The Science of the Stress Response: Why Your Body Gets Stuck in Overdrive

We’ve all felt it — your heart races, your breath quickens, and your body feels ready to spring into action. This is your body’s stress response at work, and in small doses, it’s actually a lifesaver. But when that stress switch gets stuck “on,” it can take a serious toll on your health and wellbeing.

What is the Stress Response?

The stress response is your body’s built-in alarm system, controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. When your brain perceives a threat — whether it’s a looming deadline, an argument, or a true emergency — it activates the “fight or flight” mode.

During this process, your body:

• Releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol

• Increases heart rate and blood pressure to deliver oxygen to muscles

• Shifts energy away from digestion and immunity (because survival comes first)

• Heightens alertness so you’re laser-focused on the threat

This system was designed for short bursts of survival — like running from danger or lifting something heavy in an emergency.

What Happens When Stress Becomes Chronic?

Modern life doesn’t often involve tigers or physical threats — but our bodies respond to emails, traffic, financial stress, and family pressures the same way.
When your stress response is activated day after day, your body never gets the chance to fully reset.

Long-term stress can lead to:

• Fatigue and burnout

• Anxiety and irritability

• Poor digestion and gut issues

• Hormonal imbalances

• Weakened immune function

• Increased risk for heart disease

It’s like revving an engine constantly — eventually, parts start to wear down.

The Role of the Parasympathetic Nervous System

The good news is your body has a natural counterbalance — the parasympathetic nervous system, often called “rest and digest.”
When activated, it slows the heart rate, improves digestion, and signals safety to the body.

The challenge? Many of us struggle to make that shift from survival mode back into calm and regulation.

How the Nervous System Regulation Method Helps

This is exactly why I created the Nervous System Regulation Method — a simple framework to help you:

• Understand your personal stress triggers

• Activate your parasympathetic system on demand

• Rewire your body’s patterns so you don’t get stuck in overdrive

By learning to regulate, you give your body permission to heal, restore, and thrive.

Journal Prompt

• When do you notice your stress response most often?

• What does your body feel like when you’re in fight-or-flight mode?

Closing Call-to-Action

👉 If this resonates with you, stay tuned for next week’s post where we’ll dive into Polyvagal Theory Made Simple. In the meantime, try noticing when your stress response shows up today — awareness is always the first step toward regulation.