03/01/2026
Just like you I used to wonder… is this normal?
Would anyone else think this was just “how they are”?
👉 Replaying conversations over and over in my head -only later realising this was my brain analysing, trying to protect me and prevent future discomfort.
👉 Picking up my phone for absolutely no reason - using it as a distraction, a tiny reward for the discomfort I was feeling. (I know you’ve done this too.)
👉 Not being calm in silence -
needing background noise like the radio or TV because silence amplifies thoughts, and distraction feels safer.
👉 Jumping out of my skin when someone comes up behind me -
my nervous system primed for danger even when everything is calm. (This still happens when I’m out walking the dogs.)
👉 Over-explaining to keep the peace - a fawn response, trying to stay safe by being “easy” and agreeable.
👉 Feeling anxious and tense in busy public spaces - scanning for exits, feeling overwhelmed, needing to escape. (This one really resonates with me.)
👉 Cleaning or organising when I felt unsettled - I used to have to have the dishwasher empty, the floors clean, the house spotless before bed or taking the children to school.
Taking control helped soothe the lost sense of safety. (Thankfully, this is now a thing of the past.)
👉 Avoiding messages and people -
as an introvert, social energy and unpredictability can feel draining when my system is overloaded.
👉 Not feeling hungry… or feeling wired but exhausted - when the brain is in survival mode, it disconnects you from basic needs, conserves energy, and stores fat.
👉 Struggling to rest without guilt - being still once felt unsafe. (This has taken conscious, compassionate work.)
None of this meant I was broken.
It meant my nervous system was doing its job - just a little too well.
This understanding is exactly why I created the PEACE Programme and Somnos Sleep Solutions -
to help gently regulate the nervous system, restore sleep, rebuild trust with the body, and create real peace from the inside out.
✨ If any of this feels familiar, you’re not failing.
✨ You’re surviving - and support can change everything.
Dm Sleep or Peace for more info.
www.hollystonehypnotherapy.co.uk