Escape the Mental Tornado and Come Back to Center
If you’ve ever felt trapped in a swirling storm of overthinking, emotional triggers, or nervous system overload, you’re not alone. Many of us know what it feels like to be caught in what I call the “mental tornado.” It’s that chaotic chatter of the mind that can pull us out of presence, clarity, and self-trust. In this post, I want to help you recognize this experience, understand how it affects your nervous system, and most importantly—share ways to step out of it and reconnect with your higher wisdom.
What Is the Mental Tornado?
The mental tornado is a state of mental and emotional overwhelm. I like to use the analogy of a blender: once you’re inside it, there is no perspective. Everything is swirling. Your thoughts, your emotions, your nervous system—it all feels like too much.
Sometimes, this storm is activated by trauma. If you find that your nervous system takes over and you can’t bring yourself back, that may be a signal to seek the support of a trauma-informed therapist. Healing at this level requires compassion and professional guidance.
The Power of Self-Witnessing
The good news? Even in the chaos, there’s a way out. One of the most powerful tools we have is the ability to witness ourselves. When we can notice that we’re in an emotional upset, observe the swirl without reacting, and ground our awareness inward, we reclaim our power.
This is a practice. It takes intention. But it is how we begin to live differently—from the inside out.
Two Traps That Keep You Stuck
To navigate the mental tornado, you must be aware of the two common traps that pull you out of presence and into inner chaos:
1. The Trap of Time
Time is an illusion, but most of us live bouncing between the past and the future. In the past, we obsess over what we could’ve, should’ve, or would’ve done. In the future, we fall into what Brené Brown calls a “dress rehearsal for tragedy” — imagining worst-case scenarios before they even happen.
This toggling steals your ability to access the wisdom of the present moment. Your higher self lives in the now, and it’s from here that peace, clarity, and direction become available.
2. The Trap of Duality
We live in a world of polarity: good/bad, right/wrong, either/or. This constant evaluation creates internal tension and often keeps us stuck in fear-based decision-making.
But there’s always a higher perspective available—a third option, a new insight, a divine solution. To access it, we must rise above the split and return to the wisdom of love within.
Your Path to Presence Begins with Awareness
Growth is a process, not an event. The first step is recognizing when you’re caught in the storm and gently guiding yourself back to center. Use your breath. Ground into the moment. Practice self-compassion.
You can live differently.
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