Healing Your Nervous System

David did not fully understand the complex systems that make up the body, yet he declared that when God created mankind, we were “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). God designed every part of the human body with remarkable detail and gave it a specific purpose. In His omniscient wisdom, God designed the body with systems that enable people to function with precision and intentionality. He designed the body to function efficiently, and He also equipped it with mechanisms to respond to the challenges and dangers that would arise in a fallen world. 

Before time began, God saw the world we live in today. He knew there would be days and seasons when life felt chaotic, and a person’s nervous system became dysregulated. When the nervous system becomes dysregulated, it does not mean an individual is a moral failure. Rather, it reflects God’s intentional design of the nervous system to recognize danger, respond to threats, and protect the body through its built-in survival mechanisms. 

One key structure involved in the nervous system’s response to danger is the amygdala, located in the limbic system. The amygdala acts like a smoke detector, constantly monitoring the environment for potential threats. When no danger is perceived, the amygdala remains calm. However, when the amygdala “smells smoke,” it sends signals throughout the brain, including to the hippocampus, which helps provide context by comparing the current situation with previous experiences and memories. 

During this process, a person may notice physical sensations such as muscle tension, a racing heart, shallow breathing, or an unsettling feeling in the pit of her stomach. If the brain determines there is no actual danger, the amygdala settles, allowing the nervous system to return to a regulated state. However, if the brain interprets the situation as threatening, the amygdala activates the body’s stress response, preparing the nervous system for fight, flight, or freeze.  

In the fight response, a person may become irritable, angry, defensive, or reactive as the body prepares to confront a perceived threat. In the flight response, a person may seek to escape discomfort through avoidance, excessive busyness, procrastination, or distancing themselves from people and situations. In the freeze response, a person may feel stuck, overwhelmed, emotionally numb, or unable to make decisions and take action. These responses are not evidence of moral failure or weakness. Rather, they are God-designed survival mechanisms intended to protect the body from perceived danger. 

Many of the responsibilities women carry are meaningful and God-honoring. Serving in ministry, caring for family, raising children, pursuing a career, caring for aging parents, and supporting others are all valuable callings. However, even good things can become overwhelming when a woman carries too much for too long without adequate rest, support, and renewal. When a woman experiences this kind of prolonged stress, she may experience emotional overload. She may begin to feel exhausted, overwhelmed, irritable, anxious, or even emotionally numb. She may find herself cycling through one or more of these survival responses. 

When women experience emotional overload, it is not due to a lack of faith or spiritual immaturity. Instead, it is the result of prolonged overstimulation from carrying heavy burdens without allowing time for adequate rest, support, meaningful connection with others, or renewal. One of the greatest things a woman can do is follow God’s example in Genesis 2:2 (KJV): “And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.” God rested. He created, He set things in motion, He saw it was good, and then He rested. 

In the New Testament, Jesus also modeled healthy rhythms of rest and renewal. When a large crowd gathered, Jesus withdrew to pray (Luke 5:15–16). In Mark 1:35, He found a solitary place to pray while it was still dark. In Luke 4:29–30, when an angry crowd threatened Him, He passed through the midst of them and went on His way. In Matthew 14:13, after John the Baptist was killed, Jesus withdrew so He could grieve and rest. In John 6:15, when the crowd intended to make Him king, Jesus again withdrew to a mountain by Himself. 

If you do not take time to rest, cultivate meaningful connection, or practice healthy self-care, your nervous system is not given the opportunity to heal. You may be in a season where rest or renewal feels impossible. If that is the case, it may be time to seek support from a professional therapist licensed in your state. There are several Apostolic licensed therapists at the Center for Apostolic Counseling, a UPCI-endorsed ministry. After all, if you do not take care of yourself, who will? Seeking help from a licensed therapist is not a sign of weakness, a lack of faith, or failure. Rather, it is an acknowledgment that God often uses trained professionals to provide support, insight, and practical tools for healing during difficult seasons.