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Feeling scattered or stuck in anxiety? These simple steps to manage daily overwhelm can help you ground your mind, calm your body, and regain a sense of control. You don’t need a total life overhaul—just a few simple steps to manage daily overwhelm and move through your day with more ease and clarity.

Anxiety Isn’t the Enemy—It’s a Messenger: 5 Surprisingly Simple Steps to Manage Daily Overwhelm

Most people think anxiety is the enemy—something to fight off, push down, or hide from. But what if we told you anxiety was actually trying to help?


Anxiety is your body’s built-in alarm system, tuned to protect you from threat and alert you to stress. But in today’s fast-paced, always-on culture, your nervous system may be firing off false alarms constantly. When the system is overloaded, everyday worries can feel overwhelming—causing tension, irritability, sleep disruption, and a chronic sense of dread.

The good news? You don’t need to overhaul your life to feel better. With the right tools, anxiety can become something you respond to—not something you react to.



Here are five surprisingly simple, science-backed steps to begin managing daily anxiety in real-time:


1. Name It to Tame It


The first step to calming anxious feelings is to acknowledge them—without judgment.

When you label what you’re feeling (e.g., "I’m feeling overwhelmed," or "This feels like fear"), you activate your brain’s language and reasoning center—the prefrontal cortex—and calm activity in the amygdala, the part responsible for triggering anxiety responses.


This strategy, known as affect labeling, has been supported by neuroscience research. UCLA studies found that simply naming an emotion reduces its intensity. Instead of spiraling or numbing out, naming what you feel allows you to stay grounded and curious.


Try this: “I notice my chest feels tight, and I’m worrying about the meeting. This is anxiety, not danger.”


This simple shift creates distance between you and the emotion, which gives you more choice in how you respond.


2. Stick to the Rule of 3


When you’re anxious, even small tasks can feel impossible. A cluttered to-do list only adds to the pressure.


That’s where the Rule of 3 comes in: Start each day by writing down just three things you want to accomplish. Not a massive checklist. Not a long-term plan. Just three doable goals.

This technique helps:


  • Reduce overwhelm by limiting your focus

  • Build momentum through quick wins

  • Remind your brain that progress—not perfection—is the goal


Example:


  1. Respond to two emails

  2. Take a walk during lunch

  3. Set a 10-minute timer to tidy up your space


The Rule of 3 helps you reclaim control and creates a sense of achievement that quiets anxiety's “you’re falling behind” narrative.


3. Interrupt the Spiral (with Your Senses)


Anxiety pulls you into the future: What if this happens? What if I mess up? What if it never gets better?


The antidote? Ground yourself in the present moment.


The 5-4-3-2-1 Grounding Technique is a mindfulness tool that engages your five senses to stop racing thoughts and bring your nervous system back into balance.


Try this right now:


  • 5 things you can see

  • 4 things you can touch

  • 3 things you hear

  • 2 things you can smell

  • 1 thing you can taste


By focusing on your environment, you short-circuit the anxiety spiral and anchor your awareness in what’s real—right here, right now.


It’s especially useful in moments of panic, overstimulation, or feeling “disconnected from your body.”


4. Create a 90-Second Pause


Here's a fascinating fact: The body’s initial chemical response to stress lasts about 90 seconds. After that, it’s your thoughts that continue fueling the fire.


This means if you can interrupt the first 90 seconds, you can stop the reaction from growing into full-blown panic.


Try pausing before you act:


  • Step outside for fresh air

  • Take 10 slow breaths

  • Splash cold water on your face

  • Stretch your shoulders and neck


This doesn’t mean ignoring what you feel—it means creating space between the stimulus and your response.


Example: Instead of sending that angry email immediately, walk away, take 90 seconds, and check back in with your wise mind. You may still want to send it—or not. But now you’ve responded intentionally.


5. Treat Yourself Like a Friend


Anxiety often comes with a harsh inner critic: “You’re weak. You should’ve handled this better. Why can’t you just be normal?”


Here’s the truth: If you spoke to a friend the way you speak to yourself, you wouldn’t have many left.


Practicing self-compassion helps regulate anxiety by reducing shame, increasing resilience, and calming the nervous system.


Try saying:


  • “This is a hard moment, and I’m not alone in this.”

