3 Signs Your Nervous System Is in Survival Mode (And How to Shift)

Your nervous system is always working to protect you—but when it stays stuck in survival mode, you can feel anxious, numb, irritable, or exhausted all the time. Sound familiar? If everything feels like too big of a task or if numbness wont let up, these can be signs you are at you capacity.

Here are three common signs your nervous system may be stuck in a dysregulated state:

1. You overreact—or underreact—to small stressors

   Maybe you snap at someone for no reason. Or maybe you feel nothing at all when something major happens. This is your system toggling between hyperarousal (fight/flight) and hypoarousal (freeze/shutdown). It’s your body’s way of coping when it doesn’t feel safe.

2. You feel emotionally numb, detached, or constantly overwhelmed

   You might describe it as “checked out” or “on edge all the time.” You may find yourself zoning out, doom-scrolling, or going through the motions without really being there. This is a common nervous system response to long-term dysregulation

3. You struggle to rest or fall asleep—even when you’re exhausted

   Your body is tired, but your brain won’t shut off. Or you wake up already feeling drained. That’s a clue your system hasn’t shifted into “rest and digest” mode—it’s still stuck in “alert” mode.

⚠️ These are just a few signs—and they can show up like this plus a million other ways:

• Digestive issues

• Chronic tension

• Trouble focusing

• Always feeling “on edge” or never truly present

When your system gets overwhelmed (by stress, trauma, grief, or simply too much for too long), it may stay “on guard” even when the threat has passed. It’s a sign your body has been working hard to keep you safe in the best way it knows how.

✨ Shift Tip:

You don’t have to fix it all at once.
Start small: one breath, one stretch, one check-in. Even 60 seconds of intentional breathing or grounding movement can help your nervous system feel safe enough to soften.

Want to practice these tools in real time? Join The Reset Method or download our free Somatic Starter Guide (coming soon).