It Makes Sense That This Feels Like Too Much

There is a particular kind of strain that comes from being asked to carry on with ordinary life while witnessing extraordinary harm. We’re expected to answer emails, show up to work, plan dinners, and keep routines intact- all while watching systems fail, people suffer, and institutions that are suppose to protect us causing damage.

That dissonance alone can be destabilizing.

Your nervous system isn’t confused; it’s responding appropriately to a world that feels unsafe, unjust, and overwhelming.

For many people, this shows up as heaviness, numbness, irritability, grief without a clear endpoint, or a low-grade sense of dread. Others feel guilt for moments of joy, or pressure to “stay informed” while feeling increasingly depleted.

None of this means you’re weak or doing something wrong. It means you’re human, and you’re paying attention.

You are allowed to feel how heavy this is. You’re allowed to say, “This is too much today.” You’re allowed to care deeply and still need rest.

Holding awareness does not require self-erasure.

Some gentle ways to care for yourself during this time:

Lean into your community.

This matters more than ever. Talk with people who can hold complexity. Share meals. Sit quietly together. Text someone just to say, “This is heavy today.” Co-regulation is powerful medicine.

Let your emotions be valid, not productive.

Grief, anger, fear, and confusion don’t need to be turned into action immediately to be worthy. Sometimes the most honest response is to feel, name it, and allow it to move through you without fixing it.

Choose small acts of care and meaning.

You don’t have to save the world today. Lighting a candle, taking a walk, holding a boundary, tending to something living, or offering kindness where you can- these are not insignificant.

Stay connected.

Keep telling the truth about how this feels. Let yourself be held by others when you can. And remember: you don’t have to carry this by yourself.