Why Overwhelm Makes People Withdraw

When someone feels overwhelmed, we often expect them to reach out. To talk.

To explain. To ask for help. But many people do the opposite. They go quiet.

They pull away. They create distance — emotionally or physically. And from the outside,

it can feel confusing… or even hurtful. So why do people withdraw when they’re overwhelmed —

especially from the people they care about most? Pulling away during overwhelm isn’t

a conscious choice. It’s a nervous system response. When stress exceeds someone’s capacity

to cope, the brain prioritises survival over connection. This can look like: shutting down emotionally

becoming quiet or distant avoiding conversations needing space without explanation