The Fog of Overwhelm: The Trance of Modern Life – Episode 507

A few years ago, I found myself driving through the worst fog I had ever seen. I couldn’t see the road. I couldn’t see the lane lines. All I could see were the two faint red brake lights of the car ahead of me.

Pulling over didn’t feel safe. Stopping didn’t feel safe. So, all I could do was grip the steering wheel, follow those dim red lights, and hope the driver in front of me knew where he was going.

I had no clarity. No bearings. No point of reference. I was feeling very anxious.

I was overwhelmed by the fog.

 

 

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And honestly, that’s how modern life feels for a lot of people.

We wake up already behind. Emails. Bills. Deadlines. Traffic. Texts. Notifications. Responsibilities. Decisions. Noise. Pressure. Worry. One demand after another after another.

• Are the tires on your car okay?
• Did you call your mother back?
• What are you making for dinner?
• Did you pay that bill?
• Schedule the physical?
• Answer that email?
• Fix the faucet?
• Prepare for retirement?

By the time many people finally lie down at night, they’re mentally exhausted but somehow still unable to relax.

This is the fog of overwhelm.

And for many people, it’s no longer occasional. It’s become a way of life.

Understanding overwhelm may be one of the most important things you can do for your mental and emotional well-being.

In hypnotherapy, we talk about something called message units — all the bits of information, stress, stimulation, emotion, and input constantly flowing into your awareness.

Your mind is designed to handle these message units.

It has the ability to deal with what’s important and filter out the stuff that’s not important.

However, your mind can only process so much at one time. Like a cup, it has a capacity, it has a limit.

When there are too many message units coming in, the cup overflows, and the mind begins to lose its ability to cope effectively.

And once that happens, your critical thinking starts to weaken.

Your nervous system shifts into survival mode.

Fight or flight takes over.

At that point, you become what we call hyper-suggestible — highly susceptible to whatever messages coming into your mind.

In other words:

Overwhelm puts you into a trance.

Not the relaxing kind where your friendly hypnotherapist Ted Moreno gently guides you into positive change.

I’m talking about the kind where your inner dialogue becomes:
“I can’t do this.”
“I’m exhausted.”
“I’m trapped.”
“I’m angry.”
“I’ll never catch up.”
“I can’t take one more thing.”

And because you’re hyper-suggestible in that state, those thoughts bypass your normal filters and sink deeper into the subconscious mind.

• Reinforcing negative emotions
• Reinforcing stress
• Reinforcing limiting beliefs

That’s why overwhelm is so dangerous.

When people are overwhelmed, they become easier to discourage, easier to manipulate, easier to scare, and easier to program with fear and negativity.

And because stress usually accompanies overwhelm, the internal conversations we have with ourselves tend to be overwhelmingly negative.

So, we end up creating a self-reinforcing cycle:
Stress creates overwhelm.
Overwhelm creates negative thinking.
Negative thinking creates more stress.

Round and round we go.

People respond to overwhelm in different ways.

Some shut down completely and feel like crying.
Some become anxious and reactive.
Some become irritable and short-tempered.
Others feel mentally foggy, disoriented, distracted, or emotionally numb.

The end result is the same:
We become ineffective in dealing with life.

We procrastinate.
We avoid things.
We lose focus.
We stop being proactive and become reactive instead.

And if you look around honestly, you’ll see that this has become part of our modern lifestyle.

Millions of people are walking around every day in a state of low-grade hypnosis created by chronic stress and overwhelm.

This is trance of modern life.

What can we do about it?

The good news is that getting out of overwhelm often begins with very basic forms of self-care — simple things that help calm the nervous system and restore clarity.

Here are a few powerful ways to stay out of the fog:

1. Sleep

Sleep is how the brain resets itself. Every day your mind fills with pressure, tension,  emotions, and stimulation. Sleep empties the cup. (Check out Episode 361 7 Tips for Good Sleep)

Protect your sleep schedule. Reduce caffeine late in the day. Put away electronics before bed. Give your nervous system a chance to recover.

2. Eat

Some people become anxious and overwhelmed simply because their blood sugar crashes. Your brain uses enormous amounts of energy.

If you’re exhausted, foggy, irritable, or unable to focus, sometimes the answer is not psychological — sometimes you simply need nourishment. Keep an eye (or ear) out for my upcoming podcast on the impact of low blood sugar.

3. Take Breaks

Your mind was not designed to run at full speed nonstop.

Even short breaks improve focus, productivity, and emotional regulation. Work intensely for a period of time, then pause. Breathe. Walk around. Reset.

4. Move Your Body

Exercise helps discharge stress and tension from both the mind and body.

You don’t have to become a marathon runner. Sometimes simply standing up, stretching, or taking a walk can shift your state dramatically.

5. Practice Mindfulness

Meditation, yoga, breathing exercises, and mindfulness practices help train your mind to slow down instead of spiraling outward into chaos. (Meditation: Is It for You?)

6. Focus on One Thing at a Time

Multitasking creates mental fragmentation.

Your mind works best when your attention is focused and intentional:
First this. Then that. (Episode 341 Stop Multitasking)

7. Make a Plan

One of my favorite quotes from Jim Rohn is:
“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”

A simple daily plan creates structure, direction, and clarity. Make a plan the night before. Keep it simple: 8 things you want to do or accomplish.

8. Keep Your Vices in Check

Alcohol and marijuana may temporarily numb overwhelm, but they can also lower mental clarity and increase suggestibility and emotional instability afterward. (Episode 366 The Hypnosis of Alcohol and Marijuana)

Pay attention to what helps you feel clear — and what keeps you stuck in the fog.

9. Count Yourself Out of the Trance

When you notice yourself spiraling into overwhelm, interrupt the pattern physically.

Say out loud:
“1-2-3-4-5, eyes open, wide awake.”

Clap your hands. Rub your palms together. Take a deep breath. Get back into your body instead of staying trapped in your head.

It sounds simple, but it works.

In closing:

Take a look at your life and ask yourself:
Where am I overwhelming myself unnecessarily?

What can I simplify?
What can I slow down?
What can I let go of?

Because clarity doesn’t happen by accident.

You have to protect it.

I sincerely thank each and every one of you for tuning into today’s show. I know how precious your time is, and I truly appreciate you spending these moments with me.

Here’s a couple of quotes for you:

“The more tranquil a person becomes, the greater is their success, their influence, their power for good.” — James Allen

“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes… including you.” — Anne Lamott

 

 

If I can help you deal with overwhelm and any overwhelming transitions going on in your life, please reach out to me and request a complimentary phone consultation. I’m located in the Pasadena area of Southern California where I see clients in person, and I also work with clients over Zoom.

Visit TedMoreno.com/contact to learn more or request a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

And until our next episode… keep moving toward clarity.