Why Containment Helps When You’re Overwhelmed
How structure can feel supportive instead of restrictive
For anyone standing in the middle of the mess — Mindful Messes, a creative, nervous-system-first approach for overwhelmed and neurodivergent moms who want to feel like themselves again.
When life feels like too much, structure often gets a bad reputation.
We associate boundaries with control, rigidity, or pressure. The assumption is that freedom comes from having no limits at all.
But for many overwhelmed adults, the opposite is true.
Sometimes, what brings relief isn’t openness.
It’s containment.
What containment actually means
Containment isn’t about restriction. It’s about support.
In creative practice, containment might look like:
working inside a smaller space
repeating the same shape or line
returning to a familiar structure
stopping before a page feels “done”
These aren’t rules. They’re edges.
And edges can make staying feel safer.
Why edges reduce overwhelm
When emotional or sensory load is high, too much openness can actually increase activation. The nervous system has to hold everything at once.
Containment offers a place for experience to land.
Instead of carrying the whole feeling, you’re holding one part of it, inside a boundary that says, “This is enough for now.”
That’s often when relief shows up.
The quiet kindness of repetition
Repetition is one of the most underestimated forms of self-compassion.
Choosing the same mark again.
Returning to the same rhythm.
Letting familiarity replace novelty.
Repetition reduces decision-making, lowers initiation load, and allows the body to settle without effort.
It’s not boring.
It’s regulating.
Integration without turning it into a plan
Over time, people often notice that certain aspects of a practice feel easier to return to than others.
Not the most impressive parts.
The most livable ones.
Integration doesn’t mean building a habit or committing to consistency. It simply means noticing what helped and letting that information stay available.
Maybe it’s:
a smaller page
stopping earlier
one familiar line you trust
That’s enough.
Carrying it forward gently
When things feel tight again, you don’t need to remember everything you’ve learned. You only need one option that feels possible.
Containment teaches that you don’t have to hold it all.
And that lesson tends to stick.
If you’re looking for ongoing support in developing this kind of gentle, structured creative practice, The Scribble Sessions offers monthly workshops and replays designed for overwhelmed adults who want something quieter than traditional self-help.
If you’re craving more grounding, creativity, and connection, you’re welcome in this growing community of moms learning to feel, make, and become themselves again.
I offer in-person parent–child art groups, creative workshops and trainings throughout Monmouth County and across New Jersey, as well as The Scribble Sessions — my online Substack platform where we explore creative rituals, nervous system support, and ways to soften the messiness of everyday life.
You don’t have to do this alone. Come create alongside us.