3 Signs Your Nervous System Is in Overdrive (And What to Do About It)

Have you ever felt wired but exhausted?

Like you’re rushing through the day on autopilot, constantly reacting but never quite catching up — and then collapsing into bed, only to lie there wide awake?

That’s your nervous system in overdrive — and for many high-functioning women, it becomes the norm. Especially if you’re navigating hormone-related conditions like PMDD, working in high-pressure environments, or trying to be everything to everyone.

Let’s explore what this looks like — and how you can gently shift back into balance.

What Does “Overdrive” Mean?

Your autonomic nervous system has two primary modes:

• Rev (sympathetic): fight, flight, urgency, action

• Restore (parasympathetic): rest, digest, reflect, repair

You need both. But when you spend too long in “Rev mode”, your body and mind start to pay the price.

3 Signs Your Nervous System Is in Overdrive

1. You feel snappy or overstimulated — even by small things

You might find yourself irritated by background noise, snappy with your partner or kids, or unable to handle one more request in your inbox.

Your system is hyper-alert. It’s perceiving everything as a potential stressor.

2. You’re always “on” — but not necessarily effective

You might be jumping from task to task, struggling to focus, or working long hours but feeling strangely unproductive.

Your system is stuck in urgency. It’s hard to prioritise or access creative thinking from here.

3. Your body is tense, tight, and tired — but rest doesn’t feel restorative

Even when you do rest, your body might still feel heavy, twitchy, or anxious.

This is a sign your nervous system hasn’t fully shifted into Restore mode.

Why This Matters — Especially for Women with PMDD

If you’re someone who experiences cyclical hormone shifts, your nervous system may be more sensitive to stress throughout different phases of your cycle.

Over time, chronic stress can amplify PMDD symptoms, deplete resilience, and lead to misdiagnosis (e.g. as burnout or depression).

Understanding and regulating your nervous system is not a luxury — it’s a foundation for mental clarity, emotional steadiness, and sustainable success.

3 Gentle Ways to Shift Out of Overdrive

1. Heart-Focused Breathing

One of the simplest, most science-backed tools.

Focus on your heart. Breathe in for 5, out for 5. Imagine the breath flowing in and out of the heart space. This helps restore coherence — the optimal state for your body to heal and recalibrate.

2. Name It to Tame It

Start to track your nervous system state. Are you in Rev or Restore?

Bringing awareness to your current state helps activate the prefrontal cortex — the part of your brain that can make intentional choices rather than reactive ones.

3. Micro-regulation throughout the day

Instead of waiting for burnout, sprinkle in 1-minute resets:

Step outside and feel your feet on the ground

• Do a slow exhale while softening your shoulders

• Place your hand on your heart and simply pause

Small cues of safety can have a profound impact on how your system functions.

You Don’t Have to Live in Overdrive

You are not lazy. You are not overreacting.

Your body is wise — and it’s telling you something.

When you learn to listen and respond with compassion and strategy, you begin to reclaim your calm, your clarity, and your capacity.

That’s what I help women do inside The Resilience Reset and my Flow State programme for PMDD.

Ready to Reset?

If you recognise yourself in this post, I invite you to:

• Book a free Clarity Call to explore personalised support

• Or send me a message on Instagram and tell me what this brought up for you

You’re not alone. And there is another way to feel and function — one that works with your nervous system, not against it.