when I could get a word in,however the controller was working flat out and physically could not talk ,or process any faster dealing with an increasing workload
Even more of a reason to Squawk Emergency. That gets everyone's attention including the Supervisor and does not require that you speak to the controller concerned.
Military aircrew are regularly taught to use this procedure for inadvertant flight into IMC at low level where a climb would involve penetration of CAS.
An emergency Squawk would presumably be see by others on TCAS as well (I stand to be corrected)