BY GINA FONTAINE

Take a deep breath.

If that feels difficult, you’re not alone.

We’re living in a time where the world feels loud, fast, and uncertain. From economic shifts and political unrest to climate concerns and global conflicts, our collective nervous system is overwhelmed—and most of us don’t even realize that stress has hijacked our nervous system.

As a Certified Personal Trainer and Yoga Instructor who has worked in the fitness and wellness field since 1996, I used to believe that more action, more tools, and more modalities were the path to healing. But over time, I discovered that when the brain is stuck in a chronic stress loop, LESS IS MORE. True healing begins with calming the nervous system and creating a sense of safety within.

Let’s talk about what stress does to the brain—and why understanding it is more important than ever.

The Brain Under Siege

The brain is the control center for your entire body, regulating hormones, digestion, immune response, emotions and decision-making. But when the brain is under stress, it sends the entire system into disarray.

In response to perceived threats—whether real or imagined—the brain triggers the release of cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone. A small dose of cortisol can be helpful. It heightens awareness and sharpens focus. But chronic cortisol release wreaks havoc on the brain.

When the brain is exposed to ongoing stress, cortisol levels remain elevated. Over time, this shrinks the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for rational thinking and emotional regulation—and enlarges the amygdala, which governs fear and threat detection. In other words, we lose our ability to pause, reflect, and respond—and instead, we react from a place of panic, hypervigilance, or numbness.

This is known as the fight, flight, or freeze state—and in today’s world, many people are unknowingly living there every single day.

Signs You’re Stuck in Survival Mode

Chronic stress doesn’t always show up as panic or overwhelm. Often, it hides in plain sight—showing up as trouble sleeping, irritability, brain fog, emotional outbursts, or frequent illness.

These aren’t personal flaws—they’re simply signs that your brain has been working overtime to keep you safe in a world that feels unpredictable.

Why We Overreact to the News

Have you noticed how one alarming headline can throw your entire day off track? Or how reading the news before bed leaves you wired or restless?

That is no accident. Our brains are wired to seek out threat-based information when we’re in a heightened state. The media understands this and often amplifies fear to keep us engaged. When we’re already operating from a stress-dominant brain pattern, it’s far easier to become reactive, defensive, or despairing.

But here’s the good news: this pattern is not permanent.

Hope for the Hijacked Brain

You don’t have to live in survival mode.

One of the most powerful things you can do is reset your brain—literally. Nervous system modulation is the process of shifting your brain out of stress patterns and into a state of balance and safety. This doesn’t mean ignoring what’s happening in the world. It means giving your brain a chance to respond wisely, rather than react impulsively.

In my own journey as a single mom business owner who has endured a lot of stress, I discovered that when I removed all the “extras”—supplements, CBD, sleep aids, and even meditation apps—I was finally able to give my brain the space to find its own rhythm. The shift didn’t come from doing more—it came from listening to my brain’s deeper need for calm.

I now work with a non-invasive, brain-based technology called Cereset, which uses real-time brainwave mirroring to help people relieve chronic stress and come into a place of calm clarity. Whether it’s a client struggling with burnout, sleep, anxiety, or emotional overwhelm, the common denominator is the same: the brain is trying to keep up. And it needs support because sometimes meditation and breathing exercises are not enough.

One of our clients at Cereset Cherry Creek, a mother and small business owner shared, “I had this feeling of dread and negativity combined with a near inability to function. My poor family suffered because I was so incredibly angry all the time and expressed it through yelling… I knew my brain was literally broken. Cereset is a godsend. It truly changed my brain. After my 5 sessions, I’m calmer, more rational, and able to function much better.”

Her story is just one of many. When the brain is given the chance to relax and self-correct, clients often experience deeper sleep, calmer responses to stress, more sustained energy, and better focus. These changes build the foundation for lasting well-being and a more peaceful life.

You Have the Power to Shift

The world may feel chaotic, but your brain doesn’t have to live there.

Understanding how stress rewires the brain gives you the power to stop the cycle—not by adding more to your to-do list, but by giving your nervous system the chance to reset.

Whether you’re a parent, a professional, or someone simply trying to stay afloat, the path to healing starts with one simple but profound question:

“What if the real threat isn’t the world around me—but the way my brain has been taught to perceive it?”

Your brain is not broken. It’s doing exactly what it was designed to do under stress. But now, it is time to give it the peace it craves.

You deserve to feel calm, clear, and connected again. And it all starts with giving your brain a reset.

Curious about how your brain responds to stress?  Take the free brain resiliency quiz. Scan the QR code below.

Gina Fontaine, Client Center Manager at Cereset Cherry Creek is the mother of 2 teens and a young adult.  Email gina@cherrycreek.cereset.com or Call 303-954-8834