Ask Jigsaw: Everything is overwhelming

Friday, 27 November 2020

I just feel everything is so overwhelming atm, like so much expectations and pressures coming from everywhere. A lot of the time I feel like I cant cope with things everyone else can deal with. I’m just slacking in everything and I sometimes feel like failure.

I tend to jump to the worst case scenario really quickly and I’m worried I might do something impulsive sometime. I don’t really know what to do or how I’ll stop feeling this way, i always convince myself facing up to stuff is too hard to do. Do u guys know what I should do? Thank you 🙂

-Aishlinn

Hi Aishlinn,

It is such a difficult place to be in when it feels like a lot is expected of us and that we are getting pressure from every angle. When we are feeling overwhelmed, it’s hard to start anything and that can lead to feeling like a failure.

Claudia

Jigsaw clinician

Sometimes self-criticism can seem like it’s there to motivate you, but studies show it actually does the opposite.

Lots of us fall into unhelpful thinking patterns like jumping to the worst case scenario. This way of thinking can take up head space and be exhausting. The Mindshift App explores different thinking style and might be helpful in challenging those thinking styles. It is also a good idea to look at different types of relaxation to help give yourself a break from the thoughts.

Be kind to yourself

As you know, we’re living in challenging and uncertain times at the moment due to Covid-19, and it has affected us all in different ways. Keep an eye on how you talk to yourself. Sometimes self-criticism can seem like it’s there to motivate you, but studies show it actually does the opposite. Try to focus on what achieved you’ve that day, rather than the things you didn’t do.

Claudia

Jigsaw clinician

With more restrictions and less structure to our day, it is easy for small things to become really challenging

Routine

Covid-19 has turned our usual routines upside down, and this has had a huge impact on motivation levels. With more restrictions and less structure to our day, it is easy for small things to become really challenging. There are lots of ways to rebuild a routine so that we can do the work we need to do, and to enjoy activities too.

Pressure

In terms of feeling pressure to be the best, it can be helpful to understand where this is coming from. It might be external, coming from parents or teachers or internal pressure we place on ourselves. We need to be aware of the stories we tell ourselves about success and failure, winning and losing. Do we say things to ourselves we would never say to a friend or teammate? Remember, no one can be the best at everything all of the time.

Best of luck with it and take care,

Claudia

Jigsaw clinician