Chronic Hyperarousal: When Stress Becomes a Way of Life
Chronic hyperarousal happens when the body’s stress response never turns off. The heart stays fast, muscles remain tense, and the mind feels alert even during rest. Over time, this state becomes the new normal. The nervous system forgets how to relax, and constant vigilance becomes a way of living. Understanding Chronic Hyperarousal Hyperarousal is part […]
How to Calm a Hyperaroused Nervous System
To calm a hyperaroused nervous system, focus on grounding techniques like deep breathing and engaging your senses, physical activities such as walking or yoga, and relaxation exercises like meditation or progressive muscle relaxation. Lifestyle adjustments such as ensuring consistent sleep, avoiding stimulants, and connecting with nature also help regulate your body’s stress response. Hyperarousal happens […]
Signs and Symptoms of Hyperarousal You Shouldn’t Ignore
Symptoms of hyperarousal include being jumpy or easily startled, feeling tense or on edge, difficulty sleeping and concentrating, irritability, and angry outbursts. Other signs can include increased anxiety, paranoia, shakiness, dizziness, or even engaging in risky or destructive behavior. This heightened state of alertness reflects the body’s attempt to stay prepared for danger, even when […]
Hyperarousal vs Anxiety: How to Tell the Difference
Hyperarousal is a state of heightened anxiety and the body’s stress response being stuck in “on” mode, characterized by symptoms like hypervigilance, irritability, and difficulty sleeping. Anxiety is a broader feeling of dread and unease that can trigger hyperarousal, which is the intensified physical and emotional state that follows, often as a result of chronic […]
What Causes Hyperarousal? Understanding the Body’s Alarm System
Hyperarousal is caused by trauma, chronic stress, and certain mental health and medical conditions. It is a state where the nervous system remains in a “fight or flight” mode, causing a person to stay on high alert even after a threat has passed. Common causes include Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, ADHD, and exposure […]
The Six Domains of Trauma Recovery: A Pathway to Resilience
Recovery from trauma is not about erasing the past or avoiding triggers. It is about building resilience across every area of life that trauma touches. At Living Free, we use a six-domain model of trauma recovery, developed through clinical practice and neuroscience, to guide individuals toward healing and long-term growth. This model recognizes that trauma […]
Trauma Triggers in Relationships: Understanding and Healing
Relationships are often where our deepest wounds and our deepest healing take place. For trauma survivors, relationships can also be where triggers appear most often. A look, a tone of voice, or even silence can bring back overwhelming feelings of fear, shame, or abandonment. At Living Free, we understand trauma triggers not as “overreactions” but […]
Understanding Trauma Triggers: Internal vs External and How to Cope
Triggers are among the most misunderstood parts of trauma recovery. For many survivors, a trigger can feel like getting pulled back into the past, suddenly reliving a moment that was supposed to be over. These reactions are not random. They are the body and brain responding to reminders of trauma, whether those reminders are obvious […]
The “Shit Happens” Model: Building Real Trauma Resilience
For many trauma survivors, recovery is often imagined as the process of eliminating stress and removing every potential trigger. The belief is simple: if I can avoid what hurts me, then I will finally be safe. While understandable, this approach misunderstands both the brain and the body. Life is unpredictable. Stress, conflict, and painful reminders […]
Why Eliminating Triggers Doesn’t Work in Trauma Recovery
When people think about trauma recovery, a common assumption is that healing means avoiding or eliminating triggers. The belief goes: if I can remove the people, places, or situations that set me off, then I will finally feel safe and recover. On the surface, this seems logical. After all, no one wants to be reminded […]