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Is it normal to feel like the world is going to swallow you whole?

12 Answers
Last Updated: 01/07/2019 at 7:51pm
1 Tip to Feel Better
United States
Moderated by

Melissa Strauss, LPC

Licensed Professional Counselor

I am client focused and believe everyone has a strength. I feel confident in seeing clients with generalized and social anxiety, depression and relational goals.

Top Rated Answers
BraveWings116
January 7th, 2019 7:51pm
Yes and no. Everyone feels like this during their lifetimes, when they are overwhelmed by stress, feeling lonely and isolated, or depressed and desolate. This is normal to feel every once in awhile. However, if this feeling lasts and becomes a problem in your life, then please seek out help. You could be suffering from a mental illness and would benefit from therapy and/or medication. Having this feeling continue is not necessarily abnormal, but it can be very frightening and overwhelming and should not be ignored or underestimated. Please talk to someone you trust about this or seek out professional help. You are never alone and if it helps, I care about you. If you need further resources or want to talk, feel free to personally message me.
soothingMango37
March 23rd, 2015 2:48am
Absolutely. In the grand scheme of things, we are all incredibly insignificant. The world will keep turning, babies will still be born, and the sun will keep shining. We can't control the world, and often we can't control the situations that we find ourselves in (even if we chose to be a part of it in the first place). The only thing we can control is our attitude; we have to accept that the world is larger than we are, and we have to find something in it that gives us happiness- even if it's just looking at the waves crash on the beach or at a flower opening at the beginning of spring. The world wasn't created to make your miserable, but it's also not going to take the time to save you from depression or anxiety. Ultimately, you have to make the decision to control your attitude and not let the world control you.
CoffeeTeaAndHonesty
April 20th, 2015 4:18pm
With today's quick-paced world, it's nothing short of normal to feel as though you'll be swallowed whole. The truth is our bodies aren't adapted to live this kind of lifestyle, which is why our fight-or-flight system tends to bring more harm than good. As a result, we've seen a trend in higher mental illnesses reported yearly.
FlawedCharacter
May 6th, 2015 1:15am
Very normal, in fact it's characteristic of a panic attack to feel almost claustrophobic. Again, try not to struggle too much, focus on your breathing and remember that the feeling won't last forever. You'll be okay.
creativeApple52
June 16th, 2015 10:56pm
Sometimes life can be very hard with all the challenges we are faced with. can you give me a little more information so I can try and understand more what you are going through?
PoliteOcean
September 16th, 2015 12:17am
Not everybody is the same. If you feel that your feelings aren't normal perhaps you should speak with a trusted person, family, friend, therapist or counselor to help you to sort things out.
Anonymous
November 16th, 2015 8:54am
it is very normal to feel so because we go through allot of changes in life, new people , new experiences and sometimes it makes you feel so small before the world that you forget that you are a part of what its made of.
Anonymous
January 11th, 2016 3:16pm
No. World isn't a big creature which want to swallow you. You can do what you want and dream about you want and you also can swallow something, but world isn't gonna to swallow you, remember.
BombayBlues
June 14th, 2016 2:15pm
There was a time when it was a regular occurrence for me and it's understanding, alot of pressure is placed on us by various sources in society these days. Our family, friends, society, our peers. It can be extremely easy to be overwhelmed and feel that way. It's not abnormal to feel that way, and there is nothing wrong feeling that way.
GraceFaithAndSummer
September 6th, 2016 9:02pm
Probably.. No. Talk to your friends and family about it. You need a counselor. Badly. Not to feel you out though.
Anonymous
November 28th, 2016 6:14am
It's common feeling to feel overwhelmed and small compared to the rest of the world. The less we compare ourselves to others the richer our lives will be. We can only control ourselves so we should work to be the best versions of ourselves we can possibly be.
izzymarii
February 19th, 2018 11:04am
We all get overwhelmed sooner or later. The important thing is that you have noticed and you are taking steps to fix this.