Nervous System Dysregulation

At Alchemy Collective, we provide specialized treatment for nervous system dysregulation—the physiological underpinning of many mental health symptoms and somatic complaints. Our approach integrates cutting-edge neuroscience with body-centered therapeutic practices to help restore balance, resilience, and regulation to your autonomic nervous system.

Nervous system dysregulation occurs when your autonomic nervous system—which controls unconscious bodily functions and stress responses—becomes chronically imbalanced. This can manifest as persistent fight/flight activation (anxiety, hypervigilance, racing thoughts, sleep disturbance, digestive issues), freeze/shutdown states (depression, fatigue, disconnection, brain fog), or rapid oscillation between these extremes. These patterns often develop in response to trauma, chronic stress, early attachment disruption, or overwhelming life demands that exceed your nervous system's capacity to maintain regulation.

When your nervous system becomes dysregulated, you may experience a range of physical and emotional symptoms including anxiety, panic attacks, emotional reactivity, fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, difficulty feeling present or connected, and overwhelming emotions that seem to arise without clear triggers. These experiences can be confusing and distressing when their physiological basis isn't recognized.

Our treatment approach focuses on directly addressing the nervous system patterns underlying these symptoms. We help you develop awareness of your unique nervous system patterns, identify triggers and early signs of dysregulation, practice effective regulation skills tailored to your specific needs, process experiences that have contributed to dysregulation, and gradually expand your "window of tolerance"—the zone where you can remain present and regulated even during challenges.

We utilize various somatic and body-centered approaches including Somatic Experiencing, the Polyvagal Theory framework, trauma-sensitive mindfulness, embodiment practices, breath work, movement, and when appropriate, touch-based therapies like craniosacral therapy. These approaches work directly with the body's innate capacity for regulation rather than relying solely on cognitive understanding or behavioral changes.

Many clients experience profound relief when addressing dysregulation at the nervous system level, finding that symptoms that didn't respond fully to other approaches begin to shift as regulation improves. As your nervous system finds greater balance, you may experience improved emotional regulation, reduced physical symptoms, better sleep and energy, increased capacity for connection, greater resilience to stress, and a deeper sense of safety and presence in your body and life.