When your mind will not slow down

A mind that will not settle can make an ordinary afternoon feel like an emergency.

Give your body a short reset

Before you try to think clearly, slow what you can feel. Breathe in for four counts and out for six, five times. Put both feet on the floor. Name five things you can see in the room. A longer exhale tells the body it can stand down for a moment.

Choose one thing, not everything

Write the worries down if you can. Circle the one you can act on today: a message, a meal, a plan for the morning. Leave the rest on the page. If the list is only things you cannot control, that is a sign to share it with someone, not to carry it alone.

Need someone to talk to? Call CIPUH at 2919-9000 — free, confidential, 24/7. A trained First Listener can help you slow down and find a next step.