Tired, Wired & Overwhelmed? Your Nervous System Might Be Dysregulated.
An overwhelmed nervous system doesn’t just cause stress - it keeps you stuck in patterns of anxiety, burnout, poor digestion, and hormonal imbalance. Fortunately: you can rewire your nervous system. And you don’t need to overhaul your life to start seeing change.
In this post, we’ll explore simple, natural strategies to help shift your body out of survival mode and into a state of calm, clarity, and resilience.
First, What Is Nervous System Dysregulation?
Your nervous system is designed to help you respond to stress, then return to a calm baseline. But if you’re constantly exposed to pressure, anxiety, inflammation, or even internalised stress, your body can get stuck in a sympathetic (fight or flight) state.
This can lead to:
Chronic anxiety or emotional reactivity
Poor sleep
Gut symptoms like bloating or IBS
Hormonal imbalances
Constant fatigue or burnout
Here’s the thing: You’re not broken. Your nervous system just needs support.
Natural Ways to Support Your Nervous System
These strategies help regulate your nervous system from both the top down (mind) and bottom up (body):
1. Prioritise Safety and Slowness
This might look like:
Taking a few deep belly breaths before meals
Grounding your feet to the floor when you feel overwhelmed
Creating a calm morning or evening routine
These small, consistent cues tell your body: “You’re safe.”
2. Eat in a Parasympathetic State
Your digestion only works well when your nervous system is in “rest and digest” mode. That means:
Chew your food slowly
Sit down to eat (no multitasking!)
Avoid screens during meals
Breathe before you begin
These small shifts help your gut and your mind.
3. Use Gentle Movement
High-intensity workouts can spike cortisol when your system is already stressed. Opt for:
Walking outdoors
Pilates or functional strength
Restorative yoga or stretching
Dancing to your favourite playlist in the kitchen (yes, this counts!)
4. Try Breathwork and Hypnotherapy
As a Hypnotherapist and Breathwork Facilitator, I use these tools daily with clients to calm the fight-or-flight response and create deep subconscious shifts.
You don’t have to spend an hour meditating - just 5-10 minutes a day of intentional breathing or guided relaxation can start to rewire your nervous system.
