Extreme Anxiety: How To Step Out Of It

Have you ever felt so scattered that you can't even start the simplest task? You sit down, staring at your screen, and suddenly it's dinner time yet you’ve accomplished hardly anything. That's exactly how I felt on Monday, and in this episode of the podcast we talk about that struggle—plus a path out of the emotional fog.

This episode dives into how dyslexia can trigger rollercoaster emotions and low productivity. I share a few ways I turned my scattered thoughts into a calmer, more organised space. We chat about reining in racing ideas, finding the right routine, and remembering that it’s normal to stumble. If dyslexia sometimes hijacks your day, stick around. You’re not alone.

Emotional Overwhelm and Dyslexia

We've all had those moments where our mind takes off, sourcing out every possibility. For people with dyslexia, these moments can be loud and relentless. It's like trying to sort laundry in a windstorm, where nothing stays in place long enough to fold neatly.

When I noticed this happening on Monday, I felt trapped in my own head. It wasn't just a little feeling of unease—it was an anchor that stopped my day in its tracks.

"I was completely lost by mid-morning, and I felt like I'd left my focus somewhere else entirely."

Recognising that we’re spiralling is key. Without that awareness, it’s easy to assume you’re failing at life. The truth is, it’s only a signal that something needs a reset.

Shifting from Stress to Calm

Once you realise you're chasing your own tail, it becomes possible to find calm. The fastest way for me was to pause and question my thoughts. Were they logical worries or just random fears? For example, worrying about a future event that hadn't happened yet added nothing but extra stress.

Another way was to acknowledge that I’d been stuck and that was okay. Sometimes we push too hard, hoping brute force will solve everything. Often it doesn’t, and stepping back lets the mind take a breath.

Practical Steps to Regain Focus

Staying calm is one step, but we also need real tools to boost productivity. Here are a few that worked for me:

• Pick One Core Task: Forget multitasking. Choose a single, meaningful task that moves you forward.
• Use a Timer: Fifteen minutes of pure focus can produce more than an hour of half-hearted effort.
• Write Down Stray Thoughts: Keeping a pen and paper handy helps you park distracting ideas and come back to them later.
• Add Micro-Breaks: A one-minute walk or a quick stretch can reset your mind, preventing overwhelm from creeping back.

Combining these steps gave me structure. It also reminded me that one small success can spark the motivation to keep going.

Feeling and Healing

Part of the problem with dyslexia is emotional recoil—the lingering guilt or worry that you’re never “enough.” That guilt can create a loop where you’re too stressed to be productive, and then the lack of productivity piles more stress on top.

To break this chain, I focused on acknowledging the feelings themselves. Guilt, shame or fear often just want to be heard. Imagine them as visitors dropping by for tea. You don’t have to let them move in permanently.

By naming those emotions, you take away some of their power. Then you can redirect that energy toward something more helpful, like adjusting your routine or trying out a new tool. It's not about magically feeling fantastic—it’s about navigating through doubt without letting it drain your day.

Reintegrating Routine

One of the biggest lessons from this experience was how vital a simple routine can be. Dyslexia and routine sound like water and oil, but mixing them carefully transforms day-to-day life. By reintroducing a steady morning routine—like a brief meditation or a quick breakfast—I gave my mind a predictable anchor.

Stability reduces mental clutter. Once your brain knows what to expect, it saves precious energy for creative sparks or problem-solving. Even if you can’t follow every routine perfectly, having a light structure to focus on is often enough to keep you steady.

Key Takeaways

• Recognise you’re spiralling so you can pause and pivot.
• Focus on one people (or project) at a time instead of many things at once.
• Light routines act as anchors, keeping productivity afloat.
• Emotions want to be heard—acknowledging them often calms the mind.
• Micro-breaks and simple timers are powerful productivity aids.

If your mind has been doing cartwheels lately, this episode is for you. There's no shame in feeling stuck. The important thing is deciding not to stay there forever.

Ready to dive deeper? Listen to the full episode now (the player is right at the top of this page) and hear the complete story—plus more tips on how to break free from dyslexic overwhelm. You’ll also catch the extra details about how setting small, achievable milestones can reshape your day. Give it a listen, and let’s conquer dyslexia together.