Day 4: Your nervous system isn’t overreacting; it’s remembering.
- theoverflowlife
- Jun 4
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 10
That racing heart?
The sudden withdrawal?
The urge to flee, freeze, or fight when nothing "big" is happening?
That’s not you being dramatic or broken. That’s your body remembering.
Because trauma isn’t just stored in the mind. It lives in the nervous system. It shapes how you breathe, react, trust, and protect.
A “trigger” isn’t proof that something is wrong with you. It’s an echo of something painful that hasn’t fully resolved. Your body is trying to keep you safe even if the danger has passed.
Healing doesn’t mean silencing those signals. It means getting curious about them.
Listening.
Soothing.
Rewiring.
Learning your body’s unique language of safety and survival.
Sometimes your body knows something before your mind catches up. And that’s not weakness; that’s wisdom.
Ask yourself:
When was the last time my body reacted before I understood why?
What was it protecting me from?
Can I meet that part of me with compassion instead of shame?
Your body is not your enemy. It’s the brave vessel that carried you through what your heart couldn’t fully process at the time. And now, it’s inviting you to come home to it. Gently. Patiently. With grace.
Your body remembers. Before your mind can make sense of the story, your nervous system is already responding. And those responses deserve curiosity, not condemnation.
Journal Prompt
Think of a time recently when your body reacted strongly (tight chest, racing thoughts, shutting down, etc. What happened before, during, and after?
Without analysing it, write what your body might have been trying to protect you from.
How can you begin creating safety in those moments so your body knows it no longer has to be on high alert?
Your body isn’t betraying you, it’s inviting you to slow down and listen. Trust its signals. They’re rooted in survival, but they can lead to healing.
Comments