Moving through overwhelm

A good cry can soothe but it won’t solve everything

Apr 15, 2026

My Dear Reader,

On my daily walk through the beautiful countryside of Nyköping—my new home—I found myself wondering what I would write for this week’s post.

Walking is my favorite time for creative thinking and emotional processing.

And…being an Ex-New Yorker, I need my steps!

I’m now in my third month of My Swedish Chapter on Substack, writing my eleventh post. Usually, what I want to write comes to me easily. But this week felt different. Despite keeping a long list of ideas, I struggled to land on a topic that felt truly aligned with where I am right now.

I feel proud of what I’ve written about so far, and I can see the potential of this space I have created.

I’m not here for a sprint to success.

I’m here for the marathon.

Slow and steady.

That’s how I tend to approach most things I begin.

I never want to overthink what I write about, because overthinking strips away authenticity. Planning and strategy are welcome—but overanalyzing is not.

Each weekly post comes down to what feels immediate and real. After all, My Swedish Chapter is, in many ways, a living diary—a place where I share stories of relocation, transition, change… and, of course, food.

So, what is happening right now—in this very moment?

The sadness that came with change is beginning to soften, and I’ve been slowly settling into my new home and rhythm. With each passing day, I feel a little more grounded and at home.

And yet, the magnitude of this life shift still lingers quietly in the background. With every step forward, I’m reminded of just how much has changed.

It’s a lot—all at once.

Just over a year ago, I was living and working in New York City. I dined out often, worked at One World Trade Center, and moved through a completely different set of routines, places, and people.

Now, I live in the peaceful Swedish countryside with a sweet little dog, Nelson, and my wonderful boyfriend, Peter. I’m currently unemployed—by choice—focusing on my own projects as an aspiring baker and entrepreneur.

And all of this, as beautiful as it is, has brought moments of deep overwhelm.

Can you relate?

It can feel like a domino effect—small emotional triggers stacking quietly on top of one another until one unexpected moment tips everything over.

And suddenly, there are tears.

I know I shouldn’t be hard on myself for crying, but I am so tired of crying over seemingly silly things.

When did I become so emotional??

This past Sunday night, I found myself right there.

The day began with a notification on my iphone from my sister—photos of my niece and nephew that instantly made me miss them. Later that day, Peter’s family left after a wonderful visit celebrating his birthday. As nice as the weekend felt, I was also reminded: my family isn’t here. I can’t see them easily. The homesickness settled in more deeply.

That evening, we started arranging the few things I brought from Minnesota—mostly books and picture frames. As I moved things around, I felt uncertain about how to blend our belongings into one shared space. Then my thoughts began to spiral: When will the rest of my things arrive? That quickly turned into worries about work, money, our next home…

And then I started to cry.

I broke down.

I was overwhelmed. And I was homesick.

Thankfully, Peter is incredibly supportive during these moments. And, if I’m being honest, they still happen more often than I’d like. Even so, they’re becoming less frequent, and having his steady presence means everything.

In one way or another, I think we all experience this. What has overwhelmed you recently?

My sisters and I have talked about it—this shared feeling of overwhelm, even though it shows up differently in each of our lives.

Sometimes I feel frustrated with myself when it happens, especially when I can’t immediately understand why I’m crying— and it makes me feel psychotic. But I’m learning—slowly—to meet myself with more compassion. To let the emotions exist without judgment.

Crying is simply a release. An important one.

But it doesn’t fix everything.

When the feeling of overwhelm swallows me up, I have learned to pause. To sit with the discomfort instead of rushing to escape it. To allow myself to feel unsteady without needing immediate resolution.

Sometimes that looks like going for a walk— probably my favorite solution.

Taking my favorite workout— The Class.

Making a cup of tea.

Journaling.

Talking things through.

Calling someone back home.

Baking.

Reading.

Sitting down.

The overwhelm will return— again and again. But I’m learning not to let it consume me.

I’m choosing to move through it— and grow!

Because you know what? I want to be here, in Sweden! I wanted all of this change in my life! And I got what I wanted.