Can anyone else please help me? Nervous system dysregulation
Looking for others who might have experienced this. This is my story:
Late 2025 I went through a small cut for a mens photoshoot followed by a CrossFit competition at peak leanness. A ski trip in March pushed me over the edge. My nervous system essentially collapsed — chronic sympathetic dominance, HPA axis dysregulation, the works.
Current symptoms: severe sleep disruption (insomnia), elevated resting HR, suppressed HRV, heavy legs, inability to yawn fully, night-time catastrophising, hypervigilance, and a near-total loss of capacity across work, physical, and social life. Blood work confirmed the physiological picture with chronically high cortisol levels across the day measured in a 4 point saliva test.
All of the doctors I have spoken to have said I just have 'anxiety' which I disagree with given this literally emerged overnight; it's like someone has shot me with adrenaline.
I'm now three months in. Living with family. Stepped back from work. Working with somatic therapists and engaging with polyvagal theory, EMDR, Peter Levine's work, SSP, and Brainspotting as frameworks.
Has anyone been through something similar? Particularly interested in hearing from people who've come out the other side, and what actually moved the needle for them.