Why You Can't Relax Even When You're Safe And What To Do About It

You know you are safe. So why does your body still feel like it is waiting for something bad to happen? If you can't relax even in safe spaces, your nervous system may be stuck in protection mode after trauma. This is one of the most common experiences for sexual assault survivors, and it has a name: hypervigilance. In this post, we explain what is happening inside your body, why it happens after trauma, and what you can do to start helping your nervous system heal. You will find simple grounding techniques you can use right now, plus tools to build a longer-term sense of safety. You are not broken. Your body learned to protect you. Now let's help it learn to rest.