How Chronic Stress Drains Your Energy Like Too Many Apps Open on Your Phone

Just like having too many apps open effects the functioning of your phone, ongoing activation of your survival responses after periods of chronic or traumatic stress can drain your energy & effect how your mind-body system functions.

Survival responses, just like apps that are running, demand your attention, take up space & require energy to manage. They impact the brain, body, nervous, endocrine and immune systems. They limit your ability to function fully in the present moment.

Activation of your sympathetic nervous system can bring chaos. It's like trying to handle the notifications from your phone all at once. You may feel anxious, overwhelmed, reactive or angry. You may have outbursts. Your thoughts may race & feel disorganised.

On the other hand, just like having multiple apps open would drain your phone's battery & take up storage space, you may move into a state of feeling flat, slow, rigid, depressed & numb. You may struggle to find the energy to do the things you need to when under stress.

There is an intelligence and resilience to the nervous system that can help you make it through times from your past that were profoundly difficult. However, those same responses may still be running unnecessarily years later.

The brain and nervous system don't have a calendar; they just have data and information that can continue to play out from the impact that's left in the body and the residue that's left in the nervous system.

You can appreciate how those survival responses helped you make it through those difficult times, & just like you can close the apps on your phone, with neuroplasticity you can reshape the way the brain & nervous system respond to stress & adversities.

When you re-regulate the nervous system with the right tools and techniques, you free up your energy for creativity, connection, your goals or whatever it is that you choose to put your time and resources into.