Stress, Trauma, & The Nervous System: What Your Reactions Are Really Trying to Tell You
- Claudia Pittard
- Mar 26
- 6 min read
Updated: Apr 4
By Claudia Pittard, Remain Connected Counseling Graduate Intern in the Smyrna GA area
The other day, I unexpectedly shut down in a conversation with my husband. We were discussing logistics for something coming up for our family—nothing too intense, just planning. But suddenly, my chest tightened, my thoughts got foggy, and I couldn’t stay in the conversation. I went quiet. I felt stuck. I didn’t know why at the time—I just knew I couldn’t engage.
Later, it hit me: We had a big transition ahead, and the stress of all the unknowns had been building. My body wasn’t trying to make things more complicated. It was trying to protect me.
This wasn’t me being dramatic or disconnected. It was my nervous system responding to overwhelm.
Trauma Responses: Your Body Is Doing Its Job
Most of us are familiar with “fight or flight,” but those are just two of several instinctive responses to stress. When your body perceives something as too much—a challenging conversation, looming deadlines, or life changes—it activates your stress response system to help you cope.
These responses might show up as:
Fight: getting irritable or defensive
Flight: staying busy, avoiding, or mentally checking out
Freeze: shutting down, feeling numb, or unable to move forward
Fawn: people-pleasing to keep the peace
Sometimes, our reactions seem disproportionate to the situation. You might shut down over a calendar conversation or feel panicked about making a small decision. When this happens, it’s often because your nervous system is responding not just to current stress but also to how you’ve experienced stress in the past.
This is where trauma comes in.
Trauma isn’t always about a single big event—it can come from prolonged emotional strain, neglect, grief, or being unsupported in hard moments. These experiences shape how your nervous system reacts later. If your brain has learned that certain kinds of stress feel unsafe, it may respond more quickly or intensely when something similar comes up again.
But whether your response is rooted in daily stress, past trauma, or a mix of both, the message is the same: your body is trying to help you.
Let’s Reframe the Trauma Response: You Make Sense
It's easy to jump to shame when we react in ways we don’t understand. You might think, “Why do I keep doing this?” or “What’s wrong with me?” But shame doesn’t lead to growth—it leads to hiding.
Healing begins with curiosity.
What if you could look at your reactions not as failures but as signals?
That anxiety? It’s your nervous system trying to stay ahead of danger.
That shutdown? It’s your brain pulling the emergency brake.
That sharp tone? It might be your stress boiling over.
These responses aren’t signs you’re broken. They’re signs you’ve been carrying a lot—and your body’s doing its best to keep you afloat.
Steps Toward Feeling Safe Again During A Stress Response
You can’t eliminate stress from your life—but you can change how you respond to it. Here are a few research-backed practices that can help:
1. Name what’s happening. The first step is awareness. When you feel yourself shutting down, getting tense, or overwhelmed, gently name it: “This feels like a stress response.”
Labeling your internal experience activates the prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain responsible for reasoning and reflection. This simple practice, sometimes called "name it to tame it,” helps calm the brain's fear center and creates space between stimulus and response.
2. Ground your body. When you're flooded with stress, your body needs a signal that it’s safe to come out of survival mode.
Try:
Box breathing: Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 4, exhale for 4, hold for 4
Sensory grounding: Press your feet onto the floor, run your hands under cold water, or hold a textured object
Movement: Even small physical movements like stretching or walking can release tension and help shift your state
These techniques tap into your parasympathetic nervous system, which helps restore your body to a state of rest and regulation.
3. Practice genuine self-compassion. Self-compassion isn’t about excusing unhelpful behavior or avoiding hard truths. It’s about relating to yourself with the same kindness and understanding you’d offer a struggling friend.
When you notice yourself reacting to stress, try saying: “This is hard right now. Many people would feel overwhelmed in this situation. I’m doing the best I can.”
Practicing this regularly helps reduce cortisol (the stress hormone), increases resilience, and encourages more intentional responses over time.
