Nowadays, there is always something happening in our worlds that can be so overwhelming. “School is too hard.” “I’m fighting with my best friend.” “My boyfriend/ girlfriend cheated on me.” “I don’t have enough time for anything.” “I only slept for 5 hours last night.” More than likely, you have said one of these things to yourself before, or something very similar. These thoughts can overwhelm your brain and often, the more you think about all your problems, the worse they seem.
If this sounds like something that you have experienced this feeling before, consider reading this message, for it is written in hopes to provide small tips to help alleviate this overwhelming feeling.
When you start to hear this inner dialogue:
- Stop and take a breath.
o When panic starts to set in, it starts to set in fast. Before you let yourself get to full panic mode, try to control your breathing.
- Turn your phone off.
o More times than not, while turning straight to your phone may provide temporary relief from the current situation, it is not always the best to handle the situation that you are in. Consider trying some of the mentioned techniques before turning to your phone.
- Call or text a friend.
o Contrary to the previous suggestion, it may be helpful to use your phone to contact a friend. Even if you feel as though you have no one that will listen to you, or no one will understand, it is important to remember one thing. You are not being a burden by trying to do what is best for yourself.
- Listen to a song.
o For many people, music can be a very calming tactic. Simply listening to your favorite song may provide more relief that you expect.
- Journal or write your feelings down.
o The very common downward spiral is often instigated by a continuation of overwhelming thoughts that are seemingly uncontrollable. Writing your feelings down can help to translate your feeling from overwhelming thoughts, to using writing as an outlet for you.
- “What am I going to do about this?”
o This is note is specially towards the bottom of the list for a reason. If you have gotten yourself to calm down and breathe easier, it could be time to encourage a forward- moving- mindset for yourself. “What am I going to do now?” is often a triggering question for this can set you back to a state of anxiety, so be sure that you are in the right mind set to approach this.
Whether these are tips that you choose to take to heart is completely up to you. One thing however that I encourage you to take from this reading is that you are never alone in your thoughts. No matter how mad a situation might seem, there is always a way for things to become better, and although change might not happen overnight, change is something worth waiting for. Remember that it is okay to feel the emotions that you may feel. No one lives a completely stress-free life, and therefore it is normal and okay to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, angry, etc. Even when situations seem to be the worst that they could be, keep in mind that there are still aspects of your life that you have control over. Just because one aspect of your life is out of control, try to focus your mind on what you do have control over. Even small tasks can be a big accomplishment and a reminder that you still have the power in your life.