12 Signs You’re Stuck in Fight or Flight (And Why So Many Midlife Women Feel This Way)
Most women don’t realise they’re living in fight or flight every single day.
They think they’re “just stressed,” “busy,” or “not great at relaxing.”
But when your system is stuck in survival mode, your body is constantly preparing to fight your way through the day — even during simple, everyday tasks.
And the scariest part?
You can be stuck in fight-or-flight long after the stress has passed.
What Is Fight or Flight, Really?
Fight-or-flight isn’t just an emotion or a mindset.
It’s a physiological response triggered when your nervous system believes you’re under threat.
That threat might be:
emotional pressure
overwhelm
burnout
unresolved trauma
the weight of responsibility
chronic stress
perfectionism
constantly caring for others
Your nervous system doesn’t distinguish between physical danger and emotional overload.
It responds the same way — by activating survival mode.
12 Signs You’re Stuck in Fight or Flight
You might be living in survival mode if you notice:
1. You’re always rushing, even when there’s no need to
2. Your mind doesn’t stop, especially at night
3. You live at 100 or 0 — all or nothing
4. Your sleep is broken or unrefreshing
5. Your digestion feels off (bloating, irregularity, cramping)
6. Your breath sits high, chest feels tight
7. You feel wired but tired all the time
8. Stress sits in your belly
9. You startle easily or feel “on edge”
10. Sugar/carbs feel like coping
11. You carry the emotional load for everyone
12. Nothing truly relaxes you — not meditation, not breathing, not journaling
These aren’t personality traits.
They’re survival signals.
Why Midlife Women Feel This More Strongly
Hormonal changes dramatically shift how your body responds to stress.
Lower estrogen = a more sensitive nervous system.
This means:
pressure hits harder
overwhelm builds faster
emotional triggers feel bigger
recovery takes longer
It’s not you “getting older.”
It’s your endocrine system reacting differently to stress.
Why You Can’t Relax Your Way Out of Fight or Flight
When your nervous system is locked in survival mode:
meditation feels impossible
journaling ramps your mind up
breathing exercises barely help
holidays don’t fix it
massages give temporary relief
talking about it doesn’t shift the body
Because none of these address the root cause — the deeper physiological and energetic circuits that keep your body in fight-or-flight.
You don’t need more coping skills.
You need your:
nervous system
endocrine system
metabolic pathways
emotional field
to come back into coherence.
What Healing Looks Like
When the system resets — not just the symptoms — real change happens.
✨ Sleep deepens
✨ Anxiety softens
✨ Digestion calms
✨ Emotional resilience returns
✨ Energy stabilises
✨ Your body stops bracing
One woman told me after her first session:
“I’ve been sleeping better and I feel less anxious.”
When the body feels safe… it responds quickly.
You’re Not Too Much. You’re Not Failing.
If you see yourself in these signs, please know:
You’re not broken.
You’re not dramatic.
You’re not lazy.
You’re not “just bad at relaxing.”
You’re living in a body that’s been protecting you for far too long — and it’s exhausted.
The good news?
Your system can come out of survival mode.
And the shift can happen faster than you might think.
Learn more about my approach here.
Your Next Step (Choose What Feels Best)
Below are two gentle options depending on where you’re at.
1. Start calming your system at home
Download my free Energy Reset Ritual — a soothing, simple practice designed to help your nervous system reconnect with safety.
👉 Download the Energy Reset Ritual Here
2. Experience a deeper reset with me
If you’re ready for personalised support, my 45-minute Taster Healing Session is a beautiful place to begin.
We’ll explore what’s keeping your system stuck in fight-or-flight and begin rewiring the pathways that keep your body braced.
👉 Book a Taster Healing Session Here
You Don’t Have to Keep Living in Survival Mode
Your body is tired of bracing.
It’s ready to feel calm, steady and safe again — and you don’t have to do it alone.
I’m here when you’re ready.
