7 ways to combat overwhelm

When everything feels as though it’s unravelling, we can experience overwhelm. Academic and researcher Brené Brown defines this as: an extreme level of stress and emotional or cognitive intensity that renders an individual unable to function.

For those suffering from anxiety or panic attacks, the changing shape of the world can feel especially intimidating, frightening and render us paralysed into inaction. Without the emotional and spiritual resources to navigate these times, Jesus followers can find themselves stumbling.

READ MORE: ‘I believe it is important for churches and Christians to be trauma informed’

We’ve recently had two Bills passed in Parliament on abortion and assisted dying that left many of us reeling, plus the conflict between Israel and Iran which could well escalate.

READ MORE: As Christians are we raising an anxious generation?

Put your phone away; take some deep breaths to ground yourself.

What can we do?

1. Pause. Breathe. When you read a news story or check your phone for what’s  happening in Ukraine, Gaza or Iran and experience a visceral sense of panic, stop. Put your phone away; take some deep breaths to ground yourself.

2. Discern what you’re really feeling. Feelings are good servants but bad masters.  We need to take note of them but, more importantly, know what they mean.  Are you really feeling confused, or are you angry, sad, disappointed, tired?

3. Having acknowledged and validated your feelings, take them to God. They are too big for us to handle alone.  We don’t have the luxury of giving ourselves a month’s holiday from life while we regroup.  We must push in to God rather than allow events and emotions to become a dividing wedge.

4. Recognise you have a choice. You can press in or withdraw from God in these dark times.  What are you going to do with those feelings you took to God? If they’re allowed to fester and grow they will keep you awake at night. Neurologically, they’ll keep you on high alert as cortisone repeatedly floods your body – detrimental to your physical and emotional health. Feelings arrive unbidden; what we do with them is up to us. We can choose to submit them to God, realign ourselves with his perspective, or hold them tightly, letting them run roughshod over life.

5. Recognise what is your responsibility and what isn’t. You’re not personally responsible for peace talks or the safe arrival of aid anywhere. You can’t direct or negotiate hostage proceedings. You haven’t been given codes for launching destructive weapons across borders. That doesn’t mean you don’t care about those things, but we all have God-given areas of responsibility. There are hundreds of things we can do nothing about. What can we do something about? When the next election comes around we can use our vote wisely, having researched the candidates thoroughly. Until then we can sign petitions, write to our local MP, send letters to local and national press, read relevant material, give financially to people, or charities, which support people struggling in the places where there’s conflict, at home and abroad. Support your local food bank, debt crisis centre; write to a missionary in one of the places where life appears to be intolerable. Find out how various missions are supporting those on the ground.

6.  Strap on your armour Ephesians 6:10–18. Don’t be surprised when life feels like a battle. Paul says following Jesus is like that because there’s a spiritual war going on, and we’re in it.  We shouldn’t be surprised when those who’ve refused God’s invitation and rejected the Lordship of Jesus in their lives make choices that don’t align with those we believe are part of his Kingdom rule.  Paul describes pieces of metaphorical protective armour, but that doesn’t mean we withdraw from the realities of living in the contemporary world. The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit are all available to us so we can stand strong and focused.
7. Press on and press in. Don’t give up. Don’t be distracted; keep praying and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. Paul says that after we’re done ‘everything’ we must still stand, and stand strong.

Where we focus will determine how we stand in tough times. Avoid overwhelm by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.