The idea for this blog resulted from a study-meeting with young women who also
shared concerns for family and friends. Being overwhelmed is a common problem, especially at this time of the year. From them and others, I’ve compiled a mere list of 14 common frustrations. Check those that apply, then add your own.
Medical: whether surgeries, cancers of various types, dental problems, births—many more.
Financial: family, single, senior, business, etc.
Emotional: your own situations or problems or deal with others in your family or friends.
Volunteer care giver to one or more.
Tragic deaths and other losses of family and friends.
Saying "yes" or "I'll take care of it" to requests too quickly.
Addictions. Considering allowing a relative in hard times to move in.
Age related decisions-downsizing, etc.
Serious talks needed with a family member or friend.
Pet care and concerns
Noisy neighbors concerns
Problems with relationships with spouse, with children, club, work, church or community.
The pile-up of even pleasant activities over-crowding your calendar
Break-up of family and friends or maybe your own.
Recommendations:
Many people experience overwhelming situations as they lose everything because of hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, fires and other weather related occurrences. They need unbelievable physical, financial and emotional support over long periods of time. You can encourage, listen, and be there for them.
Parents with little children also need much constant encouragement and assistance minus criticism. The same for parents of several teens.
People who cannot find employment to match their training live in disappointment along with anger. They, too, need caring and concerned listeners.
My, mother is in the throes of dementia and says to me “You’re my sister, right?” Another, “My Dad doesn’t know me but he knows I love him.” The nurse owner of an Assisted Living relates to the family. “Your brother doesn’t’ want to be here so he refuses to call us by name hoping you will rescue him from us.” Stories like these flood our communities and weigh on our hearts.
Interestingly, the symptoms accompanying these Overwhelming concerns often began with the letter F: fear, finicky, foreboding, frantic, frazzled, friction, frustration.
Now, I ask you, my blog reader-family, how you have dealt with concerns like these or how you would suggest people handle overwhelming situations? After you read my approach, please add in the comments what has worked for you. I’m always eager to learn from you and pass on workable management.
With just these few illustrations I’m offering a few suggestions which are not exhaustive by any means.
1. Sharing with others is a good beginning and maybe a partial solution in handling the stress.
2. Resist the urge to correct the dementia-burdened relative who probably will not remember the facts. Be conscious of the changing of their personalities and behavior. Resisting those changes will only bring you more stress. Questioning the relative’s complaints will not necessarily present reliable information. Just reply “I will check into it, Aunt Mary”. Always respect your relative and be gentle.
3. Some people just decide to grin and bear up under insurmountable problems. Works sometimes.
4. I recommend making a list of all the frustrations bothering you. Then prioritize them into importance.
5. Focus on one problem at a time. Block out all the rest. Find someone to speak with, professional or a trusted friend. Often, solution and relief will be evident as you relate it to another. The truism is “Acknowledging a problem is half the solution”.
6. God has provided the promise of His presence also called Overshadowed by His Mighty Love. Learning to hand over to God every concern we have---little or big—as soon as it appears on our radar is the path for experiencing not only peace in all these concerns but wisdom in decision making.
7. Remember, God regards us his Beloved Children. Phil. 4:4-7 is my favorite help. Verse 4.“Rejoice in the Lord Always…Verse 6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything…present your requests to God. Verse 7. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” We can depend on always being overshadowed by God, who loves us.
Happy New Year!