Does anyone else ever get completely overwhelmed like this?

[SapphireSeptember]

Or is it just me?
I'm overtired and feeling a bit down at the moment. I was trying to sleep but can't stop thinking about stuff that happened years ago, or even recently, and just end up a blubbering wreck. (My train of thought was that sub that imploded last week, the ship with refugees on it that sank, The Titanic sinking, and then I started thinking about Anne Frank and the Holocaust, and that really set me off.)
Why am I like this? I get myself all worked up over this stuff. Maybe because I'm down it sort of works it's way into my mind more easily. For full disclosure I've got a history of depression, often quite severe, although I've been mostly alright the past two years, and I'm autistic, which I don't think helps. I might be in need of some grips, if anyone wants to hand me a couple. 😅

Yes constantly. Coupled with my own despair at not being able to sort the world's problems out, all of which I feel responsible for. (Now I have written that down, it does sound a bit narcissistic but honestly I'm not!). Exhausting is not the word.

At least it's not just me. My friend described me as 'tender-hearted ' the other day. Which is lovely, but I feel that's part of the problem! I just care too much, but then I worry about completely burning out and becoming apathetic.

@SapphireSeptember Definitely not just you my lovely. I have frequently felt this way and have had to come off all social media except whatsapp and drastically reduce the amount of news I consume which has helped. It doesn’t mean I don’t care it just means I am trying to focus my attention where it can make a positive difference.

I reckon the ancient Stoics had it right in advising people to focus first on the the things they could directly control and from there on the things they could influence.

It does sound like you are getting into patterns of negative thinking and you mention a history of depression. It sounds like it might be a good time to book an appointment with your GP to discuss how you are feeling as you might be starting to become depressed again which is why all these things are affecting you more?

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

@Rabbitsandgerbils Thank you. ❤️ I have been thinking about talking to someone about how I feel, because I'm getting fed up now. I don't watch the news and stick to fairly 'fluffy' topics on Facebook and YouTube, because I'd rather avoid sad things (although listening to the radio at work doesn't help sometimes.) Thank you again. 😊

@SapphireSeptember You are very welcome. Definitely worth discussing it in an appointment to get another perspective and see if you can access some help to feel better. At least Mumsnet shows you are not on your own. Hope you feel a lot better soon! 💐

I'm the same, get so involved in various stories (sub one, yes) the lady on here with liver cancer, then I just can't stop thinking about them all the time. It's sort of an over empathic attitude which borders on weirdly over invested and ultimately exhausting 😞. It's not attention seeking because I never tell anyone or share my thoughts. That's why I love mnet so much because you can be on a thread and share those emotions with other anonymous posters which, mmm I was going to say is so helpful but actually maybe it makes it all much more absorbing than is really healthy...

@Rabbitsandgerbils Gotta love anonymity! I can come on here and talk utter rot and no one knows it's me (except for my mum, I outed myself to her years ago. <waves> ) Thank you, I hope I do. 😊

@Sunglassescase Over empathetic is about right. I think it's always worse at night, because I'm alone with my thoughts and then all hell breaks loose! I do weigh the pros and cons of Mumsnet, it can be wonderful, sometimes it's awful, but I think it's a good place to offload stuff and ask for advice.

Interestingly I did CBT a couple of years ago and found it did wonders, so I need to go back to doing that I think.

I can be similar. I was going to suggest autism until you said

You are an empath OP. I am the same. I cried because I accidently killed a spider yesterday. I am down at the moment but it's because I have not been getting enough saturated fat in my diet the last couple of weeks. It makes a big difference to me if that helps.

Me too! I find it's worse if I'm overtired. Usually you can rationalise or compartmentalised your thoughts. But when your down and overtired you haven't got any extra energy to manage your thoughts.

@AnxiouslyWait I hate it sometimes. I get these episodes (for want of a better term) every now and again and I feel so tired afterwards. The autism doesn't help.

@HyperionWarbonnet That too. (It's snails for me, always feel so guilty when I step on a snail! 😢) Good to know. I think I get enough, but I'll keep an eye on what I'm eating.

@bumblebee2235 I was really tired that night, I'd gone to bed early cos I was shattered! I hate being over-tired, that along with low blood sugar are two things that really affect my mood.