Overwhelm and how I dealt with it

Life has been quite busy lately, to say the least. Our home is undergoing major renovations, and the result is that we are crammed into two bedrooms and using the laundry as a makeshift kitchen. This set-up means sharing space with a teenager and constantly being in each other’s space. To add to the mix, I’ve been doing an intensive course that’s taking me out of my comfort zone and bringing back some of the things that I might not want to deal with.

So when my kids started back at school this week and were tired and moody, and my colleague was struggling with mental health issues, it all became too much. Too much stress, too many worries, zero “me-time”, and definitely not enough personal space. You can probably relate to that tipping point where everything seems to spiral into anxiety and overthinking. That’s where I found myself.

My usual coping mechanisms involve heading to the gym, taking a walk, or having a good chat with a friend. These tactics typically work, but this time, they fell flat.

I realised I needed a different approach. If I didn’t take action, that overwhelming feeling would only intensify.

So, I made a deliberate choice to sit with that overwhelming sensation. Instead of resisting it or attempting to chase it away through activity, I decided to embrace it and simply breathe. I paid close attention to where the stress was manifesting in my body (which happened to be my chest), acknowledged its presence, accepted it, and patiently waited for it to subside.

Surprisingly, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I could have made that day. By recognizing and allowing the feeling, it eventually began to dissipate, and I started to feel better.

I’m curious about you. What are your go-to strategies when you find yourself in a similar position? Do you have any?

Part of what we do in our workshops, we delve into understanding, naming and locating emotions within your body, which can be incredibly valuable for managing them effectively. And remember that practice makes perfect.

And as always, remember to be kind to yourself.

Mags

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Photo by Milan Popovic on Unsplash