced way.
Overwhelm can show up as:
Whether it builds slowly or arrives in a rush, therapy can help you make sense of these feelings and respond to them more effectively.
Why Can’t I Control My Reactions?
If your emotions feel intense and hard to manage, you might assume something is wrong with you. But the truth is, many people are never taught how to regulate their emotions especially in challenging environments or under chronic stress. Emotional reactivity is often linked to past experiences, anxiety, trauma, or neurodivergence like ADHD. When you’re in this state, even small triggers can lead to big reactions like anger, panic, tears, or shutting down.
That’s why DBT teaches emotional regulation as a skill, not something you’re just supposed to “figure out” on your own. Through DBT, you learn how to:
You’re not “too sensitive”, you’re just in need of the right tools and support. And therapy offers exactly that.
What Does Emotional Exhaustion Really Mean?
Emotional exhaustion is more than tiredness, it’s a deep sense of burnout that comes from constantly managing your emotions, navigating conflict, or feeling like you have to “hold it all together.” You might feel:
Many people try to power through emotional exhaustion with rest, distractions, or pushing it aside. But real healing comes from learning how to care for your emotions, rather than just reacting to them.
That’s why group therapy, particularly DBT-based group therapy, can be so effective. You not only learn powerful, science-backed techniques, but you also gain validation and connection from others who truly get it.
How DBT-Based Group Therapy Can Help
At Hunter Psychological Services, we offer a 10-week DBT-based group therapy program in Newcastle for adults who are tired of emotional burnout and ready to take back control.
Developed from the core principles of Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, our group is ideal if you:
Each week, you’ll learn new strategies for managing emotions, improving communication, and building resilience. The group is small (6–10 people), face-to-face, and led by psychologist Liana Riddington. Sessions start Thursday 1 May 2025 at 5:00pm. You don’t need a formal diagnosis to join, just a willingness to learn and grow.
Start Rebuilding Your Emotional Energy
If you’ve been living in survival mode, DBT skills can help you shift into a place of stability and confidence. You don’t have to navigate emotional exhaustion alone and you shouldn’t have to.
Getting support from a mental health professional isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s one of the most empowering things you can do for your wellbeing.
Contact us today to register your interest for our DBT group or feel free to reach out to learn more about our other services and what we can do for you.
Our three experienced psychologists Paula, Zahra & Cindy are now welcoming new clients. Expertise includes anxiety, trauma, ADHD, eating disorders, bipolar and more. Our new clinicians can also offer therapy in a second language! Paula offers sessions in Spanish, Zahra in French and Cindy in Mandarin. Book your appointment today!