Feeling Overwhelmed

Learn about:

Cognitive overload
Consequences of cognitive overload
Are you suffering from cognitive overload?

Cognitive overload

Cognitive overload occurs when a person has too much to think about and becomes overwhelmed trying to complete multiple tasks. The person thinks the tasks are too difficult or there is not enough time to do everything that needs to be done. The experience of cognitive overload is often associated with expectations and a sense of responsibility to do too much. The demands (real or perceived) exceed what an individual can reasonably manage.

Consequences of cognitive overload

Constant changes to accommodate the PSP can take a toll. Families can experience flexibility fatigue, relationship strain, uncertainty, and guilt.

Are you suffering from cognitive overload?

Click each symptom to learn more:

Try: Skill-building Exercises

Household Tasks

Extending Your Support System

Planning Ahead for “What-Ifs”: Illness, Injury, or Death

Need Something More?

Check out our self-directed Spouse or Significant Other Wellbeing Course.

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References for this page (click to expand)

American Psychological Association. (2022). APA Dictionary of Psychology. American Psychological Association. Retrieved July 18, 2022, from https://dictionary.apa.org/

Brodie, P. J., & Eppler, C. (2012). Exploration of Perceived Stressors, Communication, and Resilience in Law-Enforcement Couples. Journal of family psychotherapy, 23(1), 20-41. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975353.2012.654082

Dean, L., Churchill, B., & Ruppanner, L. (2022). The mental load: building a deeper theoretical understanding of how cognitive and emotional labor overload women and mothers. Community, work & family, 25(1), 13-29. https://doi.org/10.1080/13668803.2021.2002813

Duxbury, L., & Higgins, C. (2012). Caring for and about those who serve: work-life conflict and employee well being within Canada’s police. Sprott School of Business, Carleton University.

Karaffa, K., Openshaw, L., Koch, J., Clark, H., Harr, C., & Stewart, C. (2015). Perceived Impact of Police Work on Marital Relationships. The Family journal (Alexandria, Va.), 23(2), 120-131. https://doi.org/10.1177/1066480714564381

Regehr, C. (2005). Bringing the trauma home: Spouses of paramedics. Journal of loss & trauma, 10(2), 97-114. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325020590908812

Regehr, C., Dimitropoulos, G., Bright, E., George, S., & Henderson, J. (2005). Behind the Brotherhood: Rewards and Challenges for Wives of Firefighters. Family relations, 54(3), 423-435. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2005.00328.x

Watkins, S. L., Shannon, M. A., Hurtado, D. A., Shea, S. A., & Bowles, N. P. (2021). Interactions between home, work, and sleep among firefighters. American journal of industrial medicine, 64(2), 137-148. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.23194