Signs of Nervous System Dysregulation (and What You Can Do About It)
Have you ever wondered why you feel "off"—even when everything in your life looks okay on paper?
You might be sleeping enough, eating well, even going to therapy—but still feel anxious, numb, on edge, or emotionally reactive.
This could be a sign that your nervous system is dysregulated.
In somatic work, we don’t treat these states as problems to fix—we meet them as messages from the body, asking to be witnessed and gently re-integrated.
What Does Nervous System Dysregulation Mean?
Your nervous system is the internal operating system that constantly scans for cues of safety or danger.
When you experience chronic stress, trauma, or overwhelm, that system can become stuck in a survival loop—making it harder to feel calm, connected, or grounded, even when you're no longer in danger.
This is dysregulation. It’s not a malfunction—it’s an adaptation. And it can shift with time, presence, and nervous system-informed support.
Common Signs of a Dysregulated Nervous System
You might be dysregulated if you notice:
🟥 Hyperarousal (Fight / Flight):
Constant anxiety or racing thoughts
Trouble sleeping or relaxing
Feeling reactive, irritable, or emotionally overwhelmed
Perfectionism or overworking
Panic, dread, or fear of slowing down
🟦 Hypoarousal (Freeze / Shutdown):
Numbness or disconnection from your body
Brain fog or difficulty concentrating
Chronic fatigue or low motivation
Feeling emotionally flat or distant
A sense of “giving up” or not caring
You might also cycle between both states—overactive one moment, completely shut down the next. This is common in complex trauma patterns.
Why This Isn’t “Bad”—It’s a Sign of Intelligence
Your body isn’t betraying you. It’s protecting you.
Dysregulation is a sign that something in your system learned to stay ready for threat—long after the threat is gone.
In somatic work, we never try to override this.
We build safety, presence, and capacity—so the body can shift out of survival mode on its own terms.
So What Can You Do?
1. Name the State Without Blame
Begin by noticing: “I feel collapsed right now,” or “My body is in fight mode.”
Naming your state builds awareness without judgment.
2. Orient to Safety
Look around your space. Name five things you see.
Notice your breath without changing it.
This helps signal to your body: we’re safe now.
3. Use Gentle Movement
Instead of forcing a workout or stillness, try subtle movement:
Rocking
Swaying
Gentle spinal rolls
Slow walking
This invites regulation without overwhelm.
4. Get Support
Nervous system healing isn’t something you have to do alone.
Somatic practices like unwinding, craniosacral, or Spinal Energetics offer a co-regulatory field—where your body can feel felt, seen, and safe enough to soften.
This Work Is About Building Capacity—Not Chasing Calm
Nervous system regulation doesn’t mean you never get triggered again.
It means you can return to yourself with more ease.
It means your body no longer has to live on high alert.
It means your system learns: I am safe enough to rest.
Ready to Gently Support Your Nervous System?
You’re invited to book a somatic session—where we’ll work with your unique rhythms to support regulation, integration, and inner safety.
No pressure. No performance. Just space to be with what’s here.