Signs Your Nervous System is Dysregulated
If you’ve ever felt “on edge” for no clear reason, found yourself shutting down in moments of stress, or noticed your body reacting in ways your mind can’t control—you may be experiencing nervous system dysregulation.
As a somatic therapist, I often remind my clients that the nervous system isn’t something we can simply “think” our way out of. Our bodies carry the imprint of stress, trauma, and overwhelm, and they communicate through sensations, patterns, and reactions. Understanding these signs is the first step in healing.
What Does Nervous System Dysregulation Look Like?
Nervous system dysregulation can show up differently for everyone, but some common signs include:
Hypervigilance: Feeling constantly “on alert,” jumpy, or unable to relax, even when things are safe.
Difficulty Sleeping: Trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up feeling unrested.
Emotional Swings: Quick shifts between feeling anxious, irritable, shut down, or numb.
Digestive Issues: An upset stomach, bloating, or other symptoms linked to chronic stress.
Difficulty Concentrating: Struggling to focus, feeling scattered, or mentally foggy.
Chronic Fatigue: Ongoing exhaustion that doesn’t get better with rest.
Disconnection: Feeling detached from yourself, your emotions, or your body.
For highly sensitive people (HSPs), these signs can feel even more intense. Because your nervous system naturally takes in more stimulation, it can become overwhelmed more easily—leading to cycles of burnout, anxiety, or shutdown.
Why Somatic Therapy Helps
While traditional talk therapy can be incredibly valuable, it doesn’t always reach the body where trauma and stress are stored. This is where somatic therapy and trauma therapy come in.
Somatic therapy invites you to tune into your body’s signals with compassion, helping you:
Recognize patterns of fight, flight, freeze, or fawn.
Practice grounding and regulation techniques to bring balance back to your nervous system.
Release stored tension and unprocessed trauma in safe, supported ways.
Build resilience so you can respond—rather than react—to life’s challenges.
For HSPs, HSP therapy using somatic approaches can be particularly powerful, offering tools to honor your sensitivity while protecting your energy.
You’re Not Broken—You’re Human
If you notice signs of nervous system dysregulation, it doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with you. It means your body has been working hard to protect you, and now it needs support to find balance again.
This healing is possible—and you don’t have to do it alone.
Ready to Begin?
If you’re curious about how somatic therapy can support your nervous system, I’d love to connect with you. I offer trauma-informed, compassionate support for highly sensitive people, caregivers, and anyone navigating burnout or overwhelm.
👉 Schedule a free consultation to explore whether working together feels like the right fit for you.
Your body is wise. Together, we can help it feel safe again.
