5 Signs Your Nervous System Needs Support

Posted: June 26, 2025

Your body is constantly sending you signals. Every sensation, every flutter of anxiety, every moment of overwhelm or numbness-these aren't random occurrences. They're your nervous system's way of communicating with you, telling you what it needs to feel safe, regulated, and whole.

At BodyMind Therapy, we understand that healing starts in the body. Your nervous system holds the blueprint for your emotional and physical well-being, and when it's dysregulated, every aspect of your life can feel affected. The good news? Your body's signals aren't something to fear-they're invitations to deeper healing and transformation.

Here are five key signs that your nervous system may be asking for support:

1. Sleep Feels Like a Battle, Not Rest

When your nervous system is overwhelmed, sleep becomes elusive. You might find yourself:

Lying awake with racing thoughts
Waking up multiple times throughout the night
Feeling exhausted even after a full night's sleep
Experiencing vivid dreams or nightmares

Your nervous system needs to feel safe to enter deep, restorative sleep. When it's stuck in a state of hypervigilance-constantly scanning for threats-true rest becomes nearly impossible. This isn't a character flaw or something you need to "power through." It's your body asking for help to find safety and regulation.

2. Your Digestive System Reflects Your Stress

The gut-brain connection is real and powerful. When your nervous system is dysregulated, your digestive system often responds with:

Chronic stomach aches or nausea
Changes in appetite (eating too much or too little)
Digestive issues like IBS symptoms
Feeling "sick to your stomach" during stress

Your enteric nervous system-the network of nerves in your gut-is directly connected to your brain. When your nervous system is overwhelmed, it diverts energy away from digestion, leading to these uncomfortable symptoms. This is your body's way of saying it needs support to return to a state of safety and regulation.

3. Emotions Feel Overwhelming or Completely Absent

A dysregulated nervous system can swing between two extremes:

Hyperarousal (Too Much):

Feeling constantly anxious or on edge
Explosive anger or irritability
Panic attacks or intense fear
Racing thoughts that won't slow down

Hypoarousal (Too Little):

Feeling numb or disconnected
Depression or persistent sadness
Difficulty accessing emotions
Feeling like you're "going through the motions"

Both states indicate that your nervous system is working overtime to protect you. When we're outside our "window of tolerance"-that sweet spot where we can handle life's challenges-our emotions become either overwhelming or inaccessible.

4. Your Body Holds Tension Like a Vice

Physical symptoms of nervous system dysregulation are often the most noticeable:

Chronic muscle tension, especially in shoulders, neck, and jaw
Headaches or migraines
Chest tightness or difficulty breathing deeply
Unexplained aches and pains

Your body literally holds onto stress and trauma. When your nervous system perceives threat (real or imagined), it prepares for action by tensing muscles and changing breathing patterns. Over time, this chronic tension becomes your body's normal state-but it doesn't have to stay that way.

5. Focus and Decision-Making Feel Impossible

When your nervous system is dysregulated, cognitive functions suffer:

Difficulty concentrating on tasks
Feeling scattered or forgetful
Trouble making even simple decisions
Mental fog or feeling "not quite present"

This isn't laziness or lack of intelligence. When your nervous system is focused on survival, it doesn't have energy left for higher-order thinking. Your prefrontal cortex-responsible for executive functions-goes offline when your nervous system perceives threat.

Your Nervous System Can Heal

If you recognize yourself in these signs, please know: there is nothing wrong with you. Your nervous system is doing exactly what it was designed to do-protect you. These responses likely served you well at some point, helping you survive difficult experiences or environments.

The beautiful truth is that your nervous system has an incredible capacity for healing and regulation. Through somatic therapy, EMDR, and other body-mind approaches, you can:

Learn to recognize your nervous system states
Develop tools for self-regulation
Process stored trauma and stress
Expand your window of tolerance
Reconnect with your body's wisdom

Taking the Next Step

At BodyMind Therapy, we specialize in helping people understand and heal their nervous systems. Our team of experienced clinicians uses evidence-based approaches like somatic therapy, EMDR, and Internal Family Systems to support your healing journey.

Whether you're in Arvada, Wheatridge, or anywhere in the Denver metro area, we're here to help. We offer both in-person and virtual sessions, making healing accessible wherever you are.

Your nervous system's signals aren't something to ignore or push through. They're invitations to deeper healing, greater regulation, and a more connected relationship with yourself.

Ready to support your nervous system? Contact us at 303-219-9548 or referrals@bmtcolorado.com to schedule a consultation. Your body has been waiting for this conversation-let's start listening together.