We’ve all been there - feeling exhausted, burnt out, stressed to the max, and like the pace at which we’re trying to live life is unsustainable. You’ve probably heard your body screaming at you that it needs a break. And although you know you should rest,sometimes it’s easier to keep plowing ahead than it is to stop, listen, and adjust your entire routine.
That inner voice you’re hearing, or the symptoms you can’t seem to shake, are signs from your body that it’s had enough. Your nervous system, which controls nearly every function in your body, is especially sensitive to stress, overwhelm, and burnout and will let you know when you’re doing too much and pushing the limits of what makes it feel safe.
If you need a refresher, check out this post I did that’s all about your nervous system.
Here are four major signs that your nervous system is on the fritz and your body might be telling you it needs some major TLC.
1. Gut Issues: The Brain-Gut Connection
Ever had a “gut feeling” about something? That’s because your gut and brain are directly linked through the gut-brain axis. Your digestive system has its own network of neurons and is deeply influenced by your nervous system. When stress takes over, your body shifts into fight-or-flight mode, diverting energy away from digestion. This can lead to bloating, constipation, diarrhea, and even conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Chronic stress - think, life stress, but also negative thought patterns, too- can create inflammation in the gut, disrupt healthy bacteria, and trigger digestive discomfort. If you notice persistent gut issues, it could be a sign that your nervous system is struggling to regulate itself.
I’m sure you’ve tried it all to heal your gut - elimination diets, cleanses, fasting, and more. While those can be helpful tools, they’re not addressing the root cause of what’s going on. There’s a good chance that the deeper you dig, the more you’ll find and aspect of stress and nervous system dysfunction at the root cause of your gut issues.
2. Wired but Tired: Fatigue Meets Insomnia
You’re exhausted, burnt out, and running on empty—but as soon as your head hits the pillow, your mind won’t shut off. Sound familiar? This “wired but tired” feeling is a classic sign of nervous system dysregulation.
When the body is under prolonged stress, it pumps out high levels of cortisol, your main stress hormone. While cortisol is essential for energy and focus, too much of it for too long leads to adrenal fatigue, disrupted sleep cycles, and an overall feeling of exhaustion. You may wake up groggy despite getting enough hours of sleep or struggle with restless nights, constantly tossing and turning.
If you’re caught in this cycle, it can be so frustrating. However, popping melatonin or sleep aids aren’t going to help you fix the root cause of what’s making you feel exhausted and sleep deprived. Figuring out what’s keeping your brain fired up, practicing relaxation techniques, and learning how to prep your body for a great night of sleep can help you nurture your nervous system and finally feel rested.
3. Weight Loss Resistance: The Stress-Metabolism Connection
You’re eating well, exercising, and doing everything “right,” yet the scale won’t budge—or worse, it keeps creeping up. If this sounds like you, chronic stress and nervous system burnout could be to blame.
When the nervous system is overwhelmed, the body prioritizes survival over weight loss. High stress keeps cortisol levels elevated, which can lead to insulin resistance, increased fat storage, and a sluggish metabolism. Over time, stress can also impact thyroid function, slowing down metabolism even further.
Your body needs to feel safe in order to generate energy and burn fuel efficiently, and your thyroid plays a big role in that metabolic function. So, rather than focusing on extreme diets or intense workouts, sometimes the key to overcoming weight loss resistance is found in balancing the nervous system. Prioritizing stress reduction, gentle movement, and proper recovery can help bring the body back to a state where it feels safe enough to shed excess weight.
4. Increased Anxiety: The Mind-Body Feedback Loop
Your thoughts are racing, your heart is pounding, and you constantly feel on edge. Anxiety is often a symptom of an overactive nervous system stuck in a fight-or-flight response. When we allow our minds to dwell on future fears, our body responds as if the threat is happening now—releasing stress hormones and creating physical tension.
I’ve heard it described that depression occurs when your mind lives in the past, while anxiety happens when your mind lives in the future. Meaning, your thoughts are stuck on past events, or your mind is projecting fearful thoughts into the future - a what-if reality that hasn’t even happened.
As human beings we only have this present moment. Right here, right now. When your thoughts lie in the future, you are not present. When your mind is churning to exist in the future, yet your life is happening right now, it creates an unsafe environment for your nervous system causing tension to your very core.
Getting to the root cause of your heightened anxiety allows you to change things at the root of it all. Rather than simply treating the symptoms, the real work needs to be done at a deeper level of healing, knowing that anxiety is a sign from your body that it needs something from you.
Final Thoughts
If you’re experiencing gut issues, feeling wired but tired, struggling with weight loss resistance, or dealing with heightened anxiety, your nervous system could be calling for help. The good news? Your body is so smart and these symptoms are a really cool sign that it needs something. You are incredibly resilient and capable of healing when given the right support. Prioritizing stress management, quality sleep, nervous system regulation techniques, and self-care can help bring your body back into balance.
Try doing one thing each day that makes you feel connected to yourself and the present moment so that you can listen to the cues your body is giving you and nurture your nervous system.
Sit quietly outside for 15 minutes and feel the sunshine on your face.
Go for a walk in nature and notice the things around you.
Meditate, even if it’s just for 5 minutes. Here’s a great 5 minute meditation to try.
Breathwork. For a good starting point, check out the Pause Breathwork app.
Make a healthy meal on purpose, and pay attention while you eat it. Notice the taste and texture of every single bite.
Exercise - if you’ve been hitting the HIIT classes hard, sacrificing sleep, and skipping rest days, maybe you need to back off and prioritize gentle movement in your routine. If you’ve been skipping your workouts and making excuses for your lack of movement, maybe it’s time to recommit to yourself and your weekly workouts.
Take an epsom salt bath and read a book.
Go to therapy and talk through some stuff (we all have stuff, don’t worry).
Drink your minerals and give your body the materials it needs to be more resilient to stress. More on that here.
Journal. Get the thoughts out of your head and unload them on a piece of paper so you can let them go and feel instantly lighter.