Understanding Polycrisis: When Multiple Problems Overwhelm

Many people who seek therapy find themselves caught in what researchers call a “polycrisis”—a situation where multiple interconnected problems compound one another, creating a sense of being completely overwhelmed. You might come to therapy focused on one immediate issue—perhaps difficulty sleeping, tension with your partner, or stress at work—only to discover that these problems are interconnected and reinforcing each other in ways that make everything feel unmanageable.

What Is Polycrisis?

The term polycrisis, originally used to describe complex global challenges, applies equally well to personal psychological experience. It describes situations where separate stressors interact and amplify each other, creating a cascading effect that exceeds the sum of individual problems. Research in stress psychology shows that when we face multiple simultaneous stressors, our coping resources become depleted more rapidly, and our ability to address any single problem diminishes.

How Polycrisis Develops

Often, people enter therapy addressing what seems like an isolated concern. However, as we explore together, a more complex picture emerges. Financial stress affects sleep quality. Poor sleep impairs emotional regulation. Irritability strains relationships. Relationship conflict increases anxiety. Anxiety makes concentration difficult at work. Work problems create more financial stress. This cyclical pattern creates what psychologist Richard Lazarus termed “stress proliferation”—where one stressor generates additional stressors, overwhelming our natural coping mechanisms.

When Everything Feels Connected—Even When It Isn’t

An important aspect of polycrisis is that when you’re overwhelmed, your mind can begin to experience all problems as part of one massive, insurmountable crisis—even when some issues are actually unconnected to others. A disagreement with a friend, a car repair, and a health concern might feel like they’re all part of the same catastrophe simply because they’re occurring simultaneously. This psychological blending of distinct problems intensifies the sense of helplessness and makes it harder to take effective action on any single issue.

This is where compartmentalization and divide-and-conquer strategies become invaluable. By learning to separate genuinely interconnected problems from those that simply coexist in time, you can address each challenge more effectively. I have extensive experience helping clients distinguish between problems that truly influence each other and those that can be handled independently, allowing you to focus your energy where it will be most effective.

The Cognitive Load Problem

Research in cognitive psychology demonstrates that when we’re juggling multiple problems simultaneously, our working memory becomes overloaded. This cognitive overload impairs our ability to think clearly, make decisions, and implement solutions. You may find yourself unable to prioritize, paralyzed by competing demands, or constantly putting out fires without addressing underlying issues. This is not a personal failing—it’s a predictable response to systemic overwhelm.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Polycrisis

In our work together, I use evidence-based approaches specifically designed to address interconnected problems. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other across different problem areas. We work to interrupt negative cycles and build positive ones.

Problem-Solving Therapy (PST), which has strong empirical support, provides a structured framework for managing complex, interconnected challenges. Research by Thomas D’Zurilla and Arthur Nezu demonstrates that systematic problem-solving skills significantly reduce psychological distress and improve functioning. In our sessions, we’ll work together on:

• Defining problems clearly and specifically rather than seeing everything as one overwhelming mass. We break down vague concerns like “my life is falling apart” into concrete, solvable problems, and identify which problems are actually connected versus which ones merely feel that way.
• Prioritizing strategically by identifying which problems are most urgent, which are maintaining other problems, and which offer the greatest leverage for positive change. Sometimes addressing one standalone issue can free up mental and emotional resources to tackle more complex challenges.
• Generating multiple solution options through structured brainstorming, moving beyond the limited options that seem available when you’re overwhelmed.
• Evaluating solutions systematically by considering pros, cons, resources needed, and likely outcomes, rather than making decisions from a place of panic or desperation.
• Implementing action plans with specific, manageable steps and built-in flexibility for obstacles.
• Reviewing outcomes to learn what works and adjust strategies, building your problem-solving confidence over time.

Mindfulness-based interventions, which have robust empirical support, help reduce the cognitive overload that polycrisis creates. By developing present-moment awareness and acceptance skills, you can step back from the overwhelming sense of multiple crises and respond more thoughtfully rather than reactively.

Building Resilience and Systems Thinking

I also draw on systems theory and resilience research to help you understand how different areas of your life interact. Rather than viewing problems in isolation, we examine the patterns and connections between them. This perspective often reveals leverage points—places where small changes can have ripple effects across multiple problem areas. Research shows that building psychological resilience—through improved emotion regulation, social support, and adaptive coping strategies—provides protection against future stress proliferation.

A Collaborative Approach

Together, we’ll develop a treatment plan tailored to your specific situation. This might include learning stress management techniques, improving communication skills, developing better sleep hygiene, addressing underlying anxiety or depression, or restructuring problematic thought patterns. The goal is not just to address immediate crises, but to build sustainable skills and systems that prevent future overwhelm.

Effective treatment can help you feel calmer, more confident, and more in control of your life. I invite you to reach out to discuss how we can work together toward the relief you’re seeking. Phone: 410-970-4917; Email: edgewaterpsychotherapy@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you and helping you on your journey toward greater peace and wellbeing.