The Mel Robbins Podcast If You’re Feeling Overwhelmed, You Need to Hear This
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Oct 20, 2025 Dr. Aditi Nurkar, a Harvard-trained physician and expert in stress and mental health, joins to tackle the pressing issue of overwhelm. They discuss the unique distinctions between stress and overwhelm, shedding light on how losing control can heighten anxiety. Dr. Nurkar shares practical tools like cyclic breathing to reset your nervous system and a brain dump technique to clear mental clutter. They highlight the gender dynamics of mental load and emphasize the importance of taking active steps to regain control over your life.
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Stress Versus Overwhelm
- Stress is pressure that can motivate short-term action, while overwhelm is hitting a capacity threshold and shutting down.
- Mel Robbins explains that using the two terms interchangeably led to burnout for many people.
Out-Of-Control Challenges Drive Overwhelm
- Overwhelm happens when many challenges are out of your control and you hit your capacity to cope.
- Dr. K says overwhelm is not weakness but too many unchosen demands piling up.
Double In, Then Flush
- Do a biological reset when overwhelmed by practicing cyclic breathing: two quick inhales through the nose, then one long exhale through the mouth.
- Repeat for a minute to change your nervous system from sympathetic to parasympathetic.
