Election season can be intense, but here's a little primer for understanding your nervous system a little better and there's no better time to consider that then right now.....

Some people might say it’s a privilege to afford to “shut it off”, but those people don't fully understand or appreciate the body in todays’ world.

Election Season can feel like a high-stakes climate and bring up lots of uncertainty, anxiety, fear and anger with this constant underlying tension of “what if” running in the background.

Social media amplifies this too of course, making it nearly impossible to escape the onslaught of news.

All these emotions can create a “cumulative stress,” where it’s hard to relax fully even during non-election moments.

Our nervous systems evolved over thousands of years to handle localized, immediate stressors—things like finding food, maintaining shelter, and managing social relationships within small communities.

These challenges were specific, time-bound, and usually came with a clear resolution.

However, with technology our brains and bodies are now constantly processing information from all over the world, 24/7, which can overload the nervous system in ways it was NEVER designed to handle.

The human brain isn’t set up to absorb and process global news and high-stakes information all day, every day.

When we're constantly flooded with updates about crises, conflicts, and disasters from all over, our nervous system activates a low-level stress response as it tries to "resolve" the perceived threats.

However, since these issues are often ongoing and far beyond our control, the stress doesn’t have a natural endpoint.

Instead, we’re left with a chronic fight-or-flight response—elevated cortisol, tense muscles, shallow breathing—that drains our energy and keeps our bodies in a low-grade state of alert and ultimately leads us to disease states.

This constant fight or flight and long-term cortisol elevation most of us are stuck in brings on things like:

👉Reduced Immune Function
👉Digestive Issues
👉Type 2 Diabetes/Insulin Resistance
👉Suppresses Thyroid Function
👉Poor Sleep
👉Less Progesterone, Estrogen AND Testosterone production

Just as we would limit exposure to loud sounds or harsh light to protect our senses, we also need to be intentional about limiting information intake to protect our mental and physical health.

Taking breaks from the news or social media and focusing on things that are within our control can help reset the nervous system.

Returning to simpler routines, connecting with nature, or spending time in restorative practices like meditation or mindful breathing can offer a natural "reset," helping the nervous system regain balance and resilience in the face of modern stress.

Here are my two best tips for helping regulate my own nervous system:

📵Set Boundaries with Media

Limit your news and social media intake! Seriously, stop the mindless scrolling. Limit yourself to specific times of the day, maybe in the morning or midday, and FOR SURE avoid it before bed. This keeps you informed without overwhelming you, especially in the evening when winding down.

🌲Prioritize Movement and Fresh Air

Take a short walk outside or stretch for a few minutes when stress levels rise. Fresh air and movement can work wonders for clearing the mind and releasing tension. Trust me, even a 10 minute walk has the power to reset your whole body, mind and spirit.

Remember it's our environment has changed, but our nervous systems have not.

And we can have a lot of control over our environment.

It’s perfectly okay to protect your peace.

True sacred feminine energy knows you can’t pour from an empty cup.

✌️,

Kristen

​
​