Title: Feeling Unable to Cope and Overwhelmed | Renée Shearing
Source: https://reneeshearing.com/feeling-unable-to-cope
Last updated: 2026-10-11
Summary: You may be doing many things “right” and still feel exhausted, overwhelmed or as though you are carrying too much.

# Feeling Unable to Cope

“Everything feels like too much, and part of me just wants to hide from it all.”

There may be times when life becomes more than you can manage, and you find yourself wanting to withdraw, escape or hide.

You may be doing many things “right” and still feel exhausted, overwhelmed or as though you are carrying too much.

You may feel easily overwhelmed by situations that previously felt manageable.

**If you are in crisis or thinking of harming yourself, please get help now rather than waiting for a session.**

In South Africa, call the SADAG Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0800 567 567 (free, 24 hours), or 112 from a mobile phone, or the police on 10111.

Outside South Africa, call your local emergency number.

I do not offer an emergency service.

## Where can we begin?

You do not need to arrive with a perfectly formed goal or clear explanation of what needs to change.

Sometimes all you know is that something feels off.

We can begin there.

I don’t believe the answer is another list of everything that is wrong with you.

Life is challenging. Most of us are doing our best. Our responses developed for reasons.

My starting point is curiosity rather than judgement.

## Approaches that may help

- [One to One Therapeutic Work](https://reneeshearing.com/one-to-one-therapeutic-work)
- [TRE®](https://reneeshearing.com/tre)
- [EFT](https://reneeshearing.com/eft)
- [EMDR](https://reneeshearing.com/emdr)

## Read more

- [Anxiety, Panic and Persistent Fear](https://reneeshearing.com/anxiety-and-panic)
- [Burnout and Over-Responsibility](https://reneeshearing.com/burnout-and-over-responsibility)
- [Trauma and Its Lasting Effects](https://reneeshearing.com/trauma-therapy)
- [Who I Work With](https://reneeshearing.com/who-i-work-with)
- [Working With Me Online](https://reneeshearing.com/working-with-me-online)