When Everything Feels Too Loud
The Situation:
This morning started like a lot of my hard mornings do — too many sounds, too early. The washer was running, the stove fan was humming, and one of the kids was saying “Mom, Mom, Mom…” on repeat like a broken record. The noise stacked up in my brain until it felt like pressure behind my eyes. On top of that, it was cold in the house — that deep kind of chill that makes my shoulders tense up.
I was already overstimulated before anyone even did anything wrong. My nervous system was screaming for quiet, warmth, and space. But instead of listening to that, I tried to push through and ended up snapping at one of the kids for something small. Then came the guilt.
S – Stop:
If I could replay that moment, I’d take one big breath — literally just stop moving and breathing for a second. Maybe even put my hand on my chest and remind myself, “You’re safe. It’s just noise.” That pause alone could have kept me from reacting out of sensory overload instead of intention.
T – Take a Step Back:
I could’ve walked into the bathroom, turned off the lights, and just stood there for thirty seconds to reset. Or stepped outside for a breath of fresh air, away from all the buzzing and humming. Even turning off one sound — like the fan — would have given me a little bit of peace to find my footing again.
O – Observe:
When I look back, I wasn’t actually angry at my kids. I was overwhelmed. My brain was saying “too much” in every direction — too loud, too cold, too much responsibility, too many thoughts. I was trying to do everything at once while my body was quietly begging for comfort and quiet.
P – Proceed Mindfully:
Next time, I want to name what’s happening out loud:
“Hey, I’m feeling a little overstimulated right now. Let’s take a second.”
Then I could lower the volume, grab a blanket, or give myself permission to slow down instead of pushing through it. I can still show up for my kids without abandoning myself.
Blog Reflection
Sometimes, my version of “losing it” isn’t about anger — it’s about sensory overload.
I’m learning that being mindful doesn’t mean being calm all the time; it means catching the storm before it hits.
The STOP skill helps me see that I don’t have to fix everything instantly. I can turn off the washer, breathe, and choose kindness over chaos.
Because peace doesn’t always come from silence — sometimes it comes from giving myself permission to pause.
Parenting Together 
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