The Everyday Nervous System:

Subtle Cues of Dysregulation

🌿 The Everyday Nervous System

Part 1: How to Notice the Subtle Cues of Dysregulation

We often think of stress as something obvious, such as heart racing, shoulders up around our ears, maybe the sudden urge to eat an entire loaf of sourdough bread (no judgment 🥖). But the truth is, our nervous system gives us quieter hints long before we hit full “overwhelm mode.”

The tricky part? These cues are subtle. They slip under the radar because they’re so ordinary, so familiar, that we don’t realize they’re signals at all.

🌱 Cues to watch for:

• Fidgeting – Constantly tapping your pen, bouncing your leg, or rearranging items on your desk for the 42nd time. Movement is one way your body tries to shake off extra energy.

• Shallow Breath – If your chest is doing all the work and your belly feels left out, your body might be in “get ready” mode. 🫁

• Muscle Tension – Jaw tightness, shoulders hunched, or that invisible backpack of stress 🎒 you seem to carry all day.

• Over-focusing or zoning out – Either you can’t let go of the thing you have to do, or suddenly you’ve read the same email paragraph seven times without absorbing a word 🧠.

These aren’t “bad” signs. They’re just your nervous system tapping you on the shoulder, whispering, “Hey, a little support would be nice right about now.”

Why does this matter? Because catching the whispers means you can tend to yourself before your system starts shouting.

Think of it like noticing the gas light ⛽ on your car instead of waiting until you’re stranded on the side of the highway, explaining to a tow truck driver why you thought you could “make it just a little further.” You instead, stop and get gas well before the light comes on.

✍️ Journal Prompt

Take a few minutes today with a notebook or your notes app. Write down:

• What’s my version of fidgeting, shallow breath, or tension?

• How do these cues show up in my daily life (work, relationships, even while scrolling social media 📱)?

• If my nervous system could speak when these signals pop up, what would it be asking for?

Remember: you don’t need perfect answers—just curiosity. This is about noticing, not fixing.

With gentleness for your journey,
Anique

Founder Sanctum & Soil

© Anique Herbst, LLC

✨ Coming up in Part 2: Why small daily “micro-recoveries” matter more than the occasional big reset. (Spoiler: It’s kind of like watering your plants regularly instead of waiting until they’re crunchy 🌿💧.)