In this episode of The Body Rhythm, we explore how stress affects your nervous system, body, and emotional well-being—and why your reactions to stress are not personal failures, but nervous system responses.

We gently unpack the difference between acute stress and chronic stress, and how ongoing stress can dysregulate the central nervous system, digestion, sleep, and sense of safety in the body. You’ll learn how the familiar fight, flight, and freeze responses show up in daily life—and how these patterns can quietly pull you out of balance.

This episode also introduces three common stress styles—Ethereal, Fierce, and Stable—to help you recognize how your body tends to respond under pressure. By understanding your unique stress pattern, you can begin to meet yourself with more compassion and choose gentle, practical ways to support nervous system regulation and healing.

If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed, disconnected from your body, or stuck in stress cycles, this conversation offers a grounded starting point for restoring rhythm, safety, and balance.

✨ This episode is for women navigating stress, burnout, emotional overwhelm, and nervous system dysregulation who are ready to listen to their body and heal gently.

00:00 – Introduction: Stress, Balance & the Nervous System
01:44 – How Stress Responses Form
02:15 – Acute vs. Chronic Stress
03:17 – The Sympathetic Nervous System Explained
04:49 – How the Central Nervous System Shapes Well-Being
05:55 – Learning to Listen to Your Body
08:50 – Safety, Healing & Nervous System Regulation
14:48 – Understanding Your Stress Style
14:53 – The Ethereal Stress Style
17:03 – The Fierce Stress Style
20:05 – The Stable Stress Style
22:12 – Closing Reflections & Integration

💛 If this episode resonated, you may enjoy my free Rest, Rhythm & Rituals Guide—gentle daily practices to calm your nervous system and restore balance.

Chelsea Johnson Ayurveda