  • “It’s okay to feel anxious. I can still take a small step forward.”

  • “I’m doing the best I can with what I have today.”


Research shows self-compassion isn’t soft or lazy—it’s one of the strongest predictors of emotional resilience.



Final Thoughts


You don’t have to eliminate anxiety to live well with it. These five small, science-supported practices give your brain and body more flexibility to respond with calm and clarity.

Over time, you’ll begin to build emotional strength—and anxiety will lose its power to control your day.


Now Ask Yourself…


What would change in your life if, instead of fearing your anxiety, you began to listen to it?


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  • Writer: Julie Barris | Crisis Counselor | Therapist-in-Training
    Julie Barris | Crisis Counselor | Therapist-in-Training
  • Mar 26

Borderline Personality Disorder and stress often intertwine, creating a cycle where intense emotional reactions make everyday stressors feel overwhelming. As individuals with BPD experience heightened sensitivity, even small triggers can escalate into profound emotional turmoil, amplifying their stress levels.

How Borderline Personality Disorder and Stress Intertwine – And What You Can Do About It

Mental health is a topic that's been gaining more attention in recent years, and for good reason. Among the many conditions that affect people’s emotional well-being, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and stress often go hand-in-hand, creating a cycle of emotional turmoil that can feel impossible to break. But understanding how these two interact can be the first step toward taking control of your mental health.


For individuals with BPD, stress isn't just a passing inconvenience—it can feel like a tidal wave, pushing them toward overwhelming emotional reactions and behaviors. But here’s the good news: the daily practice of self-reminders and mindfulness can be an effective way to regain balance and manage the impact of stress.


Borderline Personality Disorder and Stress: A Tight Grip


Borderline Personality Disorder is marked by intense emotional reactions, unstable relationships, and a fear of abandonment. People with BPD often feel emotions more intensely than others, which can make dealing with everyday stress an uphill battle. The stress response in someone with BPD can escalate quickly—what seems like a small trigger can provoke an overwhelming emotional reaction, sending them into a spiral.


Add to that the natural stressors of life—work, relationships, financial pressures—and it’s easy to see how stress can compound, making it harder to manage BPD symptoms.

But, why does stress feel so much more intense for those with BPD? It’s because the emotional regulation systems in the brain can be less responsive, making it harder for individuals to return to a state of calm once triggered. This heightened emotional sensitivity is what makes stress not just uncomfortable, but often unbearable.


The Power of Self-Reminders: A Tool for Regaining Control


The good news is that while BPD and stress can feel overwhelming, there are strategies to help manage both. One of the most powerful tools in this journey is the simple practice of self-reminders. By incorporating daily affirmations and grounding techniques into your routine, you can start to reshape how you respond to stress and difficult emotions.

Here are a few self-reminder strategies that can make a difference:


  1. Start with Grounding Techniques: When stress begins to build, grounding techniques help pull you back into the present moment. A quick but effective method is the 5-4-3-2-1 exercise, where you identify:

    • 5 things you can see,

    • 4 things you can touch,

    • 3 things you can hear,

    • 2 things you can smell,

    • 1 thing you can taste. This exercise helps distract the mind from stressors and reconnect you with your environment.


  2. Affirmations for Emotional Stability: Remind yourself daily that your emotions do not define you. Simple affirmations like, “I am allowed to feel, but I can also choose how to respond,” can be grounding. Write these reminders on sticky notes, set them as phone notifications, or say them out loud when you feel stressed.


  3. Mindful Breathing: Stress often leads to shallow, rapid breathing, which can further fuel anxiety. Practice deep breathing (inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 6) to calm your nervous system. This simple action sends a message to your brain that you are in control, even if emotions are running high.


  4. Daily Reflection and Journaling: At the end of each day, take a moment to reflect on what went well and what triggered stress. Journaling about your feelings can help you gain clarity, track patterns, and understand the sources of your stress. Writing can be a powerful tool to break down overwhelming emotions and make them more manageable.


  5. Embrace Self-Compassion: One of the toughest things for people with BPD is self-criticism. Being kind to yourself and practicing self-compassion can be a game-changer. Remind yourself that it’s okay to struggle and that recovery is a journey, not a race. Acknowledge your progress, no matter how small, and be gentle with yourself when things feel hard.


