I used to work with someone who often said they were stressed and overwhelmed. I thought their workload was huge, and helped where I could, but over time I noticed that the issue wasn't actually the amount of work in front of them.
Often, the spiral started the moment they ran into something unfamiliar. A new tool, a process they had not seen before, or a request that seemed obvious to everyone else in the room. The task itself was not always large, but not understanding it yet made it feel difficult before the work had even begun.
That experience is common in technical environments, especially with a new process or tool, and when other people seem more fluent. From the outside, it can look like someone is struggling with a lot of pressure.
That feeling is real. It can bring anxiety, embarrassment, and a sense that everyone else is managing better. The natural reaction is often to push through quickly just to be done with it. But it's worth pausing to consider what's causing the feeling.
Sometimes the task feels difficult simply because something about it is still unclear. That's usually the moment to ask yourself a few basic questions. What is the starting point? What part of this do I need to know more about? Even one clear answer can reduce the pressure in the moment.
If the feeling of being overwhelmed is actually coming from your workload, you may need time or support, and should consider raising the issue. If the problem is clarity, you may just need someone to walk you through it or help you find a starting point. Those are different problems, but they can feel very similar in the moment.
Once the problem is clearer, what felt like too much can start to look like a few smaller next steps. Sometimes that's enough to get moving.