Why You’re Always On Edge: Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation & How to Reset Naturally
Have you ever felt like you’re running on fumes? Like no matter how much you rest, you still wake up tired, easily irritated, or emotionally drained? Maybe you find yourself needing a glass of wine to unwind after work, scrolling endlessly on your phone to zone out, or snapping at people you care about without meaning to.
You’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not broken.
What you might be experiencing is nervous system dysregulation — a fancy way of saying your body is stuck in survival mode. And the good news? There are gentle, effective ways to help bring it back into balance.
What Is Nervous System Dysregulation? (And Why It’s More Common Than You Think)
Your nervous system is designed to help you survive. It constantly scans your environment for safety or danger. When it senses a threat (even if it’s just an overflowing inbox or a tight deadline), it kicks you into fight, flight, freeze, or fawn mode.
This is helpful in short bursts. But when you’re living in a state of constant stress, pressure, and overstimulation—like many busy professionals do—your nervous system doesn’t get the signal to switch off, leading to nervous system dysregulation.
That’s when dysregulation happens. You get stuck in high alert (anxious, tense, overthinking) or shut down (numb, unmotivated, disconnected). Neither state feels good.
Signs Your Nervous System Is Out of Balance
You might not realize it, but some of your day-to-day struggles could be signs your nervous system needs a little love:
- Feeling constantly tired, even after sleeping
- Trouble focusing or making decisions
- Emotional outbursts or feeling emotionally flat
- Tight chest, shallow breathing, clenched jaw
- Using food, substances, or screens to numb out
- Anxiety, overwhelm, or a sense that you’re never fully relaxed
Sound familiar? You’re not lazy or weak. These are survival strategies your body has developed to cope, often resulting from nervous system dysregulation.
The Science Behind Your Stress: Fight, Flight, Freeze & Fawn
Your autonomic nervous system has two main branches:
- Sympathetic (fight or flight): It revs you up to respond to threats.
- Parasympathetic (rest and digest): It calms you down when you’re safe.
When you’re dysregulated, you get stuck in one mode. That could look like go-go-go energy that never lets you rest, or a freeze response where you feel paralyzed and disconnected, which are signs of nervous system dysregulation.
Why You Can’t “Just Chill” (And Why Quick Fixes Don’t Work)
So many of us try to unwind with a glass of wine, a Netflix binge, or mindless scrolling. And while those things might give you temporary relief, they don’t actually help your nervous system reset.
You can’t force your way into feeling better. You need to gently guide your body into safety. That’s where somatic practices (body-based practices) come in, helping to address nervous system dysregulation.
5 Gentle Practices to Restore Nervous System Balance
The goal isn’t to be perfectly calm all the time—it’s to help your system regulate: to move between states of alertness and rest with more ease. Here are a few ways to start:
- Breathwork
- Try Nadi Shodhana (alternate nostril breathing). It balances both sides of your nervous system and brings a sense of calm.
- Movement
- Gentle yoga, walking, or even shaking out your limbs can help release stuck energy.
- Vagus Nerve Stimulation
- Humming, chanting, or even singing in the shower can calm your system. The vagus nerve is your body’s built-in chill button.
- Grounding Techniques
- Put your bare feet on the earth. Do a body scan. Place one hand on your heart and one on your belly and breathe.
- Create a Nervous-System Friendly Routine
- Limit screen time. Take breaks. Prioritize rest. Surround yourself with people who help you feel safe.
You’re Not Broken — You’re Just Stuck in Survival Mode
This isn’t about being dramatic or over-sensitive. It’s about understanding that your body has been trying to protect you. But now it needs your help to find its way back to balance.
Healing your nervous system isn’t about doing more. It’s about slowing down, tuning in, and offering yourself compassion.
If you’re ready to start feeling calm, focused, and more in control again, I’m here to support you. My yoga programs and community were created with exactly this in mind—to give you the tools and space to reconnect with yourself and address nervous system dysregulation from the inside out.
Let’s take a deep breath together. You’ve got this.
If you are new to yoga or looking to deepen your practice, I’m here to support you in your journey.
Visit my website to find out about my programs and offerings:
Thank you for reading this blog, this means that you care for yourself. I encourage you to take some time to reflect on the content of this blog and how this reflect with your daily life. Feel free to leave me a comment, I am open to any debat or questions that you may have.
I send you love,
Steve Bavoysi
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