Hope for a Messed-Up Nervous System
Andi is a 45-year-old principal at a Christian school. On the outside, she looks calm, confident, and capable. She loves her staff, cares deeply for her students, and wants to honor God in her work.
But on the inside? She’s battling a storm.
Whenever she has to give a presentation or sit down for a tough conversation with a parent or teacher, her body betrays her. Her heart pounds, her breath turns shallow, and dizziness creeps in. Sometimes, the feelings are so overwhelming that she fears she’ll faint—or worse, lose control in front of everyone.
Not weak. Not crazy.
Andi isn’t “weak.” She isn’t “crazy.” What she’s experiencing is hyperactivation of the nervous system—the same God-given system designed to protect her.
The ultimate answer to fear and anxiety is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The gospel is the good news that through Christ, our sins are forgiven, we are reconciled to God, and we have new life in Him. Believers have put their trust in Jesus, and part of living that new life is turning to Him when our nervous system sends false alarms—when panic, worry, or anxiety arises, even in safe situations.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7
What Is Hyperactivation of the Nervous System?
God created our nervous system with a built-in alarm: the fight, flight, or freeze response. It’s wonderful when we face real danger. If a child ran into the street, your brain would instantly flood your body with energy to react and protect.
The trouble comes when this system gets stuck in the “on” position.
The amygdala, the brain’s alarm center, misfires—signaling “danger!” when there isn’t any.
The sympathetic nervous system floods the body with stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Heart races, muscles tighten, digestion slows, and breathing quickens.
The body doesn’t return to calm. Instead, it stays on high alert.
Fear feeds more fear. A racing heart and dizziness can be scary, which convinces the brain that something must be wrong.
This cycle is what fuels anxiety, fear, and worry.
Mini-Science Insight
Research shows that panic attacks often arise when the nervous system reacts to unresolved stress, past trauma, or suppressed emotions. Focusing only on the physical symptoms can strengthen the panic cycle.
By journaling, practicing mindfulness, speaking affirmations, and shifting attention to underlying emotions and thoughts, the nervous system can learn to settle. As Scripture reminds us:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6–7
The gospel is the foundation. Through Christ, we can surrender our fears, trust His presence, and experience His peace even when our bodies react with alarm.
Shifting Attention Away from Symptoms
One of the most powerful ways to break the cycle is to stop making the anxious symptoms the main focus. Physical sensations often serve as a distraction from deeper emotions—anger, sadness, shame, or fear that feel too heavy to face.
Instead of fixating on the racing heart, dizziness, or shaky hands, you can:
Turn attention to the underlying emotions. Ask, What am I really feeling right now?
Acknowledge but don’t obey the symptoms. Remind yourself, “My body is giving me a false alarm. I don’t need to live my life based on these sensations.”
Don’t live on old memories. Often, the body reacts as though old stressful experiences are still happening. You can gently remind yourself, That was then. This is now.
Renewing the Mind
The Bible tells us:
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind. —Romans 12:2
Practical ways to retrain the mind and body include:
Affirmations: Speaking truth, such as “I am safe right now” or “This is only a false alarm.”
Writing exercises: Journaling prayers or free-writing about fears helps bring the truth into the light instead of burying them.
Biblical meditation and paying attention in the moment (nowadays referred to as “mindfulness”): Intentionally thinking about a scripture or biblicalsadness truth, slowing down your breathing, or gently observing anxious sensations without panic creates space for peace.
Shifting focus: Moving from a morbid focus on symptoms to the emotions, thoughts, and present realities of life interrupts the cycle of worry; even better, look to the Lord, who made you with emotions.
As Paul reminds us:
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. —Colossians 3:2
Why It Feels So Overwhelming
For Andi, the hyperactive nervous system shows up in her work. A big meeting or a difficult conversation cues her body to prepare for danger, even when there’s no real threat.
She finds herself worrying the night before:
What if I panic in front of everyone?
What if I lose control?
What if they think less of me?
Those thoughts keep her body on edge, making panic more likely the next day. It’s a vicious loop—one many believers quietly live with.
God’s Peace Guards the Heart
The good news is that God does not leave us stuck in this loop. Through Christ, we can surrender fear, face unresolved emotions, and retrain the nervous system while experiencing His peace:
The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still. —Exodus 14:14
A Gentle Invitation
If you see yourself in Andi’s story—if stress, anxiety, or worry are triggering panic attacks—you’re not alone. Many strong, faithful people wrestle with the same struggles.
If you’re ready to take a next step, I warmly invite you to join my upcoming Panic Free Group Coaching cohort. In this safe, Christ-centered community for women who struggle with anxiety, panic, or intrusive thoughts, you’ll learn practical tools to calm your nervous system, shift your focus from fear to truth, and experience God’s peace in daily life.
✨ Learn more and save your spot here.