Why You’re Dysregulated: The Lesser Known Causes of Stress + Anxiety

You’re not lazy. You’re not broken. You’re not overreacting.

If you’ve ever wondered why you feel so tired, anxious, reactive, or like your fuse is this short; there’s a real reason. Actually, there are several.

When we talk about “stress,” most people think of things like work deadlines, financial worries, or toddler tantrums before 8 AM. But here’s the truth: not all stress comes from your outside world. A lot of it starts inside your body, and your nervous system is picking up on it.

Let’s break it down.

Your Nervous System is Always Listening

Your hypothalamus is like the control tower of your brain. It’s constantly scanning the environment, asking one core question: Are we safe? But “environment” doesn’t just mean loud noises or scary news headlines. It also means what’s happening inside your body.

Inflammation? Blood sugar crashes? Toxins building up? Those all register as threats. And when a threat is detected, your body flips the stress switch, releasing cortisol and adrenaline to help you survive.

These hormones aren’t bad.
Cortisol helps keep you alert and focused, mobilizes energy, and wakes you up in the morning. Adrenaline sharpens your senses and quickens your reactions when you’re in danger. These are vital in short bursts.

But here’s where we run into problems:
If your nervous system is constantly getting the signal that you’re in danger - real or not - it stays in survival mode. That’s what we call dysregulation. Your stress response is stuck on high-alert.

So let’s talk about why that happens.

1. Anxious Parents = Anxious Kids (Even if They Meant Well)
   We learn safety from our caregivers. As babies, we can’t tell what’s dangerous and what’s not, so we borrow our parents’ nervous systems. If your parent panicked easily, overreacted to small things, or was constantly overwhelmed… your body learned to do the same.
   How this might show up:
   You jump to worst-case scenarios. You struggle to calm down after being startled. Your body is always “on edge,” even if nothing is wrong.

2. Trauma That Got Stuck
   Trauma isn’t just about “big” things like car accidents or abuse. It’s anything that overwhelmed your system and didn’t get processed. That stuck energy lives in your body and gets reactivated by triggers; even if your logical brain knows you’re fine.
   How this might show up:
   You overreact to conflict, shut down when you feel judged, avoid situations that remind you of the past, or feel randomly anxious when nothing “bad” is happening.
   What’s happening:
   Your nervous system is reliving the past as if it’s still happening. Until that memory gets processed and integrated, your body will keep reacting like the threat is still real.

3. Gut Issues = Brain Issues
   Your gut and brain are in constant communication. If your gut is inflamed, full of harmful bacteria, or struggling to digest food properly, it sends stress signals to your brain.
   How this might show up:
   Bloating, constipation, skin breakouts, food sensitivities, brain fog, low mood, or waking up anxious with no clue why.
   Science moment:
   Over 90% of serotonin (your feel-good neurotransmitter) is made in the gut. If your gut is out of balance (a condition called gut dysbiosis), your mood and resilience will be affected. 

4. Missing Minerals = Misfiring Signals
   Your nervous system runs on nutrients. Without enough magnesium, B vitamins, or healthy fats, your brain struggles to stay calm and focused. Deficiencies are unfortunately very common—thanks to poor soil quality, processed foods, and chronic stress.
   How this might show up:
   Muscle tension, restless legs, irritability, trouble sleeping, feeling jittery, or emotional overwhelm.
   A key player:
   Magnesium is like a chill pill for your cells. It’s required for over 300 biochemical processes, including relaxation. Low magnesium = high stress.

5. Your Environment is Full of Toxins 
   I’m not here to fear-monger—but it’s important to acknowledge that modern life is full of low-level toxic exposure. Pesticides in our food, mold in our homes, plastics in our water bottles… and yes, even in our brains.
   A 2024 study from the University of Vienna found plastic particles in every human brain they tested. These microplastics can cross the blood-brain barrier and potentially cause inflammation and cognitive issues.
   How this might show up:
   Brain fog, unexplained fatigue, skin issues, hormone imbalance, mystery symptoms that come and go.
   Your body knows:
   When cells are inflamed or overloaded with toxins, your nervous system picks up the signal: We’re not safe. Cue the stress response.

6. You’re Not Moving Enough
   Movement isn’t just about fitness, it’s also about regulation. When you move your body, you help complete stress cycles, improve circulation, and support detox. But when we sit all day (as so many of us do), that energy gets trapped.
   How this might show up:
   Low mood, pent-up frustration, tension headaches, sleep struggles, and that “buzzing” feeling in your chest or limbs.
   Try this:
   Even 5-10 minutes of gentle movement (like walking, bouncing, or stretching) can help discharge stress from the body and get you back to baseline.

7. Poor Sleep = An Exhausted Nervous System
   Sleep isn’t just rest - it’s recovery. When you don’t get enough quality sleep, your stress hormones stay elevated, your brain can’t detox properly, and your body loses its rhythm.
   How this might show up:
   Waking up groggy, feeling wired but tired at night, increased anxiety or emotional reactivity, sugar cravings, or constant overwhelm.
   Fun fact:
   Even one night of poor sleep can increase cortisol levels by up to 37%. (source: Leproult & Van Cauter, 2010)

…And This Isn’t Even the Whole Picture

There are so many other things that impact nervous system health: hormone fluctuations, blood sugar swings, grief, chronic illness, unprocessed emotions, and even the way we breathe.

Which can feel like... a lot.

But that’s exactly why I created Rooted + Rising, a membership where we take this work one step at a time. Each month we will explore a different root cause of dysregulation (like the ones above) and I walk you through how to understand it, heal it, and feel better. (Doors open May 1st!)

You don’t have to figure this out alone. You’re not too far gone. You’re not stuck. And you’re definitely not the only one who feels like this.

This isn’t about overhauling your life overnight, it’s about learning how to tend to your body with curiosity, not criticism.

The healing process starts with understanding what your body has been trying to tell you all along.