Adding to its series of resources on social interpersonal symptoms, Mission Connection Healthcare has published a new guide covering the feeling of burdening others, a self-limiting belief that individuals with trauma, anxiety, stress, or self-worth issues may experience. In the guide, the treatment center highlights possible underlying causes and evidence-based therapies that can help dismantle this mindset.
For more information, please visit https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/mental-health/social-interpersonal-symptoms/feeling-like-a-burden/
“Feeling like a burden” is not a distinct mental health diagnosis but is often an indication of underlying issues. Per Mission Connection’s guide, the mindset is characterized by the belief that the individual’s needs are an inconvenience to others, leading them to become overly apologetic, downplay their emotions, feel guilt when they receive support, and feel responsible for other people’s emotions.
As Mission Connection’s guide explains, these feelings typically develop in early childhood and are most common among children with emotionally negligent family members or those who were forced into a caregiving role too early. Individuals with trauma, especially from abuse, may also be “trained” to anticipate conflict, pain, or rejection because of their existence alone.
The resource adds that the feeling of burdening others can be a symptom of mental health conditions like depression and anxiety, which often exacerbate existing negative mindsets. Finally, social and cultural expectations may portray the need for support as a sign of weakness, turning it into a source of guilt for some individuals.
To address these negative mindsets, Mission Connection’s guide says that cognitive behavioral therapy for self-esteem can help the individual identify and dismantle thought patterns reinforcing the belief that they are a burden. If the belief is rooted in trauma, EMDR is also an effective treatment, as it stimulates the brain’s natural healing mechanisms to help the individual reprocess traumatic memories. Attachment-focused therapy is another possible avenue of recovery; this treatment explores early relationship patterns with parents and caregivers, bringing awareness to how they have shaped the patient’s current mindset.
Beyond treatment, Mission Connection says that practicing mindfulness, interrupting anxiety with deep breathing and other physical cues, and accepting small acts of support can retrain the nervous system and help an individual prevent unhealthy thoughts before they begin.
More information is available at https://missionconnectionhealthcare.com/