The Overwhelm of Sharing: Coping, Creating, and Surviving with DID - Stephanie Happening’s

Stephanie Happening

17 Feb 2026 — 4 min read

st.002 // The Overwhelm of Sharing

Opening up about our story can feel overwhelming. Each time we speak or create, we risk being misunderstood. There is fear in being seen. But silence kept us small, and silence kept us alone. Sharing is our way of reclaiming power.

Art as Coping

Art has become our lifeline. Through music, drawings, collage and ritual, we give form to feelings that otherwise stay locked inside. Each piece is a conversation between parts of us and between pain and pride, fear and joy. It is not always easy, but it helps us cope.

Creating is not just about coping. It is about transforming survival into legacy. Every song, every sketch, every word we share is proof that we are more than what we have lived through. We are creators. We are a system. And we are building something bigger than the pain.

Nature as Grounding

When the world feels overwhelming, stepping into nature gives us a way back to ourselves. Nature does not ask us to perform. It simply holds us.

Touch: Pressing our hands against the bark of a tree or feeling grass under our feet reminds us we are here, now.
Sight: Watching the sky change, noticing the details of leaves or water, helps us slow down racing thoughts.
Sound: Birds, wind, or even city rain become anchors, gentle reminders that life continues around us.

Journaling as Conversation

Our journal is not just a notebook: it is a meeting place for all parts of us. It helps us turn chaos into story, and story into legacy.

Dialogue: Different voices in the system can write to each other, leaving notes, questions, or affirmations.
Release: Putting overwhelming feelings on paper takes them out of our heads and gives them shape.
Reflection: Looking back at old entries shows us how far we have come, even when progress feels invisible.

“In nature and on the page, we find grounding. In grounding, we find ourselves.”

What You Can Try

If you are carrying heavy things, here are some practices that might offer you grounding, comfort, or even a spark of hope.

Create Small

Doodle on a scrap of paper, hum a tune into your phone, or collage. Creation does not have to be perfect: it just has to be yours.

Step Outside

Even a few minutes of fresh air can shift your perspective. Notice one thing you can see, hear, and touch.

Write Without Rules

Try free writing for five minutes. Do not worry about grammar or sense: let the act of release be the focus.

Tiny Rituals

Light a candle, sip tea slowly, or carry a grounding object. Small rituals become anchors when everything feels unsteady.

Coping is not about pretending everything is fine. It is about finding ways to keep going, to keep creating and to keep connecting. Your voice matters, your story matters, and you are not alone.

Nourish the Mind. Hear the Journey.

Enter The Vault