FeelingGoodWithSofy

A quick note: If you are struggling with mental health issues, there are parts of this article that might be difficult to read. However, I have also included motivational insights and tools to help you along your journey. The decision to keep reading is entirely yours. ❤️❤️

At least once or twice in your life, you have likely experienced an overwhelming sensation caused by something that left you feeling apprehensive or anxious. Especially in today’s fast-paced society, it’s easy to be triggered by consuming thoughts and high expectations. If you struggle with anxiety daily, you likely know exactly what that feels like and the emotional weight it carries. I personally get easily overwhelmed, even over the smallest things, which is frustrating, indeed. Let’s dive into this topic together while also giving you some helpful insights along the way! ❤️

The Overwhelming Thoughts and Feelings One Can Carry Within

Becoming mentally overwhelmed by whatever has triggered that fatigue is incredibly exhausting and painful. The mind can start spinning and overthinking, carrying many thoughts within, like: “I shouldn’t have said that” or “Why am I getting so stressed out and tearful? It was a beautiful experience after all.” It’s good to know that you can also get overwhelmed by beautiful experiences, not just the bad ones. It’s difficult, indeed, to return to a calmer state of being when you are in such a distressing state.

The body responds to your pain as well, especially if it is severe. It somatizes this distress through symptoms like difficulty breathing, muscle tension throughout the body, or tingling sensations. You might feel constantly on edge—as if there is simply too much to handle—or experience a feeling of wanting to give up. An overwhelming urge to cry can also take over (which often happens during a panic attack, for example).

The Sensitive Mind

Aside from anxiety and other mental health disorders like depression, highly sensitive people are also more prone to getting overwhelmed when facing new, challenging situations, or simply from daily life. I am a highly sensitive person, and I truly know how difficult it can be to navigate ordeals and new situations without becoming overwhelmed afterward—or even in the middle of them. A conversation, a trip, being in a chaotic place or around people, or simply sharing your point of view can all be overwhelming for an HSP.

Practical Tools and Insights to Navigate External Stimulation

Fortunately, there are ways to slow down and feel better when you are feeling overwhelmed and worried. I’m not an expert in this area; I’m a patient who is learning to ‘breathe’ along the journey. Because of that, I’m about to give you some tools that I find helpful when the volcano in me is about to explode. 🙂

• Deep Breathing Exercises: Learning to breathe correctly when you’re caught in a storm is fundamental. When you are in the middle of a mental crisis, it’s easy to forget how to breathe; it becomes shallow, making it much harder to reclaim mental clarity. Because of this, I highly recommend focusing on your breath, using various techniques such as the Box Breathing, the 4-7-8 exercise, and the Belly Breathing.

• Essential Oils: another tool I find effective is inhaling the scent of lavender, which has an incredibly soothing effect on me. I usually add 2-3 drops of the oil to my hands, rub them together, and then inhale slowly and deeply. While I normally do this before bedtime, I sometimes find myself needing it during the day, too. To try this yourself, just add a few drops of your favourite scent to your hands or wrists, focus on the aroma, and let little ritual soothe you.

• A Soothing Cup of Tea: Drinking tea is for me both restorative and a feel-good ritual. Whenever I begin to feel distressed—or if a family member notices it first, the response is always, “Let’s put the kettle on to boil.” 🙂 If I am outdoors, I simply hope there is a cozy and quiet café close by. You don’t have to be deeply passionate about tea to benefit from it; just holding a warm cup can bring you to the present moment, giving you a sense of calmness that you so truly deserve. 🙂

• Grounding Meditation: When I feel like I’m about to “explode,” I try to go to my yoga mat, if possible, and I do a soothing meditation session. I remind myself to stay rooted in my being, in the here and now, by focusing my attention on my breath. I also focus on the earth underneath me—whether that is the floor, my mat, or the ground in nature.

Final Reflections

As we come to the end of this article, I hope you can take something meaningful away from it. ❤️ Remember that it takes time to learn to navigate a path where intense stimulation is just part of the journey. It’s okay to fall apart when things get difficult, or simply because you feel overwhelmed by life’s obstacles. You don’t have to be perfect—you are a human being, after all, and mistakes are exactly what give us permission to grow and evolve. Be self-compassionate—whether you are particularly sensitive, dealing with anxiety, or having a hard time managing right now. ❤️

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