During the course of our lives, there are bound to be multiple times when life seems to pour it on a little thick. We end up overwhelmed, stressed and worn out.

The bad news: It’s inevitable.

The good news: There are ways to manage the overwhelm and alleviate the desire to go hide under a rock until it all just magically goes away.

Be Aware of the Struggle

First and foremost, you’ve got to realize that you are overwhelmed to be able to do anything about it. Often we blame a bad mood on any number of things when it’s actually because we are simply spent, mentally and physically. If you are in tune with your mind and body, you’ll hear it loud and clear when they scream “Enough is enough!” Continue reading →

Overwhelm happens when our minds override our thoughtful, conscious response to a situation, causing distress and various negative emotions that block us from clarity. It is a form of avoidance and is essentially the opposite of mindfulness.

Without the clarity to approach issues that normally pop up in our daily lives, we succumb to negative emotions, potentially leading us towards more negative actions. The fallout from being overwhelmed can also extend to our social and professional lives. Becoming reclusive, anxious, and ineffective are some of the common symptoms of this.

When you feel like you’re losing control of yourself, you are likely to act impulsively and react out of fear and negativity, which isn’t a good place to be coming from. Continue reading →