Understanding Your Nervous System

Have you ever felt like something in your mind felt "off," but you could not fully explain why?

Maybe you noticed yourself overthinking more than usual. Maybe you felt emotionally exhausted, anxious, numb, irritable, or disconnected from yourself. Sometimes these feelings seem to appear out of nowhere, and we immediately assume something is wrong with us.

But what if our minds are not trying to work against us? What if they are trying to tell us something?

Our minds often create stories based on what we experience, what we fear, and what we have learned about ourselves throughout our lives. These stories can shape the way we view ourselves, other people, and the world around us. Sometimes the story is positive and compassionate. Other times it is critical, fearful, hopeless, or overwhelming, When we are feeling emotionally safe, supported, rested, and connected, our thoughts may feel calmer and more balanced. We may find it easier to trust ourselves, enjoy life, and cope with stress. But when we are overwhelmed, emotionally hurt, burned out, or carrying unresolved pain, our minds begin telling a different story.

This story may sound like:

"I'm not good enough."

"Something bad is going to happen."

"I have to keep everyone happy."

"I have to be perfect."

Over time, we can start believing these thoughts are simply who we are. But many times, these thoughts are responses to stress, pain, fear, or past experiences. Our minds and nervous systems are designed to protect us, even if the ways they protect us do not always feel good.

Anxiety may be trying to warn us that we have been under too much stress for too long. Emotional numbness may be a sign that we are overwhelmed. People pleasing may have developed from learning that conflict or rejection felt unsafe. Even overthinking can sometimes be the mind's attempt to create or control in uncertain situations. This does not mean every thought we have is untrue, but it does man our thoughts may deserve curiosity instead of immediate judgement. Sometimes we become so focused on fighting our emotions that we never stop to ask where they came from. We criticize ourselves for struggling without recognizing that our mind may be responding exactly the way it learned to survive.

The story your mind tells is important. Not because it defines you, but because it can help you better understand what you may be carrying emotionally.

So maybe instead of asking: "What's wrong with me?"

You can begin asking: "What story has my mind been trying to tell me?"

By Marissa Gonzales, MSW, CSW