Feeling of the Week: Overwhelmed
Feeling of the Week: Overwhelmed
There are days, maybe weeks, when it feels like the world is pressing in on all sides.
You’re not just busy. You’re not just tired. You are overwhelmed. This week’s feeling is one so many of us try to push through, ignore, or minimize. But overwhelm is a valid emotional state, not a personal failure. It’s not laziness. It’s not “bad time management.”
It’s your nervous system saying: “I’ve hit capacity.”
What Overwhelm Really Feels Like
You might notice:
Racing thoughts, or total brain fog
Procrastination, even when the task matters
Snapping at people you love
Feeling paralyzed by simple decisions
A tight chest, tired eyes, or a lump in your throat
Saying “I’m fine” when you’re anything but
Overwhelm isn’t just a mental state, it’s a full-body experience. And the more you ignore it, the louder it tends to get.
Why We Get Overwhelmed
Overwhelm happens when the input outweighs the output. There’s too much coming at you, information, noise, demands, feelings, and not enough space, time, clarity, or support to process it all.
It might come from:
A packed schedule
Emotional labor no one sees
Decision fatigue
Back-to-back meetings
Caregiving responsibilities
Unexpected stress or grief
The Emotional Equation of Overwhelm
Overwhelm = (Too Much Input + Too Little Support) − (Clarity + Capacity + Compassion)
This equation reminds us that overwhelm is solvable, not shameful.
What To Do When You're Overwhelmed
Name It
Saying “I’m overwhelmed” pulls you out of chaos and into consciousness.
Shrink the Task
Ask: “What is one thing I can move forward today?”
Move Your Body Gently
Walk. Stretch. Shake it out.
Try a Soothing Skill
A Cooling Breath (Sitali Pranayama) helps calm the body and slow the mind.
A Gentle Reminder
Overwhelm means you care. It means you’re human.
It means you’ve been holding a lot, maybe too much, for too long.
You don’t have to fix everything today. But you do deserve space to feel what you feel and support to carry it differently.