What is a dysregulated nervous system?
SO why am I here talking to you about habit change anyway?
Well, it's deeply rooted in my own story as an empath and highly sensitive person. As a nurse, I spent eighteen years in the high-pressure environment of a teaching hospital, without any real understanding of how to manage stress or cope with the traumatic experiences that came my way. I didn’t have effective coping skills and eventually found myself engulfed by severe anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.
I recently had the opportunity to have candid conversation with my friend and mentor Dana Lewis on her Podcast “Stop Faking Fine” give it a listen.
If you work in healthcare, you might relate to this story:
Before work, I would search for the courage to walk inside the hospital and start my shift. Most mornings, I would grip the steering wheel as tightly as I could, slowly inhale... and then slowly exhale. Desperately trying to calm my nervous system, I would convince myself I was fine and could show up for another day.
At some point I realized I had lost myself in the service of others, I knew I needed to make a change but was unsure where to start. My journey to recovery began with therapy and partnering with a life coach, which was pivotal. They helped me develop crucial life skills (habits) to manage what I now understand as a dysregulated nervous system. Living under constant stress had pushed my body towards a shutdown.
Maybe you're there now.
Before continuing with our top tips to create new habits that stick, I wanted to take a week to talk about a buzzword you may have heard lately: A dysregulated nervous system.
Who has it, and what does that mean?
The nervous system is crucial to our body’s functioning, regulating our responses to stimuli and maintaining our bodily functions. A regulated nervous system ensures that our body can adapt to changes in our environment and maintain a state of balance.
However, there are times when our nervous system becomes dysregulated.
This can occur due to various factors, including chronic stress, trauma, or genetic predispositions. When our nervous system is dysregulated, it can’t perform its roles efficiently, which may result in numerous symptoms such as chronic stress or anxiety, burnout, as well as various types of chronic pain or illness.
Dysregulation of the nervous system can profoundly impact most of our bodies' functions. Many people are unaware that this is the underlying cause of many
What causes a dysregulated nervous system?
Chronic Stress: Continuous exposure to stress keeps the body in a state “fight or flight”, leading to hypervigilance and overwhelm.
Lifestyle Factors: Poor diet, lack of physical activity, and inadequate sleep can disrupt the normal functioning of the nervous system. Our favorite stimulants are caffeine and alcohol.
Environmental Factors: Exposure to environmental toxins, like heavy metals, pesticides, mold, and certain chemicals, can negatively impact the nervous system. Stressors like noise pollution or a high-stress work environment can also contribute to dysregulation.
Trauma: Physical and emotional traumas, such as accidents, surgeries, abuse, or witnessing distressing events, can lead to nervous system dysregulation.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs): Negative childhood experiences can impact the nervous system's development and cause dysregulation.
Genetics: Certain gene variations make some people more susceptible to stress and anxiety.
Underlying Health Conditions: Conditions such as autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and hormonal imbalances can contribute to nervous system dysregulation.
Common Signs of a Dysregulated Nervous System: Do any of these sound familiar?
😰 You’re constantly on edge and overwhelmed
😡 You’re frequently snappy, irritable, and reactive
🤕 You experience chronic pain and illness
🎶 You’re highly sensitive to sensory stimuli
😴 You experience sleep problems and daytime fatigue
📚 Chronic attention and concentration problems
🍔 Cravings and extreme appetite changes
🛡️ Immune and hormonal symptoms
🌿 Skin and gut conditions
💞 You’re highly sensitive to other people’s emotional states
So, you've identified some of these signs and symptoms—now what do you do about it? Well, it starts with recognizing it and then making small changes where you can.
That's where habit change comes in.
Learn top tips to create new habits that stick - GRAB THE WORKBOOK
This week’s challenge for you: Continue to visualize and identify new habits you are interested in building and habits that are getting in the way of your progress that you would like to break.
We are working on building the habit and building the identity, not making a complete 360-degree shift on day one.
Reminder: Small actions, when repeated, have the power to shift your life.
My Top 6 Daily Micro Habits:
Affirmations: As soon as I wake up, I place my hand on my chest and affirm myself. I remind myself I am loved and I tell myself today is going to be a good day and take a few deep breaths.
Hydration and Oxygen: Drink a full glass of water before anything else goes in my body and take a few deep breaths.
Mindfulness: Slow, conscious breathing. It's About the vagus nerve
Grounding: Get outside, spend time in nature, and move my body. When possible, go barefoot.
Gratitude: Before going to sleep, I do a little scavenger hunt through my day and find 3 things I am thankful for or 3 small things that made my day better. It’s all about the glimmers.
Gut Health Check: who knew your gut bugs were so important? Learn how I keep my gut bugs healthy
Interested in a Habit Tracker? Grab this workbook and invite a friend who may benefit from this information.
Stay tuned for next week as we continue this series on habit change:
Let's learn to heal our nervous system and shine our lights bright. When we get better, the world around us gets better. We can be the change.
