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Do You Have Nervous System Dysregulation?

Nervous System Dysregulation; image of forest with some fallen trees

Do You Have Nervous System Dysregulation?

A person’s nervous system generally spends most of the time with the parasympathetic (ventral vagal) nervous system activated to bring the nervous system to a calm state. When a person faces an emergency situation or crisis, their sympathetic nervous system gets activated, and after the crisis is over, the parasympathetic (Ventral vagal) nervous system brings the nervous system back to a normal state and calms it down.

When a person’s nervous system is dysregulated, this process fails to work as it is supposed to. A dysregulated nervous system easily turns to “danger” responses such as fight, flight, freeze or fawn. A person with a dysregulated nervous system can be agitated or shut down. Also, their nervous system has trouble returning to a calm, parasympathetic state. These are often symptoms that can make life difficult.

Due to stress, trauma and other experiences, your nervous system can become dysregulated. There are a number of indications that can point to your nervous system being in a state of chronic dysregulation.

This quiz is for informational purposes only, but it may indicate the likelihood that you have nervous system dysregulation. A lot of these symptoms are common to nervous system dysregulation, but can also be from other causes as well. The pattern is more important than individual symptoms in determining if your nervous system is dysregulated.

1 / 30

Do you have unresolved aches and pains or problems with muscle tension?

2 / 30

Do you find yourself constantly anxious, agitated, stressed, and/or worried?

3 / 30

Do you have skin issues?

4 / 30

Do you experience daytime fatigue, even when you’ve had enough sleep?

5 / 30

Do you experience problems sleeping?

6 / 30

Do you have issues with high or low heart rate (or pulse)?

7 / 30

Do you have difficulty with temperature regulation (often feel too hot or too cold)?

8 / 30

Do you frequently get sick?

9 / 30

Do you experience excessive sweating?

10 / 30

Do you experience intense cravings or extreme changes in appetite?

11 / 30

Do you have difficulty calming/regulating yourself after being triggered or becoming overwhelmed?

12 / 30

Do you have difficulty relaxing?

13 / 30

Do you have a hard time feeling emotions, or often feel numb?

14 / 30

Do you have multiple food sensitivities or allergies?

15 / 30

Do you experience frequent digestive or bowel issues?

16 / 30

Are you highly sensitive to sensory stimuli (smells, sounds, etc.)?

17 / 30

Do you find yourself frequently forgetting things or having a hard time remembering things?

18 / 30

Do you have physical symptoms (pain, nausea, vertigo, etc.) that are medically unexplained?

19 / 30

Do you have difficulty bringing yourself out of negative emotional or mood swings?

20 / 30

Are you constantly on edge or hypervigilant?

21 / 30

Do you have a hard time controlling your emotions?

22 / 30

Do you engage in toxic positivity to the point that you are out of touch with your emotions or the emotions of others?

23 / 30

Are you highly sensitive to other people’s emotions?

People-pleasing is a habit of putting others wants and needs before your own. Sometimes acting against your own values to please others.

24 / 30

Do you engage in people-pleasing?

25 / 30

Do you have chronic pain?

26 / 30

Do you find yourself frequently snappy, irritable, reactive or easily overwhelmed?

27 / 30

Do you engage in thrill-seeking behaviours (sky-diving, high-speed sports, etc.)?

28 / 30

Do you suffer from low mood or depression?

29 / 30

Do you often experience a sense of depletion (exhaustion)?

30 / 30

Do you have chronic attention and concentration issues?

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