Nervous system on overload? Regain balance now.

Enjoying ramen with protein and miso with my sister, and supporting our nervous systems, too. Kumako. San Jose.

If you’re a capable, responsible, and get-things-done person who still feels tense, tired, or oddly on edge, this is for you. Many of us are stuck in what I call stress mode. It’s not dramatic stress or falling-apart stress, but the quiet kind that shows up as a clenched jaw, a busy mind, poor sleep, low patience, and a body that never fully relaxes. Oh yeah, as a health and life coach, this describes many of my clients. And it describes me at various times in my life. 

Here’s my Health Coach reframe that often brings immediate relief: this is not a mindset problem. It is very often a chemistry problem. And it has solutions based on small nutrition and lifestyle habit changes. Your brain relies on a calming messenger called GABA, which works like an internal brake system. When GABA is supported, thoughts slow down, you can focus on one thing at a time, the body exhales, and sleep comes more easily. When it’s low, everything feels louder—worries, emotions, and even your own expectations.

Everyday stress, lifestyle demands, disrupted sleep, excess caffeine, over-exercising, restrictive eating, and subtle gut changes can quietly drain this calming system. So can certain genetic differences, including the MTHFR gene. You’re still functioning and showing up for everyone, but internally you’re running hot and never quite powering down.

Good news!  Calm can be rebuilt. Not with extreme diets or another thing to fix, but with nourishment that sends safety signals to your nervous system. Foods like leafy greens, nuts and seeds, adequate protein at meals, fermented foods such as yogurt or kefir and miso, a warm bowl of hearty soup, spending time with a supportive friend, and choosing green or herbal tea instead of that extra coffee all help communicate calm to the body. At this stage of life, food isn’t just fuel—it’s information.

If you’ve been telling yourself to push through, consider this your permission slip. You don’t need more willpower; you need more support. Gut support, nutrition support and emotional support. Calm is not something you wait for or earn after everything is done. It’s something you build gently, daily, and from the inside out. Small acts of kindness and presence, showing up for yourself, breathing, resting, and eating mindfully, will help reset your nervous system. In fact, nervous system healing starts with your own intention to take care of yourself. Your body believes what you say to yourself, and what you think about yourself and your life. Choose your actions and thoughts carefully, and with compassion. These are small but powerful shifts you can make today. 

If this resonates, start small. One calming meal, one earlier bedtime, one program with a lifestyle coach, one choice that helps your body exhale. You’re not behind. You’re simply ready for a different kind of strength. Let’s work together for maximum positive impact on your wellness journey!

Jamie Activates™ | Jamie Arreola, M.Ed., NBCHWC. Life Coach. Educator. Health and Wellness Partner. Founder of JAMIE ACTIVATES™ Coaching. Blending positive psychology, functional nutrition, lifestyle design, body and brain health.