Wellness Wednesday – Overwhelm
Every one of us can relate to a time when we felt overwhelmed: as a child or as an adult; by a positive emotion or negative emotion; for a short period of time or maybe over a long period of time. Overwhelm occurs when the intensity of our feelings outmatches our ability to manage them. Experiencing overwhelm can be both physically and emotionally debilitating.
Emotional overwhelm can make it difficult to take care of yourself. You may forget meals, skip rest breaks, or struggle to fall asleep. These behaviors can in turn lower your ability to think rationally, making it even harder to cope with overwhelm. Overtime, if unsupported, this cycle can lead to physical health problems, unexplained pain or persistent fatigue, all of which contribute to a greater sense of overwhelm.
There are times when we feel overwhelmed in a way that is stressful yet manageable. Having self support strategies in place for this feeling of overwhelm can be empowering and supportive in returning your mind and body to a place of greater calm. If you are feeling debilitated or incapacitated by overwhelm, I encourage you to reach out for help. Working with a professional can help to bring the physical and emotional symptoms into a more manageable space where you can then add levels of self support to the guidance you are receiving.
Here are a couple self-strategies to support yourself with when you are feeling overwhelmed:
5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Exercise – Mindfulness for Anxiety: Anxiety United YouTube youtube.com/watch?v=5cEUenM...
15 Ways to Calm Yourself Down: Healthline.com healthline.com/health/how-t...
Breathing Techniques to Help You Relax: UMMCVideos YouTube youtube.com/watch?v=RHpTR2w...
With all strategies it is important to find the one that fits you best. This support is for you by you. No one knows what your system needs like you do. Be kind to yourself. If you or a loved one are feeling overwhelmed and it is affecting your health please reach out for support.
For more self support strategies for Overwhelm please visit our growing collection on our website:
Strategies for Dealing With Overwhelm - saveyourskin.ca/emotional-a...
