How Chronic Stress Showed Up in My Body

(And Might Be Showing Up in Yours Too!)

For years, I thought my body was just… difficult. I blamed genetics, bad luck, or just assumed that feeling exhausted and uncomfortable all the time was normal. But when I started learning about the nervous system, everything clicked—these symptoms weren’t random. My body had been stuck in chronic stress mode for years, and it was desperately trying to tell me something.

Chronic stress doesn’t just make you feel overwhelmed. It physically rewires your nervous system, keeping you in a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze. And when your nervous system is dysregulated for long periods, it starts to manifest in ways you might not expect. Here’s how it showed up for me—and how it might be showing up for you too.

1. Teeth Grinding & Jaw Tension

I actually wore a hole in my retainer from clenching my teeth so much at night! My jaw was always sore, and I’d wake up feeling like I had been chewing on rocks. This was my body’s way of holding onto tension. When you’re stressed, the trigeminal nerve (which controls the jaw) stays overactive, leading to clenching and grinding.

2. Digestive Issues & Bloating

I spent years dealing with bloating and stomach aches, blaming random foods when in reality, stress was the real culprit. When your body perceives danger, digestion takes a backseat. Chronic stress disrupts gut function and can cause bloating, cramping, and even IBS-like symptoms. The gut and brain are directly connected via the vagus nerve, so emotional stress can easily turn into digestive distress.

3. Frequent Migraines & Tension Headaches

Migraines used to knock me out for three days at a time, at least once a month. My shoulders and neck were constantly tight, which only made them worse. Chronic stress keeps your muscles tense and restricts blood flow, leading to inflammation and pain. While I still get occasional migraines, they’re nowhere near as frequent or debilitating as they used to be.

4. Stiff Jaw & Popping Sounds

My jaw used to pop every time I opened my mouth. Turns out, this was just another way my nervous system was holding onto stress. Chronic tension in the jaw muscles can misalign your bite and cause stiffness or clicking.

5. Emotional Overwhelm & Weekly Cry Sessions

I used to have a standing date with my emotions—weekly cry sessions just to let everything out. My nervous system was stuck in a constant state of activation, which made it harder to regulate my emotions. When your body is always in fight-or-flight mode, even small stressors can feel overwhelming.

6. Constant Fatigue & Unrefreshing Sleep

I could sleep 8-9 hours, take naps, and still feel drained. No amount of rest seemed to help. Chronic stress messes with your cortisol levels, leading to exhaustion, difficulty waking up, and non-restorative sleep. If you’re always tired no matter how much you sleep, your nervous system might be dysregulated.

7. Stomach Aches & Nausea

Stress-related stomach pain was a regular thing for me. When your nervous system is on high alert, it sends signals to slow digestion, which can lead to nausea, stomach cramps, and discomfort—especially during stressful periods.

8. Nail Biting & Other Nervous Habits

For the longest time, I didn’t even realize I was biting my nails. It was an unconscious way my body tried to self-soothe. Nervous habits—like tapping, bouncing your leg, or picking at your skin—are signs of an overstimulated nervous system trying to regulate itself.

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How I Healed (And How You Can Too)

Once I started learning about nervous system regulation, most of these symptoms completely vanished. I finally felt like my body was working with me instead of against me. Here’s what made the biggest difference:

• Vagus Nerve Stimulation – Deep breathing, humming, and cold exposure helped activate my parasympathetic nervous system (aka the relaxation response).
• Somatic Movement – Stretching, yoga, and even shaking out tension helped release stored stress from my muscles.
• Emotional Processing – Journaling, meditation, and inner child work helped me process past stress instead of holding it in my body.
• Balanced Sleep & Nutrition – Prioritizing deep rest and eating in a way that supported my nervous system gave my body the foundation it needed to heal.

If any of these symptoms sound familiar, you’re not alone. The good news? Your body isn’t broken—it’s just been trying to protect you. When you learn to regulate your nervous system, you can start feeling better, thinking more clearly, and living with more ease.

If you want personalized support in learning how to navigate your nervous system and break free from chronic stress, I’d love to help. My 1:1 coaching is designed to help you rewire your stress response and finally feel at home in your body. Let’s work together to create a life that feels calm, aligned, and truly yours. Click here to learn more.