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Your main nervous system state is..

Sympathetic & Dorsal Vagal

 

FIGHT OR FLIGHT CYCLING WITH IMMOBILIZATION

In Sympathetic (SNS) the system is saying “time to take action!” 

In Dorsal Vagal (DVC) the system is shutting down as it cannot take action over the threat.  

 

The main thing to note about this is that you are cycling between two states of dysregulation without coming into a regulated, ventral vagal state. 

This is going between hyperarousal (SNS) and hypoarousal (DVC). 

This can be super common! 

When we face a threat or stressor, we first move into our sympathetic (SNS) component of our nervous system. If we are unable to avoid that threat, or we stay in this state for too long (as is the case with chronic or traumatic stress) then we will go into our dorsal vagal (DVC) state of our nervous system. 

This is likely what is happening in your case. You may be in SNS for too long, then collapse into DVC when the system has become too overwhelmed, and then go back into SNS. 

Another thing that can happen here is the experience of freeze. This is where SNS and DVC are happening at the same time. You may feel like your heart is racing but your body feels stuck, like a deer in headlights.

The main goal here is to support the system in being in ventral vagal (VVC). I will share some ways to do that at the end of the page. 

 

Here is what you may experience in sympathetic overactivation:

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

Heart rate increases

Breathing gets shallow

Energy in arms, legs, or muscles

Increase adrenaline and cortisol 

Sweaty palms, perspiration, or temperature rises

Lightheaded, dizzy, can feel faint

Tightness in chest or other parts of body, shaking, fidgeting

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

Anxiety, overwhelm, panic, worry, or hypervigilance 

On edge, unable to relax, or fidgety

Need to "do", go-go-go, accomplish, be busy

Obsessive thinking, monkey-mind, or racing thoughts

Irritability, frustration, anger, or rage

Perfectionism, need to do be in control/do things a certain way

DIGESTIVE SYMPTOMS

SNS slows down motility which = constipation

SNS reduces secretions such as stomach acid, bile, and pancreatic enzymes. 

This can lead to a HOST of GI issues. 

Some of the most common we will see here is:

Low stomach acid: heartburn, acid reflux, burping, bloating, gas, fullness while eating

Low bile or pancreatic enzymes: fatty stools, undigested food in the stool, bloating, gas, nausea.

If you have SIBO, dysbiosis, candida overgrowth, or leaky gut - those things likely come from low stomach acid, bile, or pancreatic enzyme production.

Here is what you may experience in dorsal vagal shutdown:

PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS

Low energy/fatigue

Shallow breathing or short breaths

Difficult to move

Head can feel disconnected from body/not in body

Heavy or weightless 

Feeling cold

Autoimmune disease is common

 

MENTAL & EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS

Depression, apathy, hopelessness, helpless

Dissociated, spaced-out, numb, unreal

Lack of focus, brain fog, or difficulty concentrating 

Lack of motivation, nothing matters, "I can't"

Disconnected, lonely, feel different

Feeling stuck, trapped, or frozen 

"Nothing is ever going to change"

Procrastination 

Hard to recall memories, difficult time speaking/finding words

Slow speaking, lack of facial expressions 

DIGESTIVE SYMPTOMS

DVC speeds up motility which = diarrhea/loose stools

DVC can lead to feeling nauseous or cause vomiting

In this state the body is speeding up motility to eliminate all the contents, and then shutting down, so you will also experience these common digestive symptoms, among others:

Bloating & gas

Abdominal pain or cramps 

Lack of appetite/fullness 

Undigested food in stool 

 

ONE OF THE MAIN SIGNS OF THIS CYCLING OF SNS AND DVC IS:

IBS that cycles between constipation and diarrhea

Anxiety that cycles with depression

IBS that goes between constipation and diarrhea can be a reflection of the nervous system going between SNS (more constipation) and DVC (more diarrhea). 

The experience of anxiety that cycles between depression can be a reflection of the nervous system going between over-activation in SNS (anxiety) and DVC (depression).

The majority of people who struggle with IBS also report having anxiety and/or depression!

 YOUR NEXT STEPS

 

IN SUMMARY

Now that you know your dominant state is sympathetic/dorsal vagal cycling, you’ve uncovered key insights into what might be causing your chronic IBS-stress symptoms!

If you struggle with these problems:

✔ Your gut symptoms intensify the stress and anxiety you already struggle with, worsening your symptoms.

✔ You've experimented with recommended diets like low-FODMAP and supplement protocols for SIBO or dysbiosis, but your symptoms return.

✔ Every meal feels like a gamble, leaving you anxious and unsure whether you'll be unbuckling your pants or spending extra time on the toilet.

Then I’m guessing you’ve tried to solve it by:

âś” Eliminating more foods from your diet.

âś” Obsessively monitoring your symptoms and bowel movements.

✔ Trying that SIBO protocol one more time because maybe this  time it will make a difference. 

✔ Using stress management tools like yoga or meditation, but only finding temporary relief.

If this resonates, it’s a clear sign that your nervous system is dysregulated—the root cause behind the miscommunication between your gut and brain.

In fact, IBS is a miscommunication between the gut and brain, and that communication is controlled by our nervous system. 

Here’s the good news:

By integrating the somatic tools in this video into your daily routine, you can begin to regulate your nervous system, improve digestion, and build resilience to stress.

Why is this so important?

Because 80% of communication travels from your body to your brain, not the other way around. You can’t just think your way out of stress, triggers, or symptoms—you need to involve the body to create real change.

It's difficult to just think our way out of activation, triggers, emotions, or even some symptoms - we need to involve the body to shift it!

To help you dive deeper, I’ve developed a unique 5-step framework that I used to heal from the IBS-stress cycle and now successfully guide my clients through.

I’ll be sharing all the details in my upcoming FREE masterclass:
Discover the Missing Piece to Break Free From the IBS-Stress Cycle.

JOIN THE MASTERCLASS

Hi, I'm Demi!

I help those struggling with the IBS-stress cycle reclaim their life through my unique approach of nervous system regulation, trauma healing, and nutritional therapy so they can regain trust in their body and build resilience towards stressors and symptoms.

All my life I have struggled with chronic gut-brain imbalances, such as IBS, dysbiosis, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive thinking. As a teenager, I became fed up with suffering, and dove deeply into researching and experimenting with all the gut healing protocols and diets I could find over the past 17 years. This led me down a path of deep inner work, providing great insight to what I consider the most important tools in approaching gut-brain healing.

My approach blends my lifetime of embodied wisdom in this field, with my training as as a Somatic Experiencing® practitioner and  Functional Nutritional Therapy Practitioner.

It's where gut healing and nutritional therapy meets nervous system regulation and healing chronic and traumatic stress. Â