4. Talk to someone. Support matters. When stress patterns feel overwhelming or deeply ingrained, talking with a trained therapist can help you make sense of your reactions, explore their roots, and find new ways forward. You don’t have to figure it all out alone.
Starting from Human: Stress Responses Are Not A Sign of Brokenness
Your reactions are not proof that something’s wrong with you. They prove that your nervous system is doing what it was designed to—protect you from being overwhelmed, even when it is inconvenient or confusing.
You’ve already navigated so much. And now, you can move from just getting through the day to feeling grounded in it.
Begin Working With A Therapist in Marietta, Roswell, or Cartersville, GA - Virtual Counseling Available
If you find yourself struggling to handle conflict, remember that you are not alone. Our team of caring therapists would be honored to offer support with in-person and online services from our Marietta, GA-based practice. You can start your therapy journey by following these simple steps:
1. Reach out to talk to a therapist in Marietta, GA.
2. Have your first appointment at Remain Connected.
3. Start learning to handle conflict in a healthy way.
Other Services Offered at Remain Connected Counseling
Our team knows you may experience more than stress and anxiety related to conflict. This is why we are happy to offer a variety of services including teen therapy, anxiety treatment, and EMDR therapy. In addition, we also offer life transitions therapy, depression counseling, and more all under a Christian counseling lens. By using online therapy, these services are available to anyone in Georgia. Learn more about our team of dedicated therapists and contact us for more information.
Our Therapy Locations in Georgia
Marietta Office
In-Person Therapy on Windy Hill Road near Smyrna - Remain Connected Counseling is conveniently situated at 2480 Windy Hill Rd, Suite 200, Marietta, GA, near The Battery Atlanta, Truist Park, and Cumberland Mall. Our office is easily accessible from I-75 and I-285, making it a convenient option for therapy clients in Marietta, Smyrna, Vinings, Kennesaw, Sandy Springs, and Atlanta. Whether you're seeking support for anxiety, depression, relationships, life transitions, or personal growth, our team of dedicated Christian therapists is here to walk alongside you. In the Marietta office, we have therapists who accept United HealthCare, Aetna, Cigna, Optum, UMR, and GEHA.
Virtual Office
Online Counseling Available Across Georgia – Remain Connected Counseling offers virtual therapy sessions for individuals, couples, and families throughout the state of Georgia. Whether you're in Atlanta, Marietta, Roswell, Decatur, Canton, or beyond, our team of experienced Christian therapists is here to support you from the comfort of your own home. Enjoy the flexibility and convenience of online counseling that fits your schedule and needs, no matter where you are in Georgia. In the virtual office, we have therapists who accept United HealthCare, Aetna, Cigna, Optum, UMR, and GEHA.
Roswell Office
Our Roswell office is conveniently situated at 515 E Crossville Rd, Ste 340, Roswell, GA 30075, near Historic Downtown Roswell, Roswell Town Center, and East Cobb. Easily accessible from Highway 92 and GA-400, we proudly serve individuals, couples, and families in Roswell, Alpharetta, East Cobb, Woodstock, and surrounding areas. Whether you're seeking in-person or virtual therapy, our compassionate Christian therapists are here to support you on your journey to healing and growth. At the Roswell office, Danielle Flint accepts United HealthCare, including Optum, UMR, and GEHA.
Cartersville Office
Our Cartersville office is conveniently located at 600 South Tennessee Street, Cartersville, GA 30120, near Downtown Cartersville, the Booth Western Art Museum, and Dellinger Park. Easily accessible from Highway 41 and I-75, we proudly serve individuals and couples in Cartersville, Acworth, Emerson, Adairsville, and surrounding communities. Whether in-person or online, our compassionate Christian therapists are here to support you on your journey to healing, growth, and connection. At the Cartersville office, Suzy specializes in Christian premarital and marital counseling. She offers both Focus on the Family and Prepare/Enrich assessments for couples in the Cartersville area or virtual throughout the state of Georgia.
***Please note that this blog is NOT intended as official therapeutic advice of any kind.
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