How to Lose Your Sh!t and Still Find Your Balance
A Real-Life Lesson in Emotional Resilience
By Katie Joy, The Global Butterfly
Ever had one of those days where you ask nicely—six times—only to suddenly find yourself snapping like a rubber band stretched too far?
Yeah, me too.
In fact, not only did I lose it this week, but in a moment of pure exhaustion, I accidentally uploaded my raw, unedited podcast footage—complete with my full-blown mum meltdown—to YouTube. PUBLICLY. 😳
And you know what? Before I caught it, three people had already seen it… and all three gave it a thumbs up. Apparently, people love unfiltered realness.
But this moment, as embarrassing as it was, actually turned into a powerful lesson about emotional resilience. Because here’s the truth: we all lose our patience sometimes. The goal isn’t to be perfectly calm 100% of the time—it’s about how we bounce back.
So, if you’ve ever had one of those “WHY is this happening?!” moments, this one’s for you. Let’s talk about:
✅ Why even the most patient people snap
✅ The brain science behind frustration overload
✅ How to recover and recalibrate after losing it
✅ Why balance isn’t about perfection—it’s about the bounce-back
The Build-Up: When Little Things Aren’t So Little
Let me set the scene.
The past few weeks, I’ve been extra mindful about self-care because I’ve been processing some deep personal layers. My father’s health is deteriorating—his heart is failing, and he’s shared that he feels his body giving up. It’s been a lot to hold emotionally.
At the same time, I’ve been working deeply with my clients, wrapping up extra projects ahead of the school holidays, and preparing for a big trip to Sydney with my son Braydon—including a cruise.
Needless to say, I’ve had a lot on my plate.
On this particular day, I’d been working hard and was exhausted. So, after picking up Braydon from school, I told him,
"Mum just needs a quick 30-minute nap, buddy. Can you play with Bella (our puppy) so she doesn’t come wake me up?"
He agreed.
But every three to five minutes, Bella was scratching at my door.
Why? Because Braydon was not playing with her. He was glued to his iPad, which was blasting at full volume.
Half-asleep, I called out, "Hey buddy, can you turn it down, please?"
And he did.
For about a minute.
Then the volume crept back up.
This cycle repeated six times.
By the time I got up to film my podcast—already running on fumes—I could hear the iPad from the other end of the house.
And that’s when it happened.
The Moment I Snapped
Mid-filming, I paused, turned my head, and yelled in full exasperation:
"BRAYDON! I'M FILMING!"
Then, as if realising just how exhausted and done I was, I sighed, teared up for a moment, muttered, “God Dammit,” took a deep breath… and kept going.
I finished recording, edited my episode, and uploaded it to YouTube.
Only… I didn’t upload the edited version.
I uploaded the raw footage—including my meltdown—PUBLICLY.
And I didn’t realise until three people had already watched it… and all three gave it a thumbs up! 😂
Why We Snap: The Brain Science Behind Meltdowns
Here’s the thing—losing our patience isn’t a failure. It’s actually a sign that our nervous system is overloaded.
- Our prefrontal cortex—the rational, logical part of our brain—helps us regulate emotions and make thoughtful decisions.
- But when we’re exhausted, overwhelmed, or emotionally stretched, our amygdala—the brain’s fight-or-flight centre—hijacks the system.
- Suddenly, we go from “I’ve got this” to “I CAN’T TAKE THIS ANYMORE” in about half a second.
- And repetition fatigue is real—hearing or saying the same thing over and over literally triggers stress.
So, if you’ve ever felt yourself boiling over, you’re not alone. Your brain is simply waving a giant red flag saying:
"You need a break, STAT."
How to Recover After Losing It (Without Guilt)
So, what do you do after you snap? Because let’s be real—trying to be Zen all the time is unrealistic. The real power is in how we recover.
1. Breathe & Pause
Before your mind starts spiraling into guilt, take a deep breath. This instantly calms the nervous system and stops the emotional spiral in its tracks.
2. Self-Kindness, Not Self-Shame
Instead of beating yourself up, reframe the moment:
"I was overwhelmed. I lost my patience. I’m human. Moving on."
3. If Needed, Repair It
If your reaction impacted someone—especially a child—it’s powerful to acknowledge it without over-explaining.
I later said to Braydon, "Hey buddy, I’m sorry I snapped. I was just really tired and overwhelmed in that moment."
And that was it. No long speech, no excessive guilt. Just a simple, honest acknowledgment.
4. Learn From It
Every meltdown has a lesson. For me, it was this:
✔️ When I’m running on fumes, I need more rest before I hit breaking point.
✔️ I need a better system—maybe a noise-limit rule or headphones!
Balance is About the Bounce-Back
At the end of the day, balance isn’t about never losing your patience.
It’s about how quickly you recover.
It’s about giving yourself grace, learning from the moment, and adjusting where needed.
Because perfection isn’t the goal—resilience is.
And next time Braydon’s iPad volume creeps up? Well… I might just invest in some noise-cancelling headphones for both of us. 😉
Over to You…
Ever had a moment where you totally lost your patience? How did you recover?
Drop a comment below—I’d love to hear your stories (so I know I’m not the only one)! 😂
And if this resonated, share it with someone who needs the reminder: You’re not failing. You’re just human.
