Last year, everything just kept going from bad to worse.
My partner and I bought our first property, which was meant to be a new beginning and something exciting. But it didn’t turn out that way. From almost day one, the problems began.
There were leaks, water damage, and eventually part of the ceiling collapsed. At the same time, we were dealing with car issues, and then the old cast iron guttering fell down and nearly hit me in the head.
It was one thing after another, and it felt relentless.
I struggled to sleep because there was so much on my mind. Even when I tried to switch off, my brain just kept going. I’ve been through difficult times before, but this felt different.
It was snowball effect where everything kept stacking up.
If you’re going through something similar right now, where it feels like everything is piling on top of you, I want to share a few things that may help. These are the same ideas I talk through with clients when life feels chaotic and overwhelming.
If you prefer watching, you can find the video version below.
You Can’t Fix Everything at Once
When everything is going wrong at the same time, your brain naturally goes into fix mode. It starts trying to solve everything all at once, as if there’s some way to bring immediate order to the chaos.
But that’s not how it works.
Trying to fix everything at once usually makes things worse. It creates more pressure, more stress, and a constant feeling of being behind or not doing enough.
What actually helps is slowing things down and focusing on one problem at a time. That’s what we had to do with the house. We tackled the biggest issues first and worked our way down. It wasn’t perfect, and it wasn’t quick, but it was manageable.
Each time we resolved something, it created a bit of space. A bit of relief. And that made it easier to move on to the next thing.
You don’t need to solve everything. You just need to take the next step.
That shift alone can take something that feels overwhelming and turn it into something you can actually handle. It’s also a good example of slowing down instead of trying to do everything at once, which I explore more in my article Doing vs Being: How to Find the Balance.
This Won’t Last Forever
When you’re in the middle of a stressful period, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking it’s never going to end. It starts to feel like this is just how life is now.
But it isn’t.
Everything is temporary, even when it doesn’t feel like it. Situations change, problems get resolved, and life moves forward in ways we often can’t predict at the time.
You’ve probably heard the phrase “this too shall pass.” It can sound cliché, but there’s a reason it’s stuck around. It points to something important.
What you’re experiencing right now is not permanent.
That doesn’t mean it will disappear overnight, and it doesn’t take away from how difficult things might feel. But it’s a reminder that you won’t be stuck in this exact situation forever.
Sometimes just holding onto that idea can make things feel a little lighter.
There’s Growth Inside the Struggle
This is something that’s hard to see when you’re in the middle of it. When everything is going wrong, growth is probably the last thing on your mind.
But when things settle, and you look back, it often becomes clearer.
Looking back at everything that happened with the house, I realised there were positives hidden in the experience. I learned what red flags to look out for if we ever buy another property. I picked up DIY skills I didn’t have before. We found reliable tradespeople we can trust going forward.
But more than anything, I learned about my own resilience.
I saw what I was capable of dealing with, even when it didn’t feel like it at the time. That’s something you don’t learn when everything is going smoothly.
Think back to a difficult time in your own life. What did you learn from it? What did it show you about yourself?
Often, even though it didn’t feel like it at the time, those experiences shape you the most.
Growth doesn’t come from comfort. It comes from getting through what you didn’t think you could handle.
I talk more about this idea in my article Why Pain is Your Greatest Teacher.
Be Kind to Yourself During the Chaos
When life feels overwhelming, it’s easy to become harsh with yourself. You might think you should be coping better. You might judge yourself for feeling anxious, tired, emotional, or unable to stay on top of everything.
But of course you feel overwhelmed. You’re human.
If several difficult things happen at once, your mind and body are going to react. You may struggle to sleep. You may feel irritable. You may find it hard to focus. This doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means your system is under pressure.
During these times, self-compassion matters too. I cover more about this in my article How to Be Compassionate Towards Yourself.
Instead of asking, “Why am I not handling this better?” try asking, “What do I need right now?”
Maybe you need rest. Maybe you need support. Maybe you need to write everything down so it’s not all spinning around in your head. Maybe you need to stop trying to solve everything tonight and come back to it tomorrow.
You don’t need to handle chaos perfectly. You just need to get through it with as much care as possible.
A Different Way to Approach Tough Periods
When everything feels like it’s falling apart, it’s natural to panic, overthink, and try to control everything. But often, this makes you feel worse.
A more helpful approach is to simplify things.
Focus on what’s in front of you. Deal with one problem at a time. Remind yourself that this phase won’t last forever. And trust that even if it feels messy, you’re still moving through it.
You also don’t need to have all the answers straight away. Sometimes clarity comes after you take the first step, not before.
So write down what’s happening. Decide what needs your attention first. Ask for help where you can. Then take the next manageable step.
That’s enough.
Final Thoughts
If you’re going through a tough period right now, where everything feels overwhelming, remember a few things.
You don’t have to fix everything at once.
This situation won’t last forever.
And there’s something you’ll take from this, even if you can’t see it yet.
These moments are difficult. There’s no denying that. But they also pass, and they often leave you stronger, more capable, and more aware of what you can handle.
What helps you when everything feels like it’s going wrong? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Take care of yourselves,
Chris from Mindful Way to Be
