When Life Feels Like “Too Much”: How I Navigate Overwhelm and Anxiety

Brittney Holmes Jackson
Apr 29
3 min read

If you’ve been following my journey, you know I wear a lot of hats — therapist, mental health coach, parenting support guide, writing coach, mom, wife, friend, etc....and somehow still showing up as my full self. Whew!

And if I’m being real? Sometimes it feels like way too much.

Over the past year, balancing business, clients, contracts, personal goals (hello, fitness bootcamp sessions and my personal healing work) has been beautiful — but also incredibly heavy at times. I’ve found myself sitting at my desk, heart racing, mind spinning, feeling like I’m being crushed under the weight of my own dreams.

That’s when anxiety creeps in. And if I’m not careful, it tries to convince me I’m not equipped for all things I prayed for.

What I've Learned About Navigating Overwhelm

Anxiety doesn’t mean you’re failing. It’s a signal — a sacred nudge — that something needs tending to. Here’s what’s been helping me (and what might help you, too):

🌿 Pause and Breathe. When overwhelm hits, it’s easy to jump into fix it mode. This is literally me...everytime. And if we're being real, that simply adds to the anxiety because "we can't control what we can't control." But sometimes the most powerful move is to stop, put a hand over your heart, and breathe deep. Saying a prayer, listening to a song, or reminding myself that this is not my battle helps to slow down my "fix it" spiral.

🌿 Name the Real Fear. Anxious thoughts are often like fog — they blur everything. I use therapeutic writing to clear the air. I may not have time to sit and write, but I will take out my phone in a moment and draft a note that expresses what I am going through. It may look like, "This is so annoying and I’m afraid that..." and I just let the truth pour out. Getting specific helps me tackle what’s actually wrong instead of fighting imaginary battles. It also allows me to see where the "lies" exist and gives me an opportunity to address them head on.

🌿 Simplify the Next Step. Okay so know this, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to fix the whole issue. It's usually an issue you didn't create and therefore you do not have any control over. So instead of trying to conquer the whole mountain, I will ask myself, What’s do I have control over? Maybe it’s sending an email. Maybe it’s taking a nap. Big visions require small, human-sized moves. The ovewhelm I often experience comes from thinking I have to fix everything, versus focusing on one thing at a time.

🌿 Stay Connected to Support. Baby, this has been my "bread and butter." My community is so strong. Husbae. My bestie. My mom and little sis. My BBs. It's been more than I would normally tap into because they show up for me when I don't even think of allowing them space to do so. But here's another reality: Isolation makes anxiety louder. Whether it’s checking in with my personal therapist (because your therapist should have a thearpist...) or talking with trusted friends, I remind myself: I don't have to carry this alone. And neither do you. Tap into your community. Don't have one? Create one...I'll share how in the next post.

🌿 Honor Your Humanity. Healing isn’t performative. While people may watch and judge how it looks from the outside, you can't let that get to you. Life gets messy. I’m learning to hold space for my wins and my most challenging moments without judgment. You deserve that same compassion. BUT you have to give it to yourself first before you can expect it from anyone else.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.Right now, I’m offering:

Therapy services (for Georgia residents)
Mental health coaching (for adults anywhere navigating anxiety, trauma, depression, or life transitions)
Parenting support groups (because raising tiny humans requires a village)
Therapeutic writing workshops and coaching (because your story deserves to be heard and healed)