Anxiety that won't quit. Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. Reactions that surprise even you. These aren't character flaws — they're signs your nervous system has been running in survival mode for too long.

"Regulate your nervous system." "Your body is in fight-or-flight." You've heard these phrases — but what do they actually mean? This plain-language explainer breaks down nervous system responses, why they matter for anxiety and trauma, and how therapy actually changes them.