As a therapist, one of the phrases that I hear the most from my clients is, “Why do I feel like this?” Many people report having physical sensations that just will not go away. This can leave us feeling confused and discouraged, almost like our brain and bodies aren’t connected. Thankfully, there is an answer to most of these complaints! I do not claim to be a medical professional, so if you feel like your struggles are medical, please seek a professional opinion. But from what I’ve noticed as a therapist, usually these bodily sensations have to do with the nervous system.
Most of us haven’t thought much about the nervous system since high school anatomy. It uses electrical and chemical signals to carry messages from the brain to the rest of the body. The brain largely controls everything about us, how we feel, think, move, and learn. Our nervous system is what is responsible for when we feel our body ramp up and then the process of calming back down.
Our Nervous System
The nervous system includes the central (brain and spinal cord), peripheral (muscles and movement), and autonomic systems (involuntary functions). I’ll focus on the autonomic system, which controls automatic reactions and has two parts: the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for ramping us up, particularly the fight/flight/freeze response. The ramping up of the nervous system is usually when our brain signals to us that there is something dangerous and that we need to self-protect. In contrast, the parasympathetic nervous system is what is responsible for calming us down. When we are calm, we breathe slower and our body feels relaxed and rested.
And Understanding It
Understanding the autonomic nervous system helps make sense of confusing physical sensations that don’t seem to match our emotions. For example, anxiety can often be described as the miscommunication between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. There are many signs of a dysregulated nervous system. Laying the groundwork is important for understanding the nervous system, why it’s important, and how things are ideally supposed to function within our bodies.
Many of us struggle with bodily sensations that we do not quite understand and it could be the nervous system telling us that something is wrong.
Before I go more into the actual signs of a dysregulated nervous system, I want to give you a word of encouragement. Your body is a good body. Struggling with stressful bodily sensations doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. Your body sends signals—sometimes intense—that can guide you toward curiosity and healing. Signs of a dysregulated nervous system include intense emotions, impulsivity, low emotional awareness, difficulty making decisions, trouble managing behavior, and avoiding difficult emotions.
Sound Familiar
If you read anything on this list and thought to yourself, “This is me,” you might have a dysregulated nervous system. Largely this can explain why some people can keep it together in something stressful, while others completely fall apart. All in all, it is the heightened sensitivity to any stimuli. Along with this list, there is often a host of bodily sensations that go along with these signs. This can include sweating, an increased heart rate, tingling in the hands and/or feet, feeling restless (unable to sit still), and shallow breathing. Even though these signs and symptoms are uncomfortable, your body makes sense. The nervous system works to protect us from harm, so these symptoms may be your body sensing perceived physical, emotional, or psychological danger.
Like I said earlier, this is something to be curious about. If your reactions feel out of proportion to what’s happening, it may help to talk with a licensed counselor. A dysregulated nervous system can heal, but it often takes time, care, and support from a trusted professional. We’d love to help you better understand your symptoms and your story so you can move toward a more fulfilling life.
Written By: Marissa Halstead
