nervous system regulation

Why You Absorb Other People’s Stress

Some people can walk into a tense room and immediately feel different. Someone else is anxious, irritated, disappointed, or overwhelmed, and suddenly you feel it too. Being sensitive to other people is not necessarily the problem. The problem begins when noticing someone else’s emotional state turns into feeling responsible for changing it.

Why Overthinking Feels Helpful but Keeps You Stuck

Overthinking can feel productive because your brain is trying to protect you from making a mistake, being hurt, or feeling unprepared. But when thinking turns into looping, it stops helping and starts keeping your nervous system on high alert.