Latest news with #overwhelm
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Kath Ebbs reveals 'scary' mental health battle following split from JoJo Siwa - as the American singer moves on with new beau Chris Hughes
Kath Ebbs has opened up their mental health struggles following a painful split from US singer JoJo Siwa, who has since moved on with Chris Hughes. The 27-year-old Australian influencer, who uses they/them pronouns, shared an Instagram Stories post on Monday and admitted to feeling 'under the weather' both physically and mentally. Kath, who officially parted company with JoJo in April, also confessed to experiencing 'panic attacks' and being in a 'constant state of overwhelm'. 'Woke up feeling super under the weather both physically and mentally,' they wrote alongside an image in which they were cuddled up with their cat. Kath continued, 'I think I have a habit of acting like I'm fine and everything's a bit funny then it will all just randomly hit me at once.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. Kath, who confirmed their split with JoJo last month after the Dance Moms star called things off, detailed their health challenges in the lengthy post. 'Been struggling with night time panic attacks lately (the girls that get it, get it),' they said. 'I hate the feeling of my body acting against me (when it's in fact trying to protect me.) I've just been in a perpetual state of overwhelm for a while, I don't think I know what's what anymore. 'Someone asked me recently why I seem so chill about stuff and I replied that I just pretend it's not me going through it, it's someone I know but it's not my life and that I've been doing that since I was a kid when life got ugly.' Kath ended the post with a tribute to their supporters and others who might experiencing similar challenges. 'Anyways a little honesty diary. Big love to my other disassociate peeps, it's not a nice way to exist but remember it's just your brain trying to protect you from experiencing the pain. Like a little friend' Kath wrote. 'Slow down, connect with people that really love you, drink some water and get outside even if it's just for 10minutes. Also put the phone down (talking to myself!!) Kath signed off, 'Love you guys, Kath x.' In the wake of JoJo and Chris Hughes going official last month, Kath, who is non-binary, took to Instagram to take a subtle dig at their former partner It comes after Kath appeared to be living their best life following a high profile split from JoJo. The American dancer, 22, raised eyebrows during her stint on UK Celebrity Big Brother after forming a close bond with Love Island star Chris Hughes, 32, whilst still being in a relationship with Kath. While they repeatedly insisted their relationship was platonic, before and after JoJo broke up with Kath at the Big Brother wrap party, the duo have since 'confirmed' their relationship late last month. In the wake of the news, Kath, who is non-binary, took to Instagram to take a subtle dig at their former partner, sharing videos and photos of their 'joyful' post-breakup life in Sydney. The video shared showed Kath happily cuddling two women in a kitchen, who were revealed to be Kath's ex-partner and the ex partner's wife. Kath looked chuffed to be in such supportive company with the video showing the trio huddling close as George Michael's Father Figure played over the scene. 'Sapphic love is your ex and their new wife nursing you through a breakup,' Kath said in a pointed reference to JoJo coming out as 'not a lesbian'. Kath's posts come after they recently responded to speculation that the singer and Chris had confirmed their romance with a subtle dig on social media. Kath and JoJo ended their six month relationship almost immediately after the Dance Moms star left CBB, despite Chris insisting that their relationship in the house was 'platonic'. Speculation has been rife ever since, with fans insisting that JoJo and Chris had already begun a romance. In late May, the pair seemingly confirmed they are an item, with a slew of images taken after Chris flew to the US for JoJo's 22nd birthday.
ABC News
21-05-2025
- Health
- ABC News
What you can do when feeling overwhelmed
When we live in a society where productivity is constantly praised, it's no wonder we often ignore the signals that we're stretched too thin. If you've been feeling numb, disconnected or foggy, you could be experiencing symptoms of overwhelm. Clinical psychologist Rebecca Ray says it is one of the most common issues she sees in her clinical practice on the Sunshine Coast/Kabi Kabi land. But it's not always obvious to those experiencing it, she told ABC Sunshine Coast Mornings. "It's not necessarily an all or nothing response, where you're lying on the couch wrapped in a blanket," Dr Ray says. There are many life pressures that can lead us to feel overwhelmed; relationship difficulties, family breakdown, illness or injury, work pressures, parenting and financial difficulties, to name a few. So, how do we recognise the signs of overwhelm? And how do we deal with it when we're at capacity? Stress and overwhelm are similar but distinct experiences. Stress is the feeling of being under pressure, while overwhelm is the state of feeling burdened by too many thoughts, tasks, or emotions, leaving you feeling stuck or out of control. That feeling of being stuck is what Dr Ray describes as a functional freeze response. "That's the part of our brain that kicks into a survival mode that helps us to manage really stressful or intense situations," she says. "[It's] your nervous system trying to protect you when you're in a state of overwhelm. "You might still go to work, you might still parent your children or pay your bills, but you feel numb or disconnected or foggy." Other symptoms include: • Feeling irritable or frustrated • Feeling helpless or hopeless • Panic or anxiety • Task avoidance • Appetite changes • Sleep disturbances • Struggling to make decisions Over time, overwhelm may increase the risk of anxiety and depression, making it even more important to address early on. Dr Ray says simply trying to be more organised is not the solution. "[Don't] write yourself a to-do list as long as your arm," she says. "Because in Western society … that operates at a very fast pace, we can [feel like] if we just do more, then we'll feel better. National crisis support service Lifeline recommends some practical strategies: • Identify the cause — write down what is contributing to you feeling overwhelmed and stressed. Prioritise the issues and leave smaller ones to be dealt with at a later time. • Review your current coping mechanisms — identify how you have been coping to date. What tools and strategies have you found helpful? What things are you doing that are not helpful? • Talk to a trusted friend or family member — talking through your issues with someone you trust can assist you to work through them and identify possible solutions. • Check your thinking — often we put pressure on ourselves to be a certain way. When our thoughts are negative and self-critical we may begin to feel overwhelmed. • Make a positive plan — work out ways to deal with the situation or how to approach it step by step. Start at the beginning and focus on one thing at a time. • Take care of yourself — we need to be healthy in order to meet life's challenges. Take time out to engage in activities you enjoy and find rewarding. If finding the time to implement these strategies feels hard, a good first step is a mental health day. Organisational psychologist Rachel Clements, from Sydney/Gadigal land, says taking a mental health day when you need it, from work or other commitments, demonstrates self-awareness. "That awareness of, 'When is my stress now shifting from helpful to harmful?' is a very good thing for people to be able to monitor themselves. "Taking a mental health day is a proactive thing … to get it before it becomes a mental health issue," Ms Clements says. Grant Blashki, a practising GP at Melbourne/Wurundjeri and former lead clinical advisor for beyondblue, says there's no one way to spend a mental health day. "People can take that time to nurture themselves, be kind to themselves and maybe get some exercise," he says. Journaling, talking to a trusted friend, or allowing yourself some decompression time for an activity that puts you in a "flow state" can also be helpful. If one or two mental health days isn't making a difference, it's important to come up with a long-term plan with work and/or a healthcare professional. "Having a good recovery plan is important," Ms Clements says. "Reach out for support and assistance. A lot of organisations have employee assistance programs where people can go at no cost to receive confidential coaching and wellbeing assistance." Our experts also recommend reaching out to a healthcare professional, like a GP who might recommend doing a mental health assessment and subsequent Mental Health Treatment Plan. To start with, the plan offers up to six subsidised psychological sessions. And remember that powering on can be counterproductive. "I think sometimes the desire to turn off the overwhelm makes the overwhelm even more intense," Dr Ray says. "Accept that the overwhelm is there, you don't have to approve of it but also understand that there are things that you can do to help manage it." This is general information only. For personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner.
