Overwhelm: Are you trying to steer a leaky boat?

Ever felt like you are in a small boat on a relentless sea of things to do, people to please and not enough time to do it? Welcome to the sea of overwhelm!

Overwhelm is a feeling of being way too busy and having too much to do in a short period of time. It can be caused by feelings of stress and anxiety, but it’s not just specific to those things — anyone can feel overwhelmed at times.

Where does it come from?

Overwhelm is a feeling, not a fact. It's caused by your brain and body reacting to stress. The way that your brain processes information about the world around you causes you to feel overwhelmed at times. It is the combination of the internal (thoughts, feelings etc) and external (environment, work, others etc) pressure pushing and pulling against each other.

When you're overcome by the sense that you have too much to do, it often seems easier to just give up trying. Not only that, but the feeling of overwhelm is so strong because it hijacks your brain and body and distorts your perception of what's really happening. When you're experiencing overwhelm, everything feels more urgent and important than it actually is; you'll find yourself getting distracted by things that don't matter at all—and then forgetting about much-needed tasks like taking care of your health or setting aside time for fun.

How can you move through this emotion?

Dealing with overwhelm doesn't mean beating yourself up for not being able to do everything perfectly all the time. Instead, it means learning how to deal with stress in a healthy way so that you can get through the day without feeling completely overwhelmed by everything on your plate.

If you find yourself feeling this way, here are some ways to keep your energy in motion:

• Take a break: Give yourself permission to let go of expectations that other people have placed on you - this will help reduce feelings of guilt and shame when something goes wrong or doesn't go according to plan!

• Ask for Help: Don't be afraid to ask for help from friends and family members or seek professional support. You can also say no to things when they feel like too much. It's okay!

When you feel overwhelmed by emotions or difficult situations, you can also try this healing practice called "compassionate inquiry".

Compassionate inquiry is a simple practice that helps you to get back on track, rather than worrying about what might happen in the future or dwelling on how things were in the past. It involves asking yourself questions about your feelings, thoughts and actions to help you understand what's happening, and then bringing your attention back to the present moment. Compassionate inquiry is helpful when you're feeling overwhelmed or stressed because it helps bring some clarity into what's going on—and it helps calm our minds so we can work through whatever's causing us pain.

If all of this sounds exhausting just thinking about it—it can be! It's important to remind yourself that you are not alone in this struggle with overwhelm; many people experience it at some point in their lives.

There are just two key things to remember: take a break & ask for help. Don’t let the overwhelm take away the joy of living your best life!

If you're struggling with overwhelm and would like some support, I'm here to help. As a trained psychotherapist, I have helped many clients overcome their overwhelm and improve their overall well-being. Let’s work together to help you move through this emotion so you can experience lasting happiness!

Join the Yintopia Community to learn more about my services and how I can support you on your journey towards healing and recovery.