“ When we experience overstimulation in our everyday lives, it can feel as if we are stuck with no way to get out.”
It was 4:13 on a Tuesday afternoon, and I was already done for the week. You know the feeling you’ re supposed to have at the end of the week? Yet it was only Tuesday. The past two days had included full days of work, with back-to-back meetings, new projects, and a lot of problems to solve. I needed to make decisions about future travel arrangements and summer schedules for my children, plus I had meetings after school with my kids’ teachers. Then when I returned home, I needed to be available for all the emotions of kids who were exhausted after a long day of school, in addition to cooking dinner and doing our evening routine.
I was standing in front of my fridge, which was full of food, yet I couldn’ t think of anything to make for dinner. Truthfully, I didn’ t want to make dinner at all( I secretly wish some magical person would come and make dinner for me). Then one of my children called out,“ Mom!” for the hundredth time since school pickup, with that whining tone that sounds like nails on a chalkboard. I took a deep breath. I was aware of how I was feeling, and I didn’ t want to take it out on them. I answered their questions and requests as patiently as I could, reminding them for the seventh time to start their homework.
Back in the kitchen, I got a message on my phone about a dress-up day at school that had just been announced( and it was in two days). My mind started racing about how I could organize a costume that quickly, feeling frustrated about another thing added to my list of obligations. I was still standing in front of the fridge. My heart started beating faster.
Then my other child called,“ Mom!” and started asking about the new clothes I’ d told them I’ d buy, as they’ d just had another growth spurt and no longer fit in most of their clothes. I explained that I hadn’ t had time to buy them yet. They expressed their frustration with me, and I reminded them again that it was time to start their homework. I went back to the kitchen, trying to work out when I would have time to buy new clothes while at the same time wondering where time was going and how they were growing up so fast. I was still standing in front of the fridge. My heart was beating faster...
Then I heard screaming from the living room. I raced out to find both my kids fighting, one of them in tears and the other yelling. My mind was spinning, trying to figure out how to navigate the situation, while also frustrated that they still hadn’ t started their homework. I was overwhelmed by my exhaustion and my to-do list, and I still had no idea what to make for dinner.
“ When we experience overstimulation in our everyday lives, it can feel as if we are stuck with no way to get out.”
I couldn’ t tell if my head was about to explode or if I was going to burst into tears.
When we experience overstimulation in our
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