Pick Me Up Tuesday: Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana
Finding Calm When Life Feels Overwhelming
Why Finding Calm When Life Feels Overwhelming Matters
Stress can sneak up fast—between work, family, and unexpected challenges, it’s easy to feel like you’re running on empty. On this Pick Me Up Tuesday, we’re focusing on finding calm when life feels overwhelming, because even a few minutes of peace can reset your day and mindset.
At Animal Assisted Counseling of Indiana (AACI), we help people slow down and reconnect—with themselves, their loved ones, and sometimes with our therapy dogs, who offers comfort when words fall short.
Learn how our therapy dogs supports clients in our therapy sessions.
5 Quick Ways to Find Calm When Life Feels Overwhelming
Pause for Three Deep Breaths. Place a hand on your chest and breathe slowly, feeling your body soften.
Ground Yourself in the Moment. Look around and name five things you see, four you feel, three you hear, two you smell, and one you taste.
Connect with a Pet. Simply sitting with your dog or cat can lower stress hormones and slow your heart rate.
Take a Short Walk. Movement and fresh air, even for five minutes, can reset your thoughts.
Reach Out for Support. Text a friend or schedule time with a therapist to share the weight you’re carrying.
For more actionable stress-management tools, check out this Healthline guide on relaxation techniques to help you relax—emphasizing breathwork, connection with nature, guided imagery, and mindful breaks.
Why Therapy (and therapy dogs) Can Help
Sometimes, stress relief techniques aren’t enough on their own. For teens and adults who feel constantly overwhelmed, animal-assisted counseling can make the process of therapy feel safer and more comfortable. Our gentle therapy dogs helps clients:
Relax in session so they can open up
Practice mindfulness through petting and breathing exercises
Feel supported even when words are hard
Explore our counseling services to see how we integrate therapy dogs into the healing process.
Take a Step Toward Calm
Even small steps toward finding calm when life feels overwhelming can make a big difference. Whether you start with deep breathing, a walk, or a session with our team (and Sadie), you don’t have to navigate stress alone.
👉 Schedule a session today and find your calm again.