[EZINE] Feeling Overwhelmed? Try This…

logical soul ezine

Dr. Michael Craig

Vol. 4, #17 – April 25, 2016

Is a Monkey on Your Back…?

I know how you feel [newsfield name=”name”]…

Last week, I talked about depression, and how doctors often get the diagnosis and treatment wrong (see my Feb. 21, 2015 Blog Post).  Today I want to talk a little bit about a similar state – Overwhelm – and how this problem contributes to

  • Loss of energy and focus
  • Fight-or-Flight responses, i.e., fear and anxiety
  • Sudden anger flareups (road rage)
  • Tightness in the Solar Plexus
  • Feelings of exhaustion
  • Feelings of hopelessness, and a
  • Desire to say “No” to everything and everyone.

Some folks even have symptoms like sudden loss of blood sugar, fainting, and even heat attacks.  Most people, however, simply feel a tightness in the stomach and muscles, and a desire for some kind of relief.

Left unchecked, feelings of overwhelm can lead to seizures… or worse!  

I often feel slightly overwhelmed, so I can speak on this subject with some first-hand experience.  For me, the symptoms are often subtle – linked with a desire to accomplish something I think is important.  Then I get caught up with the task and forget to take a break, eat, or go to sleep.  Loss of sleep, coupled with overwork, naturally leads to consistent feelings of overwhelm. 

So, other than giving up important activities, what’s the solution?  I wanted to know, so I dug out some important resources and spent more valuable time searching . . . figured this is the important “break” I’ve been looking for 😉

Time Off Means Different Things

“Maybe we need a vacation.”

This is the phrase my wife often throws out when she wants to get off the overwhelm wagon.  For me, it just brings up more stress!

To me – and workaholics like me – a “vacation” implies two things:

  • Working harder before and after the vacation time, and
  • Fretting about unfinished work while sitting on the beach, at the bar, etc.

But I go on the vacation anyway, knowing it has a real healing effect on my wife.  Meanwhile I make a concerted effort to let go, once I’m in the car or on the jet plane.

But to me, “Time Off” really means letting go of the NEED to accomplish things!!

You see, I get attached to those silly tasks that take up my life and don’t bring me more health or money.  Things like fixing the shed out back, grooming the cat, and sorting my emails are all great, but just add to that same feeling that I’m not accomplishing anything.

But I FORGET to notice what’s really important, and what’s not.  So here’s what I came up with to help me out . . .

The Lazy Man’s Guide to Time Management

Here are the steps I take (whenever I can remember) to release feelings of overwhelm:

  1. Notice the feeling – If it sin my solar plexus, it often means I took on someone else’s “stuff” – fear, anxiety or anger.
  2. Let the feeling go – This doesn’t mean stop working.  It just means to let go.
  3. Turn off outside distractions.  If the TV or radio is blaring, off it!
  4. Breathe.  In addition to keeping you alive, breathing also releases endorphins, and shuts off the “Sympathetic On” button.
  5. Quick Regression.  Go back to the first time you remember feeling this way.  As an adult, go in and “save your inner child” from whatever trauma may have caused the overwhelm.
  6. Come back in your body.  Feeling “besides yourself” could be an indication you left! Do this while breathing.
  7. Decide on how best to manage your Time.  Use one of the other dozen or so methods to effectively manage your time (Dozens of books have been written on this part, but few ever even mention Steps 1-6)!

This whole process will only take about 10-15 minutes, and will leave you refreshed and alive. I use this as part of my Logical Soul(R) method, but you don’t have to know the whole thing to get some quick relief!

In a Hurry?  Try This…

There is an even FASTER way to get relief from overwhelm…

—–> Check out this Rollicking Overwhelm-Kicking Technique!  <—–

Let me know how these work for you.

To your success,

Michael