10/04/2025
Is Your Nervous System Stuck in “Fight or Flight”?
Many people today live in a chronic state of sympathetic nervous system dominance - also known as the “fight or flight” response. This survival mode is designed for short bursts of stress, but when it's constantly activated, it can have long-term consequences on physical and emotional health.
What’s Happening in the Body?
In response to perceived stress, the brain signals the release of adrenaline and cortisol, our primary stress hormones. Adrenaline increases heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration, preparing the body for immediate action. Cortisol helps mobilize energy reserves, suppress non-essential functions like digestion and reproduction, and modulate inflammation.
Over time, prolonged cortisol production can dysregulate hormone balance, impair digestion, weaken immunity, and disturb sleep patterns. Eventually, the adrenal glands may struggle to keep up - leading to what is often referred to as adrenal fatigue, characterized by burnout, exhaustion, and reduced stress tolerance.
Common Symptoms of Sympathetic Dominance:
🚩Anxiety, nervous tension
🚩 Difficulty relaxing or feeling “on edge”
🚩Shallow breathing or chest tightness
🚩 Digestive issues (bloating, constipation, poor appetite)
🚩Trouble falling or staying asleep
🚩 Fatigue or burnout
🚩 Brain fog or poor concentration
🚩 Sensitivity to noise, light
As a naturopathic practitioner, I often see these symptoms as early warning signs from the nervous system and adrenal axis. Recognizing the pattern is the first step toward restoring balance.
If this resonates with you, you’re not alone—and it’s absolutely possible to support your system back into a more regulated, resilient state.
