News — Nervous System Dysregulation

When life feels overwhelming and you find yourself struggling to move forward, it’s natural to wonder whether you’re dealing with depression or something else entirely... One possibility is that you might be in a functional freeze state, a condition that shares some similarities with depression but is rooted in different causes. Understanding the difference between these two states is essential for identifying the right support and healing approach.  What is Functional Freeze State? A functional freeze state is a survival response to long-term stress or unresolved trauma where the body and mind become “frozen,” unable to fully relax or engage...

If you're struggling with a stubborn midsection that seems resistant to diet and exercise, it might not be due to your workout plan or calorie intake — it could simply be from the amount of stress you experience. (And that's called a cortisol belly!) High stress levels and the consequent high cortisol can directly lead to accumulating fat around your midsection. And this isn't just a matter of aesthetics; it's a sign from your body that something deeper is amiss, particularly with your nervous system's ability to handle stress. So it's essential to understand how your constant stress contributes to your...

If you find yourself doom-scrolling on social media until you physically can't keep your eyes open at night only to wake up with racing thoughts just 3 hours later, high cortisol levels could be the culprit. Cortisol, often dubbed the "stress hormone," plays a significant role in your body's response to stress. But when levels remain elevated, especially at night, it can lead to a host of sleep issues. This disruption is deeply connected to nervous system dysregulation, constant stress, and stored trauma, affecting not just your physical health but your mental well-being too. The Science Behind High Cortisol and...

A dysregulated nervous system underlies multiple common health problems, including mental health issues, autoimmune disorders, and thyroid conditions. Additionally, a dysregulated nervous system exacerbates the symptoms of many illnesses — this list ranges from ADHD and depression to hashimoto's and graves' disease. Your nervous system is designed to react to threats and stressors in short bursts. But when you're exposed to ongoing stress, they become chronically activated. And this chronic activation will result in dysregulation, where your body's stress response systems fail to properly go from 'on' to 'off'.  Typically, stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are meant to be released and then quickly...