Have you ever noticed your body reacting before your mind catches up – a racing heart, tight chest or that “on edge” feeling? That’s your nervous system at work.
It’s always asking one very important question: Am I safe? When the answer is yes, we feel calm, connected and able to think clearly. When the answer is no – whether the threat is real or just feels overwhelming – our body shifts into protection mode.
This can look like anxiety, irritability, shutting down or feeling overwhelmed. For some, this happens occasionally. For others, especially after ongoing stress or trauma, the nervous system can get stuck in these protective states and we can lose the sense of our own personal normal.
If you’ve ever felt constantly on edge, unable to relax or quick to react, it doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means your nervous system is trying to keep you safe. It may just be working overtime, so please be kind to yourself and reach out for support.
The encouraging part is that our nervous system can learn to feel safe again. Supportive relationships, gentle movement and calming practices can all help bring it back into balance. There are also therapies that work directly with the nervous system.
Understanding this can help us move from self-judgement to self-compassion and start asking not “What’s wrong with me?” but “What do I need right now to feel safe?”
This can be as simple as a walk on the beach, catching up with a trusted friend, listening to music or enjoying the many benefits of exercise or a sauna.
Another therapy, outside of talk therapy, is the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP), developed by Dr Stephen Porges based on Polyvagal Theory. It uses specially filtered music to help the body shift out of stress and towards a sense of safety and connection.
We are lucky in Raglan to have a local therapist trained in this approach. If you would like to know more about SSP, please contact Erika Smit at erikasmitcounselling@gmail.com.
from Tumanako Whaingaroa
