Overwhelmed for no reason, is it just me?

[Namechangedandoverwhelmed]

I am probably only 50% as busy now as I was in March 2021, and I was coping just fine back then! Now I am half as busy and totally overwhelmed.

March 2020 me was comfortably cruising at 60mph in 5th gear.
June 2021 me is stuck in 2nd gear and feeling the strain doing 30mph.

How do I switch gear?!?!

(Sorry about the strange analogy - losing the plot a bit...)

I'm completely overwhelmed too, I always find these middle periods worse than full lockdown in a way. It seems harder to be trying to do things within covid rules (or not wanting to do things) then just not being able to do them at all.

Youre not the only one. Am in a similar position, and I'm struggling. Have just referred myself back to therapy, actually, as can feel my OCD traits that are well controlled generally, edging in.

Generally I find the period of time AFTER the greatest stress/pressure to be much harder than when Im in the thick of it. I'm a brilliant coper under extreme pressure - can keep all the balls in the air, and a smile on my face - but AFTER that, is when I find it hard, and I start to "look" for issues/catastrophise small small small things/cant cope with routine/mundane domestic issues until I have a sort of mini crescendo of anxiety, and go for a few therapy top up sessions.

Personally I'm not sure whether you can force the switch - I know I can't. I just have to let it all play itself out.

I do find that eating better and exercising helps though. As does cutting out alcohol and cutting back on caffeine. All the boring stuff I roll my eyes at, then do and feel much better.

for you. It's tough right now. It'll get better.