Why You Can’t Move Forward (And How to Fix It).

Feeling overwhelmed is a special kind of hell. Your to-do list gets longer, your motivation gets shorter, and you start spiraling. You scroll endlessly, snack mindlessly, maybe even jerk off—not out of desire, but out of habit. Out of obligation to the routines that usually make you feel better. But nothing works. Not this time.

That was me. Nothing worked. The only thing that did? Talking to people.

I told them what was going on with me, and they became the voice of reason that could reach the part of me that already knew what to do but was too overloaded to think straight. It reminded me that real connection isn’t just about socializing—it’s about being seen and understood. When you feel disconnected from yourself and others, everything feels harder. (Here’s why.) I wasn’t looking for advice, necessarily—I was looking for clarity. Someone to break through the fog and remind me of what I already knew but couldn’t access through the noise. It's not unlike the role religion has played for many people—offering structure, guidance, and a framework to process life’s uncertainties. Even if you don’t subscribe to religious beliefs, the principle remains the same: sometimes we need something outside of ourselves to help us see clearly. (Here’s more on how belief systems shape modern decision-making.)

Pride Will Keep You Stuck.

I’ve felt stuck for about five years now. Treading water, kinda keeping things afloat, but never really moving forward. In 2025, I’m making huge changes to catch up on all I failed to do. No more waiting, no more pretending I can figure it all out alone.

For a long time, I convinced myself I had to handle things on my own. That if I just pushed harder, figured it out, and kept everything under control, I wouldn’t need help. I did this because, as a kid, help wasn't often offered to me—and honestly, even then, I was too proud to accept all of it. A little know-it-all I most certainly was, and honestly, remain to this day. But that was bullshit.

What I was really doing was protecting my ego. I didn’t want to admit I was struggling. I didn’t want to be seen as weak - I didn't want to be seen at all unless it was through rose colored glasses. I didn’t want to need anyone. But pride is a lonely, ineffective survival strategy.

I needed to get some humility to realize that I was never going to accomplish everything alone. Since I've been single for the past five years and after reconnecting with my first cousins once removed last year, I got knocked off my high horse and onto a heehaw donkey of modesty.

Overwhelm Isn’t About Having Too Much—It’s About Not Choosing.

The truth is, overwhelm isn’t just about having too much on your plate. It’s about not making decisions about what to take off. When everything feels equally urgent, the brain short-circuits, choosing nothing instead. You’re not drowning in tasks—you’re drowning in indecision.

And indecision is exhausting.

• Every option stays open, demanding energy even when you’re doing nothing.

• Every delay feels like failure, even when you haven’t actually made a mistake.

• Every task becomes harder because it’s competing with everything else for your attention.

When I was at my worst, I masked it with anger. Anger at myself for not handling things better. Anger at the world for not being easier to navigate. Anger that covered up the sadness, the helplessness, the sheer weight of not knowing what the hell to do next. Pretending I was in control felt better than admitting I felt lost.

But that’s the trick of overwhelm—it convinces you that you need more time to figure things out when, really, what you need is to act. Get off your ass and do something. Stop waiting. (You know exactly what I mean.) 

You Can’t Do It Alone—So Stop Trying.

I used to think self-reliance was the answer. That being able to handle things alone made me stronger and better than everyone else. But all that did was isolate me in my own head, spinning in circles. The results said I needed to do something different.

So I made the people around me help me. Not in a dramatic, crisis-level way—just in a human way. I let them see what was going on with me. I asked them what they thought. I let them be my mirror when I couldn’t see myself clearly.

Not everyone was willing to engage, and that’s fine. But a few were. And those few made all the difference.

• They helped me sort through what actually mattered.

• They reminded me of the things I already knew but couldn’t see through the noise.

• They kept me from getting stuck in my own excuses.

Make the Decision—Then Move.

If you’re overwhelmed right now, the solution isn’t to do everything—it’s to do something. Pick one thing to act on. Pick one thing to drop. Stop carrying it all alone.

You don’t need a perfect plan. You don’t need all the answers. You just need to move.

Because if you wait for the feeling of overwhelm to pass before you take action, you’ll be waiting forever.

Try This:

• Say it out loud. Whatever’s spinning in your head, put it into words. Even if you just talk to yourself in the mirror, hearing it outside of your head helps.

• Tell someone. A friend, a mentor, even a stranger in a forum—externalizing your thoughts makes them clearer.

• Make one small decision. Drop something. Commit to something. Cross one thing off the list. Build momentum.

Pride will keep you locked inside your own head, pretending you have control when really, you’re stuck. Overwhelm thrives in silence and inaction. Break both, and you break its hold on you.