Is Your Nervous System in Survival Mode? Understanding the Link Between Rejection and Health

As we step into 2026, many of us are looking for a fresh start and a deeper sense of peace. This year, the goal isn’t just about making resolutions; it is about finding a sustainable calmness that resides deep within you.

If you have been struggling with lingering mental health challenges, understanding the connection between your heart and your nervous system is the first step toward that restoration.

In this blog, we will dive into the science of the “Fight or Flight” response and how the brain processes social pain. We will explore why your body might feel stuck in survival mode and how you can begin to balance your nervous system functions.

The Physical Weight of Social Pain

Have you ever felt a physical ache in your chest after being misunderstood by a friend? Or noticed your chronic health challenges, such as fatigue, brain fog, or digestive issues, flare up after a difficult conversation?

For many Christians, the pain of social rejection isn’t just “in your head.” It is a physiological event that directly impacts your nervous system.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Your Nervous System

King David wrote in Psalm 139:14, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” This truth extends to the intricate design of your nervous system.

God designed your nervous system to be an incredible protective mechanism with the primary job of keeping you safe. When you face a threat, your amygdala, the brain’s alarm bell, triggers a “Fight, Flight, or Freeze” response. This shifts your body into a state of high alert, pumping stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline to prepare you for action.

The profound connection between your physical health and your emotional well-being is why the limbic system is often referred to as your “emotional nervous system.” It doesn’t just process feelings; it manages the biological feedback loops that dictate how your body responds to the world around you.

To see how these brain structures work together to protect you or keep you stuck, watch this video where Brooklyn and Nick explain the process:

Difference Between Survival Circuits vs. Survival Mode

It is important to distinguish between a healthy, adaptive stress response and a chronic state of physiological imbalance. While your body is designed to handle temporary pressure, it is not meant to live in an indefinite state of high alert.

Survival Circuits

These are innate brain programs that activate during imminent danger. They are designed to shut down once the threat passes, such as when your heart rate slows after a stressful presentation.

Survival Mode

This is a chronic, maladaptive state where those circuits fail to deactivate. The nervous system keeps sounding the alarm long after the danger is gone, treating every shadow or difficult conversation as a threat.

For those with chronic health challenges, the system can become hyper-sensitive. Instead of returning to a state of peace, the body stays stuck in a chronic stress response.

The Science of Rejection and “Amygdala Hijack”

Neuroscience shows us that the brain processes social rejection in the same regions it processes physical pain. This is often where an “amygdala hijack” occurs. This happens when the amygdala responds to emotional stress by disabling the frontal lobes, the part of your brain responsible for reasoning and logic.

When the amygdala “hijacks” control, your responses become automatic and emotional rather than rational. This creates a feedback loop where social pain triggers physical health challenges, which then further stress the nervous system.

The Root of the “Stuck” Response

But, why do some people bounce back from a stressful event while others develop chronic hurdles?

While many identify the “root cause” as an infection or toxicity, these are often just stressors that a resilient limbic system should handle. The deeper root often lies in:

• Past Traumas: Unresolved pain that keeps the amygdala on high alert.

• Fear-Based Thinking: Thoughts that trigger negative emotions, which then fuel the stress response.

When we live out of alignment with our identity in Christ, we become vulnerable to the spiritual and psychological weight of the world. As John 10:10 warns us, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” Living in a state of spiritual unrest allows our peace to be stolen, but the verse concludes with a powerful promise for our health: “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”

How to Calm Your Amygdala and Find Rest in 2026

As we look for calmness this New Year, the invitation of Jesus in Matthew 11:28 serves as our biological North Star: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Finding relief for your nervous system involves aligning your heart with Christ and using practical pathways to retrain the brain.

As Proverbs 3:7-8 says, “Fear the Lord and shun evil; this will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.” By seeking Him, we are physically nourishing our system and moving into the zone of safety and connection.

God did not design you to live in a state of constant survival. He designed you for rest, resilience, and joy. If your journey has felt like an endless cycle of lab tests and protocols that haven’t reached the root, there is another way: Join Brooklyn and Nick for a FREE 3-Day Online Workshop to learn how to calm your amygdala.

How to start your nervous system journey?

Educate yourself.

Understand that your “overactive” nervous system is trying to protect you. It isn't a character flaw; it is a biological response to perceived threat.

Assess your heart.

Are your motivations aligned with His will? When we seek Him through worship, our mindset begins to change because we are “walking in the Spirit.”

Plan for persistence.

Rewiring deep-seated patterns of fear typically takes time, often six months or longer. Which is why consistency plays a key aspect to creating a new environment of safety for your brain.

If you’re ready to move out of survival mode and into the rest of Christ, book a free strategy call.

Conclusion

Your nervous system is a masterpiece of God's creation, designed for connection and peace. While rejection and health challenges may have pushed you into a state of chronic survival, you are not stuck there. Through the renewing of your mind and the science of neuroplasticity, you can find your way back to the vitality God intended.

Are you ready to find balance in 2026? Make this your New Year’s resolution by having your free strategy call with us.

Brooklyn Hanna

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References:

Contreras, A. (2025, September 6). How People With a Normal Stress Response Come to Believe They Are Dysfunctional. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/traumatization-and-its-aftermath/202509/are-you-really-in-survival-mode

Sjoberg, S. (2023, February 16). The Wisdom of our Nervous System | IE Insights. IE Insights. https://www.ie.edu/insights/articles/the-wisdom-of-our-nervous-system/

Holland, K. (2025, April 18). Amygdala Hijack: When emotion takes over. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/amygdala-hijack