Signs of A Stressed Nervous System (And What to Do About It)
In 2021, I had a nervous system collapse in a foreign country.
For several days I couldn’t leave my room. The smallest sounds startled me. Facial expressions confused me. Mundane mistakes enraged me and I had urges to punch walls and scream at strangers. One morning, my breakfast toast had too much peanut butter, so I threw it on the ground and stomped on it.
I was not doing well.
This came just a few weeks after my divorce papers were finalized, which was followed by a work accident where I broke several bones. A month prior, I was sexually assaulted. While I had ample support from friends and a therapist, the combination and back to back timing of all these experiences gave my nervous system zero time to reset, and I couldn’t recalibrate.
I had been through a nervous system collapse two years earlier, but at that time I had no idea that my rage attacks, emotional lability, hair loss, and seemingly undiagnosable digestive issues were related to my nervous system.
(if you already think this sounds like something you’re dealing with, I recommend joining me for Open’s free Nervous System Reset starting January 1st).
What is a Nervous System Collapse?
“Over time, repeated activation of the stress response takes a toll on the body. Research suggests that chronic stress contributes to high blood pressure, promotes the formation of artery-clogging deposits, and causes brain changes that may contribute to anxiety, depression, and addiction” (Harvard Health Publishing, 2020).
A nervous system collapse essentially means the nervous system (which is designed to help us regulate stress) has not had enough time to reset after intense, chronic, or repeated stress.
I hope you like my lego analogy lol.
Think of it this way:
Imagine that your nervous system is an army of lego dudes. They’re clicked into place on their lego mats ready to defend against incoming lego cannonballs. Now let’s say one lego cannonball comes through--maybe a couple lego dudes fall, but if no other lego cannonballs are on the way, you (the lego master) have time to reset them so the dudes are standing for the next attack.
Now, let’s say 20 cannonballs come all at once and all your dudes fall over. You start to reset them, but another flood of 20 comes in. Then maybe 2 or 3. Then 5. You’re resetting and resetting but no matter how much resetting you do, you can’t keep up. Your dudes are down, cannonballs are getting through, and you’re exhausted just trying to reset them.
Lego army dude collapse.
This is what happens when we experience repeated, chronic, or intense stress--even though we know how to reset (yep, our systems are smart cookies!), we simply don’t have time to keep up with the cannonballs.
And when we don’t have time to keep up with the cannonballs, we get struck with depression, anxiety, rage, digestion issues, and more: those little lego dudes who are there to protect us from the effects of longterm stress collapse, and we are left incredibly vulnerable.
Join me for a free 31 day reset on the Open App and let’s get those lego dudes standing.
So when I saw a naturopath after my second nervous system collapse, she explained to me that the chronic stress of 2020 (thanks COVID), my divorce, sexual assault, and my ongoing symptoms of depression/anxiety/eating disorder were so intense (or, too sequential and without ample time for recovery), that my nervous system couldn’t keep up.
My dudes had fallen, and every cannonball thrown my way hit me at full force.
This was why everything stressed me out. This was why everything set me into a fit of rage—or biologically speaking, “fight mode” to protect me from a perceived threat. My survival system basically left itself “on,” because it assumed it would not get the chance to turn” off.”
When I added nervous system resets to my ongoing talk therapy, I experienced fewer depressive episodes and a major reduction in anxiety.
I learned that many of my depressive episodes and anxiety were the results of a stressed nervous system. I was enduring too much stress for too long with too few skills, and my mind and body had met a breakdown.
“Exposure to chronic stressors can cause maladaptive reactions including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and heart disease” (Chu et al., 2022).
For the last four years, I’ve focused on my nervous system in addition to my traditional talk therapy and it has been a game changer.
No I’m not symptom-free or healed (y'all know I don’t preach that stuff). And, I have WAY more skills to regulate myself and understand what’s happening before I get to the point of collapse.
To prevent future nervous system collapses, I plan a nervous system reset immediately after a stressful season (like the holidays).
Starting January 1st I will be doing a 31 day Nervous System Reset with Open, and I’d love to invite you to join me for free.
Go to https://go.o-p-e-n.com/rachel-nsr to join the reset FREE
December is typically a high stress time for many folks--whether because of the holidays, work deadlines, family stress, high spending and financial burdens, lack of or too much social engagement, reflection on the year past, anxiety about the year to come, feeling like a failure, fearing future failure, being single, falling out of love, dark days and cold nights, and the looming internal knowing of an ending and new beginning.
We experience repeated stress for a prolonged time without much time to reset--January is historically when I’ve had most of my breakdowns and now I know why.
I’ve done a lot of research* to understand now the link between an overstressed nervous system and depression/ anxiety, so if I have the ability to intervene before a collapse, you better believe I’m going to. This is why I plan on doing a 31 day reset in January, and I’d love you to join me.
Signs You Might Need a Nervous System Reset
If you’re not sure whether or not your nervous system is stressed, here are some indicators that a reset might be right for you.*
Digestion or gut issues
Sleep disruption, exhaustion, insomnia
Jaw clenching, neck or shoulder tension
Anxiety or panic attacks
Depression, low mood, difficulty finding motivation
Irritability, anger, easily set off
Low sex drive
Difficulty concentrating/brain fog
If you’re experiencing any of the above, have experienced nervous system collapse before, or simply want to do something good for your mind and body this new year, I invite you to do the 31 Day Nervous System Reset with me.
What to Expect in the Free Nervous System Reset
For 31 days, you’ll receive daily breathwork and mindfulness practices designed by experts in mindfulness and neurobiology.
These practices range from 5-20 minutes and can be done anywhere, anytime.
Week One: Reset
You’ll gently bring your nervous system out of fight/flight and back to baseline.
Week Two: Regulate
Learn and train regulating practices to give your nervous system tools to manage future stress.
Week Three: Rewire
Develop new neural pathways so you not only manage stress, but recover quicker to avoid burnout.
Week Four: Expand
Optimize your nervous system’s natural ability to fight stress and realize your potential to live stress-free.
Registration is open NOW, and if you’re like me and are a wee bit forgetful (no shame, we’re human!), make sure you get signed up TODAY so you don’t forget.
How to Participate in the Free Nervous System Reset
Sign up for the reset using this link:https://go.o-p-e-n.com/rachel-nsr
On January 1st, head to the Open App on your mobile device and the Nervous System Reset on the top of the page
Click “Nervous System Reset” to unlock that day’s practice
From January 1st-31st you’ll have free access to all the classes, so if you miss a day (or are reading this after January 1st) you can still join!
Find a comfortable, safe place to practice. I recommend a yoga mat in your room, seated on a couch or pillow, or even laying down in bed. As long as you feel safe and won’t be disturbed.
You’ll be able to track your progress and see other participants, so you’ll have accountability (and won’t be alone).
I’m so proud of you for choosing your wellbeing--in 2024 and beyond. I believe in us and believe that together we will keep discovering ways to find peace, balance, and stay out of survival mode and experience a life of thriving.
See you at the reset.
XX
Rachel
*Disclaimer, I am not a licensed medical professional. Always consult your doctor, therapist, or health professional and do your own research before making decisions about your health.
References:
Chu, B., Marwaha, K., Ayers, D., & Sanvictores, T. (2022, September 12). Physiology, Stress reaction. PubMed; StatPearls Publishing. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK541120/
Cleveland Clinic. (2021, January 28). What Is Stress? Symptoms, Signs & More. Cleveland Clinic; Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress
Harvard Health Publishing. (2020, July 6). Understanding the Stress Response . Harvard Health; Harvard Health Publishing. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response