Signs You’re Experiencing a Nervous System Crash (And What to Do About It)

We all know what it feels like to be “off.” Foggy, irritable, exhausted, or just not ourselves. But sometimes what we brush off as stress or tiredness is actually a deeper signal: your nervous system is overwhelmed—and it’s asking for support.

This state is often called nervous system dysregulation, and when left unaddressed, it can lead to what many of us experience as a nervous system crash.

What Is a Nervous System Crash?

Your nervous system is your body’s command center—it helps you respond to stress, stay calm, and recover after challenges. But when you’re constantly “on,” rushing, caregiving, performing, or enduring trauma, your system can shift into survival mode.

You might hear terms like:

• Burnout: physical and emotional exhaustion from chronic stress

• Dysregulation: when your nervous system gets stuck in overdrive (anxious, panicky) or underdrive (numb, depressed)

• Freeze: a trauma response where the body shuts down to cope—it can look like zoning out, procrastinating, or feeling paralyzed

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re likely dysregulated—and your body is trying to protect you.

Signs Your Nervous System Needs Support

You may be experiencing a nervous system crash if:

• You feel tired no matter how much you sleep

• You find yourself zoning out, scrolling endlessly, or feeling emotionally numb

• You cry easily, feel irritable, or have a short fuse

• Your digestion is off, or your appetite is unpredictable

• You get sick easily or feel inflamed or achy

• You feel like you can’t keep up—but can’t slow down either

What Can Help?

The good news: there are simple, gentle ways to bring yourself back into regulation.

1. Warm Oil Massage

In Ayurveda, this is called Abhyanga—a self-massage using warm oil to calm the nervous system and soothe the body. Try warming sesame or almond oil and massaging your arms, legs, chest, and belly in long, slow strokes.

Want help with this? Our Root & Rise sessions offer full-body massage with trauma-informed care and deep nervous system support.

2. Grounding Breath

Try this: inhale for 4 counts, hold for 4, exhale for 6. Repeat for 2–3 minutes. This helps move you out of fight/flight mode and into rest and repair.

Even just pausing to breathe—hand over your heart—can begin to shift things.

3. Practice Saying No

Your body might be crashing because you've said “yes” for too long. Creating boundaries (even tiny ones) is one of the most powerful ways to restore your energy and reclaim your nervous system.

You Don’t Have to Fix This Alone

You deserve healing that honors your whole self—mind, body, and spirit.

If you’re feeling burnt out, disconnected, or overwhelmed, I invite you to experience a session at Root & Rise. Whether it’s a deeply grounding massage, a breathwork add-on, or a full Ayurvedic consultation, we’re here to hold space for your return to wholeness.

Let your healing begin with one deep breath—and one simple yes.

Book Now