It might not be easy, but that does not mean it might not work

When people tell me they are overwhelmed, I try to commiserate with them enough to let them know that I understand the feeling of being overwhelmed, but I quickly (too quickly?) jump to action and to disrupt the sense of being overwhelmed. I suggest the usual ideas like making a list of things to be done, free writing to get the clogged thoughts out of the way, going for a walk to use up some of the energy that is zinging along the nerves, having a snack to fuel the brain, drinking some water to hydrate the tissues, and taking some time to do some deep restorative breathing.

Yeah.

Well, today I am overwhelmed. Like, very overwhelmed. I don’t see how any of those suggestions will help. I want to scream out loud (I already did once!) and hide under my desk until all of my deadlines pass by. I cannot drink more water. I cannot even think of the first item to put on a list. My neurons are beyond zinging, they are in the full on zoomies. Everything I start just leads to more things and more demands by people. Everything I answer creates another question. Everything I start seems like an obvious demonstration of my lack of ability to do anything right.

Wait. This is like free writing to unclog the thoughts. Hmm, it helped a bit. I can actually see a couple of things I got right today. Maybe something else from my suggestions will help.

I can hear a little voice in there. It is saying, try the walk in the sun with the dog. Then dig out that list that someone sent you that you saw as a big TO DO and use it as a normal to do. Have a bit of chocolate. Pick one physical thing that is bugging you (that stupid ponytail?) and change it.

Try it. Just try it and see. Let me know how it goes. Maybe overwhelmed is sometimes solved by a list.