Your Nervous System Holds the Story. Our nervous system is at the heart of everything we experience. It regulates how safe we feel, how present we can be, and how our body responds to the world around us. When it functions well, we move through life with flow, calm, and resilience.
But when nervous system dysregulation takes hold, stress and trauma can linger in the body, shaping our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours in ways we may not even notice.
The truth is this: your body cannot release trauma until your nervous system feels safe. That’s why nervous system regulation is such a powerful key in trauma healing. Before we can let go of the past, we need to create an environment of safety and connection – inside and out.
What is Nervous System Dysregulation?
Nervous system dysregulation occurs when the body gets “stuck” in survival mode. Instead of moving smoothly between states of stress and rest, the system stays locked in fight, flight, freeze, or fawn responses.
Signs of dysregulation include:
- Feeling constantly on edge or hypervigilant
- Experiencing panic attacks or anxiety
- Numbness, disconnection, or dissociation
- Difficulty sleeping or relaxing
- Physical symptoms like headaches, digestive issues, or chronic pain
When dysregulated, even small stressors can feel overwhelming. The body is essentially saying, “I don’t feel safe.” This impacts every aspect of life – from relationships and work to physical health and emotional wellbeing.
How Trauma Gets Stored in the Body
Trauma isn’t just about what happened to us – it’s about what happened inside us as a result.
When an overwhelming experience occurs without the resources, tools or safety to process it, the body holds onto it. Instead of completing the stress cycle and returning to balance, the nervous system stays activated. Trauma gets stored as tension, pain, or unconscious protective patterns.
This is why so many people who have experienced trauma feel “stuck.” Their nervous system hasn’t yet been given permission to return to a regulated state.
Why Safety is the Foundation for Trauma Release
Healing trauma begins not with pushing harder, but with feeling safer. If the nervous system doesn’t believe the environment is safe, no amount of logic, talk, or willpower can convince it to let go.
That’s why nervous system regulation is the foundation of trauma release. Safety can come from:
- Supportive relationships where we feel seen and heard
- Calming practices like breathwork, sound healing, or mindfulness
- Gentle movement that soothes instead of strains
- Environments that reduce overwhelm and promote rest
When safety is restored, the body can finally release what it has been holding. Trauma unwinds not by force, but by guiding the nervous system back into balance.
The Role of the Vagus Nerve in Healing
One of the most important players in nervous system regulation is the vagus nerve. This powerful nerve runs from the brainstem through the body, connecting to the heart, lungs, and digestive system. It’s the body’s natural “calm switch.”
When the vagus nerve is stimulated, it signals safety. Heart rate slows, digestion improves, and the stress response eases. This state, often called the ventral vagal state, is when we feel connected, calm, and present.
Practices like humming, chanting, deep breathing, or spending time with loved ones can activate the vagus nerve and help shift the body into a regulated state.
Nervous System Regulation: The Key to Trauma Release
Regulating the nervous system is the bedrock of trauma healing. Without it, the body cannot let go of the past. With it, the body begins to trust again – and trauma can finally be released.
Some effective ways to support nervous system regulation include:
Grounding practices: barefoot walking, connecting with nature
Breathwork: slow, intentional breathing to signal calm
Somatic therapy: tuning into sensations in the body – very easily achieved through kinesiology!
Kinesiology and energy healing: balancing the body’s systems gently
Sound therapy: using vibration to shift stress responses
Movement: yoga, stretching, or gentle exercise to release tension
These practices help the body shift out of nervous system dysregulation and into balance, creating the conditions for deep healing.
The Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Responses
To understand nervous system stress, it helps to know the survival states the body uses to cope with danger:
Fight: anger, irritability, or aggression
Flight: anxiety, overthinking, or constant busyness
Freeze: numbness, dissociation, or feeling “stuck”
Fawn: people – pleasing, avoiding conflict, or self – abandonment
None of these responses are wrong – they are protective strategies. But if we remain in them long after the danger has passed, they keep us from living fully.
Nervous system regulation allows us to move through these states and return to connection, safety, and presence.
How Nervous System Stress Affects Daily Life
When we live in a dysregulated state, the effects ripple through every area of life:
Mental health: increasing anxiety, depression, or emotional overwhelm
Physical health: contributing to pain, autoimmune issues, or fatigue
Sleep: causing insomnia or restless nights
Relationships: making connection harder and conflict more common
Work and focus: reducing concentration and productivity
By contrast, when the nervous system is regulated, we feel resilient, grounded, and able to respond rather than react.
Nervous System Regulation for Longevity and Wellbeing
Emerging research shows that chronic stress and unresolved trauma can shorten lifespan and reduce quality of life.
On the other hand, nervous system regulation supports:
Longevity: reducing wear and tear on the body
Emotional wellbeing: helping us manage stress more effectively
Cognitive health: improving focus and memory
Immune resilience: supporting the body’s ability to heal
This means nervous system healing isn’t just about the past. It’s about creating a healthier, longer, and more vibrant future.
Practical Tips for Nervous System Healing
If you’re ready to begin your journey of trauma release and nervous system regulation, here are some gentle steps:
Notice your body’s cues: tension, breath, posture – these reveal your nervous system state.
Create small rituals of safety: a calming tea, a daily walk, or journalling before bed.
Reduce sensory overload: step away from screens, create quiet time, and honour your limits.
Connect with supportive people: nervous systems heal best in connection, not isolation.
Seek professional support: therapies like kinesiology, somatic practices, or energy healing can guide the process. I offer all of this in one therapy!
The goal isn’t perfection – it’s building a healthier, more compassionate relationship with your body and nervous system.
The Heart of Nervous System Healing
At its core, nervous system regulation is about reclaiming safety, connection, and presence. Trauma teaches the body to brace, to guard, and to expect danger. Healing teaches the body to soften, open, and trust again.
Your nervous system holds the story of what you’ve survived, but it also holds the potential for your freedom. When you learn to regulate, you create the conditions for trauma release, emotional resilience, and true wellbeing.
This is the pathway to living not just as a survivor, but as someone who thrives – grounded, present, and free.
You Are Not Broken
If you recognise signs of nervous system dysregulation in yourself, know this: you are not broken. Your body has been protecting you in the only way it knew how.
The fact that you are reading this means you are ready to begin a different chapter. By choosing nervous system regulation and creating safety, you allow your body to release what no longer serves you.
You give yourself the gift of healing – not just for today, but for a future filled with resilience, connection, longevity, and peace.
It’s time to book some sessions with me!
Need Support on Your Healing Journey?
Hi, I’m Alice Bullivant, Bella Vista based kinesiologist, mind-body medicine therapist, and founder of KinesiAlice. I help people like you tune into what your body is really saying, clear the emotional and energetic blocks holding you back, and reconnect with your inner calm, clarity, and confidence.
I offer one on one sessions in Kinesiology, Neuro Transformation Therapy, Human Design Coaching, The Business of Soul available both online or in person and Soulnar Sound & Energy Healing exclusively in my Bella Vista clinic.
Book your session or get in touch if you’re unsure where to start. I’d love to connect with you.
