Do This When Feeling Overwhelmed

“Remember that stress doesn’t come from what’s going on in your life. It comes from your thoughts about what’s going on in your life” Andrew Bernstein

Are you feeling overwhelmed? 

In our lives, we play many roles that of a student, spouse, child, employee, taxpayer, friend, citizen, mentor, sibling etc. With these, roles come major responsibility, demands, hardships, sacrifices, service, and compromise. You may feel pulled in many directions and as though there isn’t enough time to do the necessary things or simply lack of resources. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed as if your mind is paralyzed. Feeling as though you can’t handle or cope with life struggles or demands creates brain fog, which disables you to think/see things clearly.

Try doing this when you are feeling overwhelmed…….

Acknowledge when your feeling overwhelmed, this will put you in a space of understanding your emotions and needs.

Take a deep breath a remove yourself from the overwhelming thoughts in your head or the task itself. You can do this by exercising, talking with a friend about something else, taking a hot bath or some other leisure activity.  Removing yourself from the overwhelming task or thought is not avoiding, it’s simply giving yourself time and space to clear your mind to later think things through logically.

Separate your emotions from whatever is overwhelming you. You won’t effectively be able to handle the problem if your emotions are involved. There are only a few ways to handle stress and or problems. You can shift your perspective of the situation, remove yourself from the situation, or learn ways to cope with the situation.

Reassess your support systems, skills, knowledge base, and personal strengths in order to work through the problem that’s overwhelming you. Once you assess these items you will be able to view the situation differently and gain better insight into possible solutions or ways to cope.

Take charge of the problem or task now that you are thinking more rational. Look at the things you can control rather than focus on what you can’t. Take small steps to resolving the situation and appreciate the journey.

“Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your requests known to God” Philippians 4:6

Ranika Martin, MSW, LGSW, CBT+