Overwhelmed and Stuck? Start with Your Nervous System

Lately, it feels like the world is on fire — everywhere you look, anxiety, overwhelm, and pressure are swirling. Especially for women carrying the mental load of caregiving, parenting, work, and managing a household, it’s easy to feel like you’re disconnected from yourself, like a “head on a stick,” separated from your own body and needs.

If that sounds familiar, here’s an important truth: You’re not broken. The system you’re living in is.

The weight of conditioning

We’re conditioned to be “good girls,” to say yes, to put others first — often at the cost of our own well-being. This conditioning triggers our nervous systems into a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze. We push through exhaustion, ignore our bodies, and neglect our needs because it feels like that’s what’s expected.

But real change doesn’t come from pushing harder or quick fixes. It comes from learning to reconnect with yourself — your body, your feelings, and your needs — and giving yourself permission to slow down.

Start with these three simple questions

1. How am I really feeling right now? Not “good” or “bad,” but truly checking in with your body and emotions. If the answer is numbness, that’s okay — numbness is a feeling too.

2. What does that feel like in my body? Where are you sensing that feeling in your body? Notice it without judgment. This connection is the key to grounding yourself.

3. What do I need right now? It might be as simple as a glass of water, stepping outside to feel the earth beneath your feet, or a few moments of silence. Whatever it is, honor that need.
   

The second question — tuning into how you know what you feel — shifts you from your head to your body. It’s where true presence and healing begin, because healing isn’t top-down. It starts from the inside out.

Setting Boundaries Feels Uncomfortable — and That’s Okay

Doing less often causes others discomfort, especially when you’ve been conditioned to be “the good girl.” That discomfort can make you want to backtrack and do it all anyway. But remember: that urge to appease is your nervous system’s way of keeping you “safe” based on old stories — not the truth of your current safety.

You are safe. You can say no. You can take care of yourself first.

In moments when your nervous system feels hijacked — whether from confrontation, bad news, or stress — try this:

• Look around your space. Notice what’s safe and present.

• Maybe hold something comforting, like a pillow.

• Remind yourself: I am here. I am safe right now.

Avoid quick fixes like caffeine, sugar, or doom-scrolling through social media. Instead, slow down and breathe. The process of healing and reconnecting isn’t linear or fast, but it’s worth it.

You have the capacity to create change — one small, curious step at a time.

You’re not broken. You’re here, alive, and worthy of care. And that is enough.

Want to Feel This in Your Body? Watch the Video

Reading about nervous system regulation is one thing — but experiencing it in real time is something else entirely.

In a short, powerful video conversation with somatic practitioner Cristin Condon, we talk about what it really means to start with your nervous system. With deep presence and clarity, Cristin shares why top-down solutions often fall flat, and how simple, body-based awareness can create profound shifts in how we move through the world.

Whether you’re new to somatics or just need a reminder to pause and reconnect, this conversation is a beautiful place to begin.