The Key to Breaking the Cycle: Consistency


Like any new habit, the key to success with self-reminders is consistency. It’s not about waiting for the “perfect moment” or expecting immediate results; it’s about integrating these practices into your daily life so they become automatic. When self-reminders become second nature, you’ll find yourself more capable of handling stress, reducing emotional reactivity, and creating space for healing.


Conclusion:


Living with BPD and managing stress may feel like an endless battle at times, but by practicing self-reminders and taking small, intentional steps every day, you can gradually build resilience. Each reminder is a step closer to mastering your emotions and breaking the cycle of stress that often defines your experience.


Question to Ponder: What’s one self-reminder you can implement today that will help you manage your stress and BPD symptoms more effectively?


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  • Feb 13

ACT can help you embrace imperfection by teaching you to accept your thoughts and feelings without judgment, allowing you to move forward despite your inner critic. By focusing on your values instead of perfection, ACT empowers you to live a more authentic and meaningful life.

Breaking Free from Perfectionism: How ACT Can Help You Embrace Imperfection

Perfectionism. It’s that ever-present voice in your head, pushing you to do better, be better, and never, ever make mistakes. It’s the driving force behind unrealistic standards, endless self-criticism, and chronic stress. For many, perfectionism isn’t just a trait – it’s a way of life. It leads to burnout, anxiety, and depression, and often robs us of the ability to fully enjoy life. But what if there was a way to break free from the grips of perfectionism and learn to accept ourselves, flaws and all?


What is Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)?


Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) offers a powerful, evidence-based approach to tackling perfectionism by helping individuals develop a healthier relationship with their thoughts, emotions, and actions. Instead of striving to eliminate perfectionistic tendencies altogether, ACT focuses on accepting them and learning to live a meaningful life despite them.


Mindfulness, Acceptance, and Behavioral Change: The Core of ACT


ACT is rooted in mindfulness, acceptance, and behavioral change. It encourages individuals to notice their perfectionistic thoughts without judgment, to accept them rather than trying to control or eliminate them. By fostering a non-judgmental awareness of one’s internal experience, ACT helps people break the cycle of striving for unattainable ideals. But it doesn’t stop there – ACT also teaches individuals to clarify their values and take action based on those values, even when faced with discomfort or fear of imperfection.


Defusion: Letting Go of Perfectionistic Thoughts


One of the key components of ACT is defusion – a technique that teaches individuals to separate themselves from their thoughts. In the case of perfectionism, this might mean learning to recognize thoughts like "If I’m not perfect, I’m a failure" and realizing that these are just thoughts, not truths. Through defusion, people can learn to observe their perfectionistic thoughts without allowing them to control their actions.



Cognitive Diffusion: Changing Your Relationship with Thoughts


Another important technique in ACT is cognitive diffusion, which involves changing the relationship with your thoughts rather than trying to change the thoughts themselves. For perfectionists, this means accepting that imperfections are a part of being human and learning to move forward despite the discomfort that may arise. ACT encourages individuals to commit to actions that align with their values, regardless of the internal pressure to be perfect.


Taking Action: Aligning with Your Values, Not Perfection


The true power of ACT lies in its ability to help individuals take action despite their perfectionistic tendencies. By focusing on values-based behavior rather than perfectionistic standards, ACT helps individuals feel more in control of their lives, even when things aren’t perfect. This approach not only alleviates the pain that comes with perfectionism but also fosters self-compassion, allowing individuals to embrace their imperfections as part of their human experience.


How to Begin Using ACT in Your Life


So, how can you begin to apply ACT in your own life? Start by practicing mindfulness, observing your perfectionistic thoughts without judgment, and reflecting on your values. Ask yourself: “What truly matters to me?” Once you’re clear on your values, commit to taking small, imperfect actions that align with them. Over time, you’ll notice that perfectionism no longer holds as much power over you.



Embrace Imperfection and Live Fully


As you embark on the journey of self-acceptance, remember this: perfection is a myth, and striving for it often leads to more harm than good. By embracing your imperfections, you open yourself up to a richer, more meaningful life.


Are you ready to stop letting perfectionism control your life and start embracing your authentic self?


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