Lately, I’ve been holding a lot.

There’s a situation in my personal life that’s been deeply stressful— layered with uncertainty, fear, and moments where I truly didn’t know what was coming next. I’m not ready to unpack all the details, but I can say this: it’s stretched my nervous system to the edge.

I’ve found myself stuck in cycles of overthinking, glued to the news, crying more than usual, and checking my phone constantly for updates. My chest feels tight. My sleep’s been off. And I’ve had to remind myself—over and over again—to come back to the tools I teach.

Because when I say nervous system regulation isn’t optional… I mean it.

It’s not something we save for the 3 hour healing season. Or a long restful weekend.
It’s what we lean on in the middle of the storm.

The Let-Down Effect Is Real
Here’s what I know from personal experience:

When you push through something hard—emotionally, physically, energetically—and don’t support your system during the intensity, it will catch up with you. Your body will crash once the adrenaline wears off. The stress hormones drop. And what’s left is total depletion.

This is known as the let-down effect—when your system tries to relax after high stress, but instead, you get sick, shut down, or completely burnt out.

I’ve been there before.
I’m doing everything I can not to go back there now.

This past week, I’ve used everything I know:

Breathwork

Grounding foods

Tapping when the fear spikes

Crying when I need to

Resting when I can

Letting others check in on me

Not because I feel “fine.” But because I want to stay well—through this.

I think sometimes people assume nervous system regulation is something you do after a meltdown. But it’s actually how we prevent the crash. It’s how we move through stress without letting it take us out.

If You’re in a Hard Week Too...
This post isn’t here to teach you something new.
It’s here to say: I see you.

If you’re holding a lot this week, I hope this reminds you that you don’t have to hold it all perfectly.
You’re not weak for being tired. You’re human for needing care.

Let this be your permission to slow down, soften, and support yourself now—not just later.

With love,
Audrey