The holiday season is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but for many, it can feel like a whirlwind of stress, triggers, expectations, and overwhelm. Between crowded stores, packed schedules, and navigating family dynamics, staying calm and connected to yourself might seem like a pipe dream. But it doesn’t have to be. With the right tools, you can not only survive the holidays but thrive in them.

Anger is a natural emotional response to perceived threats, injustices, or frustrations. It’s part of our body’s fight-or-flight mechanism, designed to protect us and help us respond to challenges. When we feel angry, our nervous system kicks into gear, releasing stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol, which prepare us to take action.

Learn what it really means to be triggered and why it’s not a bad thing. Discover practical steps to navigate triggers with compassion and use them as a tool for deeper healing and self-awareness. Being triggered offers insight into unresolved emotions and patterns that shape your responses. By understanding and addressing these reactions, you can cultivate greater emotional resilience and inner peace.

Have you ever felt like you’re stuck in “go mode,” constantly pushing forward but never quite catching your breath? This might be survival mode—when your nervous system is operating as if you’re in a constant state of threat, even if there’s no immediate danger. Survival mode can sneak into your life in surprising ways, often without you realizing it. Here are five unexpected ways it might be showing up in your body

Do your emotions sometimes feel like a rollercoaster? Maybe you’re always on edge, and one more thing on your to-do list feels like it might make you fall apart. That frazzled, overwhelmed feeling might actually be tied to your vagal tone—a part of your nervous system that helps you manage stress and stay emotionally grounded.

Do you often find yourself tying your self-worth to accomplishments? Does a small mistake feel like a personal failure? These are common signs of perfectionism—a mindset where success and self-worth become tightly linked to flawless outcomes. But embracing imperfection could bring you closer to a more balanced, fulfilling life.

Do you ever feel like you're constantly on edge, as if your body is bracing for some impending threat? Maybe you find yourself in a cycle of anxiety, overthinking, or exhaustion that feels hard to break, even when there's no immediate danger. If this sounds familiar, you may be stuck in survival mode—a state where your nervous system is trapped in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze.

we’re overwhelmed by a flood of emotions. It could be a comment from a loved one, an unexpected email, or even a seemingly harmless situation that sets off a powerful internal reaction. This reaction, often called being "triggered," can throw us into a state of heightened emotional distress. When triggered, our nervous system goes into overdrive, and we may find it difficult to think clearly, remain calm, or respond in a balanced way

When we experience a traumatic event, whether it's physical, emotional, or psychological, our nervous system reacts instinctively. It enters a state of fight, flight, or freeze, activating all its resources to survive the perceived threat. This is a healthy and necessary response for acute situations.