# Overwhelm ## Definition - Overwhelmed means an extreme level of stress, an emotional and/or cognitive intensity to the point of feeling unable to function. ([Location 664](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B09DTJM18Q&location=664)) - researcher Carol Gohm used the term “overwhelmed” to describe an experience where our emotions are intense, our focus on them is moderate, and our clarity about exactly what we’re feeling is low enough that we get confused when trying to identify or describe the emotions.7 ([Location 680](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B09DTJM18Q&location=680)) ## Cure - mindful play, or no-agenda, non-doing time, is the cure for overwhelm, it made sense to me why, when we were blown at the restaurant, we weren’t asked to help problem-solve the situation. We were just asked to engage in non-doing. ([Location 675](https://readwise.io/to_kindle?action=open&asin=B09DTJM18Q&location=675))