The good news is that ways to deal with life’s waves and emotional currents can be learned and practised, so they don’t have to overwhelm us. This can occur in any life domain including work and careers, personal lives, relationships or individual general health and wellbeing. Sometimes, life can even feel like we are caught up in an overwhelming current of emotion. Some are small while others are larger waves, which hit us unexpectedly and can knock us off-kilter. These thoughts are just like the ripples in the ocean they never stop but they always move on past us. Sometimes, we can feel overwhelmed with distressing feelings, physical unease or unwanted, judgmental thoughts, particularly in quieter times or when feeling under stress. The worst that will happen is that I may be 100 metres further down the beach but I won’t have tired myself out and I won’t have drowned”. Then, when I’m out of the current I will swim into shore and be with the people I care about. While I lay back I can even notice the feeling of the sun on my face, the sound of the gulls, the smell of the sea, the sensation of buoyancy and the taste of salt on my lips as I allow myself to think about the things I am grateful for.

I don’t swim against it, instead I either let myself go with it until it brings me back to shore or I swim sideways instead, without tiring myself. Sometimes, after I float for a while I look up and can see I’ve been carried away by the current and I know what to do. When larger ripples or waves surprise me I accept this, knowing that the moment will pass and the uncomfortableness I feel will not last forever. “I swim out and just lie on my back in the ocean, allowing ripples to pass under me.

This is how one person describes their experience of staying afloat: But to an accomplished swimmer, lying flat on the water comes naturally and easily. To a poor swimmer, doing “nothing” in such a situation would be counter-intuitive, in fact they just wouldn’t think of it. One thing is for sure, the more we struggle the faster we will sink! Sometimes our mind might even tell us that drowning might be a good way to relieve our distress. Our mind might be telling us there’s no way back, our breathing can get faster and as we struggle to stay afloat by treading water or trying to swim against the current, it can feel exhausting and terrifying. If we don’t know what to do we can feel tired, frightened, exhausted and alone. When we get overwhelmed with distressing emotions or unwanted thoughts it’s a bit like being brought out to sea by a strong current into the middle of the ocean. 18th Aug 2021 Staying Afloat What to do when feeling emotionally “all at sea”

Staying afloat