When Your Emotions Feel Bigger Than the Moment: What Your Nervous System Is Trying to Tell You
By Chancie Chaney,
Licensed Professional Counselor
In-person therapy in Mt. Lebanon, South Hills Pittsburgh; virtual therapy across PA & NC.
Most people come to therapy because something inside them feels too big, too heavy, or too overwhelming to keep managing on their own.
They say things like:
“I don’t know why I reacted that way.”
“I feel like I’m supposed to be fine, but I’m not.”
“My body keeps remembering things I don’t want it to.”
“I used to feel like myself. I don’t anymore.”
What they’re describing isn’t a personal flaw.
It’s a nervous system asking for help.
In my work with adults in Pittsburgh’s South Hills — and virtually across Pennsylvania and North Carolina — I see this pattern every week:
Big emotions aren’t the problem.
Feeling alone with them is.
Let’s break down what’s really happening underneath the overwhelm.
Your Nervous System Remembers What Your Mind Tries to Move Past
Many people believe healing is about “thinking differently”, but the truth is: your nervous system often reacts before your thoughts form.
When you’re overwhelmed, your body may be saying:
“This feels like something familiar.”
“This reminds me of a time I wasn’t safe.”
“This is too much for me to carry alone.”
“I’ve held this for so long — I can’t keep doing it.”
This is why you may:
Snap unexpectedly
Cry without knowing why
Feel panic “out of nowhere”
Freeze during conflict
Struggle to make decisions
Shut down even when you want to stay present
These reactions are not signs that you’re broken.
They’re signs that your system is trying to protect you.
Overwhelm Is a Signal, Not a Failure
Overwhelm happens when your internal resources no longer match the external demands.
It sounds like:
“I’m maxed out but can’t slow down.”
“Everything feels louder lately.”
“Small things feel big.”
“I can’t get back to myself.”
It’s often rooted in:
Trauma
Chronic stress
Fertility challenges
Pregnancy or postpartum transitions
Medical experiences
Identity shifts
Loss or grief
Being a helper who carries too much
Overwhelm always has a history.
It does not come out of nowhere.
Why You Can’t Talk Your Way Out of Body-Based Stress
Most people have tried:
Mantras
Positive thinking
“Just breathe”
Trying to ignore the feeling
Trying to “logic” their way out of it
But if your body is activated, cognitive strategies rarely work on their own.
Healing often requires a different starting point:
Your nervous system needs to feel safe before your mind can feel clear.
This is why I use integrative, trauma-trained, nervous system-oriented approaches in therapy.
The goal is not to relive memories — it’s to help your body release what it has been carrying so you can finally exhale.
What It Feels Like When Your System Begins to Heal
Clients often describe:
“I feel lighter.”
“My reactions make sense now.”
“The thing that used to activate me feels far away.”
“I feel more like myself.”
“I can breathe again.”
This is not magic.
It’s what happens when your nervous system stops living in survival mode.
And yes — healing can happen gently. You do not have to force yourself to retell every painful detail.
If Your Emotions Feel Bigger Than the Moment, You Are Not Alone
Many adults in the South Hills and across Pennsylvania begin therapy because something inside them feels out of sync with the rest of their life.
You may not know exactly what you need — and that’s okay.
You don’t have to have the perfect words.
You don’t have to be in crisis.
You don’t have to figure it out before asking for support.
Your only job is to show up.
We’ll find steadiness together.
If You’re Ready, I’m Here.
I provide in-person therapy in my Mt. Lebanon office in Pittsburgh’s South Hills, and virtual therapy across Pennsylvania and North Carolina.
Ready to begin? You can schedule a free consultation call to learn more about working together.