The Downward Spiral: How Overwhelm Impacts YOU

Welcome back, it's Burgandy from Be True Counseling in Philly. Last time, we talked about that all-too-familiar feeling of being overwhelmed and overbooked. Today, I want to dive deeper into what happens when we stay in that state for too long. It's not just about feeling busy; it kicks off a real downward spiral that affects every part of our lives.

For me, that constant pressure cooker of being overbooked always seemed to follow a predictable pattern. It wasn't just the endless tasks themselves; it was how they started to mess with my head. The MENTAL FOG would roll in first. Suddenly, focusing became a monumental effort, and those little things – where did I put my keys? What was I supposed to grab from the store? – would slip through the cracks.

And you know what was always the first thing to get the axe when I felt time-crunched? Me. SELF-CARE became this luxury item I just couldn't "afford" amidst the never-ending to-do lists. Sleep? Sacrificed for one more task. Healthy meals? Replaced by whatever was quickest. Water intake? Totally forgot about it. Exercise? Forget about it even more! It's almost darkly funny how the very things that keep us going are the first to go when we feel like we have no time. And let's not forget the impact of all that stress – that constant exposure to cortisol, that stress hormone when used in excess causes weight gain, suppresses immunity, and creates brain fog

Then comes the EMOTIONAL FALLOUT. That's where things get really tough. Shame starts to creep in – that nasty little voice whispering that if I were just "better" or "stronger," I could handle it all. Anxiety becomes this constant background hum of worry, always on alert for the next thing I might drop. It's a slippery slope into feeling like a complete failure. And here's the messed-up part: in that distorted headspace, our natural (but totally backward) response is often to double down on the external work, hoping to somehow outrun or mask that internal feeling of inadequacy.

My relationships definitely felt the strain, too. I morphed into this irritable, grumpy version of myself that wasn't much fun to be around. I vividly remember one time my sweet husband brought home a treat, thinking he was doing something nice, and I snapped at him for derailing my "health goals" – goals that were already a disaster because I was completely neglecting basic self-care! It wasn't really about the treat at all; it was about the internal pressure cooker I was living in overflowing and scalding everything around it.

Understanding this cycle – the mental fog, the neglected self-care, the hormonal impact, the emotional turmoil, and the strained relationships – is the first step towards breaking free. Recognizing how overwhelm impacts YOU specifically can be a powerful motivator for making a change.

Which of these impacts – mental fog, neglected self-care, emotional fallout, or strained relationships – resonates most with you? Take a moment to reflect on your own experiences in the comments below.

Ready to reclaim your time, energy, and well-being? Download the toolkit here: "The Overwhelm Rescue Plan: Your Toolkit to Break the Stress Cycle" 

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