The Age of Overwhelm

There is a growing epidemic afflicting people working in social change that is rarely talked about - burnout. Laura van Dernoot Lipsky, bestselling author of Trauma Stewardship, offers The Age of Overwhelm as the salve for healing.

Burnout is affecting people working towards social change and is a major obstacle slowing our potential for progress. The Age of Overwhelm reveals effective applications for self-care that ensures how readers can continue to show up to tackle systemic problems. A way to show up more effectively is to think small. The challenge to showing up is that everything is built into a big issue or obstacle that drains energy and becomes an insurmountable task, which fosters frustration and anxiety. The tools in this book are based on the general operating principle that less is more. Doing less of what we usually do and instead focusing on a "smaller" aspect results in more impact in general while also preserving our physical and mental well-being. The Age of Overwhelm distills four key elements that allow readers to continue contributing to causes without suffering burnout. Lipsky teaches readers how to work towards focused and achievable goals, release pain with self-care, and be open to continual learning while letting go of what can't be controlled. Particularly in times of political turmoil and increased isolation, there is a critical need for self-care for people who are working towards long-term equality.

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Contents
• Acknowledgments
• Foreword
• Introduction
• One: What Does Overwhelm Look Like?
• Two: What Causes Overwhelm?
• Three: A Way Through: When Less Is More
• Four: Less Distraction, More Intention
• Five: Disconnect Less, Be Present More
• Six: Less Attachment, More Curiosity
• Seven: Less Depletion, More Stamina
• Eight: When to Step Away
• Conclusion
• Notes
• Index
• About the Author

“For those who battle worrying over everything from daily to global issues, best-selling author Lipsky (Trauma Stewardship) says the first step is to separate what is and isn't within our control; the second step is to act on that which is in our power to change and relinquish what is not. ­Combining New Yorker cartoons and sage advice, Lipsky moves readers through the process of minimizing distraction and heightening intention. By paring away the unnecessary, advises the author, people do less of what erodes them and more of what sustains them, asserting that only then can we be a force for good in the world. VERDICT An engaging read that will appeal to anyone who is feeling overwhelmed and looking for support.”
- Library Journal

"The truth is that there is almost no place left to hide from overwhelm. The media is constantly asking us to be upset about something new. Our neighbors attempt to relieve their stress by making nerve-shattering noise all night. If you move to an unpopulated rural area to escape the overstimulation, the next thing you know they're building a high-density housing development next door, or illegally dumping toxic waste in your backyard, or using eminent domain to take your home and put a superhighway through. Overwhelm is becoming the definitive problem of our age. This book asks readers who are overwhelmed to begin their recovery process by believing in change (individual and collective change). But before you cross this book off as just another “change yourself, change the world” musing, consider the real-world applications which Lipsky has created. Building on her cutting-edge work with trauma exposure (Trauma Stewardship), she has developed clear-cut guidelines for digging out from under overwhelm and reclaiming a sense of balance and empowerment. Let your customers know that she'll help them learn how to recognize what they can and can't control, how to take a moment to recalibrate, and how to remember that they are ultimately responsible for responding appropriately to their situation. With examples, from the segregated south to The Gates Foundation, she shows how seemingly small individual actions, ripple through people's lives with ongoing manifestation. Lipsky shows us that we can do this if we are willing to try."
- Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight

“From tips on how to disconnect less and be in the world more to better handling distraction to encourage focus and higher energy, this provides a powerful testimony to the force of positive thinking and retaking control of one's life, and is highly recommended for anyone who would tackle modern pressures with a more effective game plan.”
- Midwest Book Review
http://www.midwestbookreview.com/calbw/sep_18.htm#socialissues

“Scientists worldwide are devastated by the knowledge that humans are causing the mass extinction of life on earth. However, in the face of epic overwhelm, this thoughtful, generous, and inspiring book offers a path forward and a ray of hope for all of us.”
- Dr. Vance Vredenburg, Professor of Biology, San Francisco State University; University of California Berkeley; and the California Academy of Sciences

“This is a useful guide for managing the perpetual, trademark overwhelm of adolescence, and it also realistically addresses my experience as a first generation Ethiopian American. With specific ideas to help shift attitudes and habits, this book is a great resource for teens and adults alike.”
- Faisal Mustafa, high school student

“As a reminder that we must tend to our own needs so that we can be fully present for others, this book is of great significance. The Age of Overwhelm should be within hand's reach of every judge's bench, every court administrator's desk, or anyone serving others in trauma-saturated environments. It's a timely resource for us all.”
- Hon. Elizabeth Berns, King County Superior Court

“This resource is an invaluable addition to our personal tool kit, offering direction to help us recognize and address chronic exposure to stress within our lives and our world, and providing important guidance to help reduce and heal that stress.”
- Dr. Arne Graff, Division Chair, Child Abuse Pediatrics, Mayo Clinic

“The Age of Overwhelm tells the truth about how today's culture of overdrive, distraction, rapid response, and scarcity affects our lives, our relationships, and our well-being. This book shows us how to not just cope and survive, but how we can thrive by creating conditions for more contented lives.”
- Deepa Iyer, author of We Too Sing America

“With this profound and critically important book, Laura shows us how to maintain hope, well-being, and integrity when faced with challenges greater than we can solve on our own. Laura's first book, Trauma Stewardship, has become a cornerstone for the international community. The Age of Overwhelm will, without a doubt, do the same.”
- Françoise Mathieu, author of The Compassion Fatigue Workbook