My husband is stuck in India during this scary time there. I’m scared, overwhelmed, and trying not to spiral. This is how I’m regulating my nervous system in real time.

This post wasn’t planned. But it’s the one I needed to write.

There’s a lot going on in my life right now - and I want to be honest about it.

Not just for vulnerability’s sake… but because I always say nervous system regulation is for real life.

This is what that actually looks like.

I am definitely not going to get political and unpack the details - that’s not my lane, but there’s a lot going on in India currently. It’s very real, and it’s affecting my husband, my family.

With the conflict, there come blackouts which means he may not have access to talk to me at all - it’s scary. But while the fear is 100% valid—so is the need to take care of my body in the middle of it.

Because I’ve been stressed like this before… and I know how easily stress can turn into sickness if I don’t support myself now.

What I’m Doing to Regulate My Nervous System (In Real Time):

Breathwork: a few deep breaths with my hand on my heart when the overwhelm spikes.

EFT Tapping: short rounds of tapping, especially when I feel like crying or panicking.

Grounding Foods: warm, easy meals—because digestion shuts down in fight-or-flight.

Water + Sunlight: nervous system basics. If I’m not hydrated and getting light, my brain interprets that as danger.

Community: calling my mom, texting a friend, letting myself be seen. That is co-regulation.

Less Input: I’ve stopped scrolling the news, stopped refreshing WhatsApp, and started protecting my system from overactivation.

Letting Myself Cry: this is parasympathetic release. I’m not judging it—I’m letting it flow.

Regulation Still Matters—Even When the Fear Is Real

Let me be clear: I’m not regulating to suppress my emotions. I’m not avoiding the truth.

I’m regulating because my body can’t stay in high alert 24/7. Our nervous systems were built for short-term threat response—not prolonged crisis.

And when we live in that heightened state for too long, something called the let-down effect kicks in.

What Is the Let-Down Effect?

The let-down effect is when your body holds it all together during the stressful moment… but the second things calm down, you crash. Cortisol drops. Your immune system tanks. You get sick. You shut down.

It’s not just about being tired—it’s full-body depletion. I’ve experienced it before. And this time, I’m doing what I can to avoid it.

I’m resting now. I’m protecting myself now. So that when this ends, I’ll be able to actually support my husband when he comes home and he needs to reset.

Nervous System Regulation Isn’t Always Big

This might sound small, but nervous system regulation isn’t always fancy.

It’s not always a full ceremony or perfect ritual.

Sometimes, it’s just:

• Drinking a full glass of water.

• Laying on the floor.

• Eating a warm meal.

• Letting yourself be held by someone safe.

• Going to bed early instead of pushing through.

And the science backs it up. When your body is underslept, dehydrated, or starving—it sends danger signals to your brain.

The amygdala (your brain’s threat or fear detection center) starts to activate. And that activation can keep you stuck in fight-or-flight… even when nothing is currently happening.

That’s why the boring stuff is the medicine. Meeting your needs before your brain totally spirals is regulation.

If You're In It Too...

Maybe you're not going through the exact same thing, but if you’re holding a lot right now- if you’re scared, exhausted, or overwhelmed:

I want to remind you- You’re not doing it wrong. But you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through it, either.

That fight/flight response is natural, it’s good actually - in doses.

But it’s not great for us long term, so - take time to care for yourself, to regulate your nervous system now - not just AFTER the storm passes.

Always, I’m here if you need those tools - my goal is always to make nervous system regulation accessible.