When Too Much Happens At Once

Some weekends don’t just test your patience—they rattle your entire sense of stability. This past weekend was that for me.

It started with the discovery of flea dirt on two of our dogs even though they are on preventative. Not just one. Two. If you’ve ever dealt with a flea situation, you know how defeating that feels. It’s not just the physical task of washing everything, vacuuming obsessively, and applying treatments, —it’s the mental fog that comes with knowing your home is suddenly not as safe or clean as it felt just hours ago.

Next was an emergency trip to the animal hospital. One of our dogs suddenly wasn’t okay, and as any pet parent knows, that moment of panic—the racing heart, the frantic Googling, the quick calculation of time and money—takes everything out of you. Sitting at the emergency vet waiting for answers, I felt like the walls were closing in a little. It was hard to focus on anything but my own anxiety. You always hope it’s nothing, and yet the fear that it could be something serious just takes over.

And that was only the beginning...

I also have to speak with an investigator about my mom. I not ready for this. I am never read for this. It’s the kind of thing that lives in the back of your mind even when you try to compartmentalize. Every time I sit down to breathe, it’s there, whispering its weight right back into my chest.

Then, as if the emotional bandwidth wasn’t already maxed out, someone in my family passed away. It’s all been a bit much. I think what’s hardest is not just one of these things—it’s all of them happening at once. If I had the space to deal with each crisis individually, I might be okay. But when life throws everything at you at the same time, it feels impossible to show up for any of it in the way you want to.

There’s a term I’ve heard before: “cumulative stress.” It’s when each small or medium thing might be bearable on its own, but together, they pile up into something that feels like it’s crushing you. That’s where I’ve been living lately. Under the pile. I am exhausted. But, I’m here. Still doing the next right thing. Still taking care of the dogs. Still showing up, even if some days I don’t feel like I have much left to give. Sometimes surviving is the win. If you're feeling overwhelmed, give yourself a break.