06/05/2026
Emotions as Data Points
“Is overwhelmed an emotion?” This was a question I recently posed to a class.
We were exploring what it means to listen deeply to another person, listening in a way that helps them feel heard, understood, and empathised with. Even if we have never gone through the same experience ourselves, we can still genuinely believe and honour what the person is feeling.
When we listen deeply enough, we help people hear themselves more clearly too. Our gift of presence creates a safe space where the nervous system can gradually calm down before any conversation about moving forward can take place.
Research has shown that suppressing emotions over a prolonged period is linked to higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. It also deprives us of the opportunity to reflect, process our experiences, so as to move forward with resilience.
Several studies suggest that overwhelmed is not a single emotion, but rather an emotional state or condition arising from multiple emotions being experienced at once. These emotions may include anger, anxiety, fear, frustration, panic, or even excitement.
Other emotional states or conditions, together with their possible accompanying emotions, include:
• Tense: anxiety, exhaustion, fear
• Energetic: ambition, enthusiasm, excitement
• Resistance: anxiety, caution, fear, prudence
• Stress: anxiety, confusion, dread, fear
• Vulnerable: feelings linked to diminished dignity, self-respect, or self-trust
Teasing apart whether someone is experiencing a standalone emotion or a broader emotional state helps us better understand what they are truly feeling.
By gently “chunking down” the experience, we create space for deeper awareness and healing of the heart, delicate yet vital in moving our nervous system into activation or rest.
