Bottomless Pit?

If you're feeling overwhelmed and stressed out, like you're sinking in a bottomless pit, I've been there. I know what it's like to feel the darkness closing in. But I've also learned five key things that can help.

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Like every person in the world, there are times when all the to do lists, all the pressures of work and home life, all the messiness of relationships with family and friends, all the unexpected things that happen, all just feel like it's too much. Overwhelming. And in these moments, I often feel like I'm drowning in a bottomless pit. So, what helps me in these times?

1 - Knowledge

What has helped in the past - and what still helps now - is the knowledge that although the pit might be deep, it actually does have a bottom (even if it is 65 feet deep!). It is so easy to get swallowed in the feelings of overwhelm, but the truth that there is a bottom to this pit brings comfort. When everything is falling apart, understanding there is an end - even if it's not visible - helps get through the intensity and depth of emotion.

2 - Perspective

The perspective from the bottom of the pit is tainted by the darkness, and is often made up of confusion, overwhelm, anger, sadness or grief, and so much more. Yet there are other people around who have a different perspective. Talking to a trusted friend or colleague, a family member, or a counselor, can be helpful. As they listen, they are often able to give a different view to what is occurring. They may have new ways of thinking to consider, new insights that change the emotional landscape, new information or ideas that help the brain and body to process what is going on. That is, they act as a rescue crew, throwing down a rescue line.

3 - Choice

The thing with a rescue line is that we have a choice to whether we take it or not. We can choose to stay where we are, in the darkness. Or we can choose to take hold of the rescue line, and begin to climb out. It is completely up to us!

4 - Work

We live in a society that values good return for little investment, but there's no way out of the pit without doing some work. It may be learning to be assertive and say 'no' to extra demands. It may be taking time and space to work through emotions. It may be seeking professional support to work through past events that constantly hold back. It may be cutting off relationship with toxic people or employment to establish healthier boundaries. Regardless of the specific action we need to take, it will take some effort to begin to change old habits and learn new ways.

5 - Time

Along with effort, allowing ourselves time to cement new knowledge, explore new perspectives, make choices, and work towards new habits is important. The old saying, 'Rome wasn't built in a day' is true here too. Climbing the rescue line out of the pit is rarely a 'quick fix', but the investment of time spent to make the climb is always worth it!

In the end, bottomless pits are not bottomless. This knowledge, combined with new perspectives, personal choice, expending effort, and taking time, is a strategy that has helped me to climb out of some very deep pits.

What about you?

Have you ever experienced a bottomless pit? What was helpful to you in climbing out?

Are you struggling in a bottomless pit right now? If so, what action can you take to begin to climb out?

I would love to hear your experiences - please leave a comment below.