Signs Your Nervous System Is in Survival Mode (And What to Do About It)
If you’ve ever felt like your body is running on caffeine and panic—even when you haven’t had coffee—it may be a sign your nervous system is stuck in fight or flight. This is your body’s natural trauma response pattern, designed to keep you safe in emergencies. But when stress piles up—deadlines, parenting, or back-to-school chaos—your nervous system can forget how to regulate itself.
Signs your nervous system is stuck in survival mode:
Racing thoughts and constant worry
Trouble falling or staying asleep
Feeling hypervigilant, jumpy, or restless
Digestive issues or headaches
Disconnection, numbness, or collapse
This is your body asking for nervous system healing.
How to calm a dysregulated nervous system:
Somatic therapy techniques: Slow, extended exhales, grounding through your feet, or pressing your hands on a surface can tell your body “you’re safe.”
Somatic exercises for anxiety relief: Stretching, shaking out tension, or gentle movement help discharge stress energy.
Body-based anxiety treatment: Weighted blankets, warm showers, or soothing music can bring your body back into balance.
Connection: Our nervous systems regulate better together. A safe conversation with a friend or therapist can be incredibly regulating.
Trauma-informed therapy teaches that survival mode isn’t a flaw. It’s your body protecting you. But you deserve more than surviving—you deserve nervous system regulation that helps you live fully.
