Understanding Stress, Burnout, Trauma and Anxiety: The Physiology and the Path to Healing
- philippawilliams13
- Sep 8, 2025
- 7 min read
Updated: Sep 16, 2025
Testimonial "As a psychotherapist, I was struggling with my own burnout and unresolved trauma. Philippa’s naturopathy monthly package gave me consistent, gentle support — from nutrition and herbal remedies to homeopathy — while TRE helped me release deep tension and regulate my nervous system. The combination has been life-changing. I feel resourced again, both personally and professionally." — J.L. Psychotherapist, UK
If you’ve ever felt like you’re running on empty — wired but tired, unable to switch off, or suddenly crashing into exhaustion or low mood — you’re not alone. This cycle is the body’s natural response to prolonged stress, trauma, and burnout. Because it is physiological, true recovery has to begin with regulating the nervous system.
It’s also important to recognise that a prolonged state of low mood is not always depression. It can also be burnout — a sign of adrenal fatigue and physiological collapse when the system has been under strain for too long. Left untreated, this can deepen into chronic health conditions.
Our nervous system is designed to protect us. When it senses danger, it automatically shifts into survival/ dissociation mode. But when stress or trauma are prolonged, these protective states get stuck “on,” and the body begins to break down.
The Physiology of Stress, Burnout, Trauma and Anxiety
In my publications (Williams, 2018; 2024), I have written about how part of the brain shuts down during periods of overwhelming stress or trauma. This area, called Broca’s area, is responsible for retrieving working verbal memory. When it goes offline, people may find themselves unable to recall what happened, struggling to find words, or feeling detached. This is a form of dissociation, and it is one of the reasons we can get “stuck” in what’s known as the trauma loop.
When we push our body beyond its means, the nervous system has to find ways to cope. One way it does this is through dissociation — a protective strategy that allows us to keep functioning when stress or trauma feel intolerable. In many ways, this shows how wise and adaptive the body can be. But it is not a safe place to remain for long. Functioning in this state means we are disconnected from ourselves, and daily life can start to feel surreal or mechanical.
How to Recognise the Signs
You may notice this in subtle moments — for example, driving and suddenly realising you don’t remember part of the journey. This is not absentmindedness; it can be the body’s way of switching off awareness because being fully present has become too overwhelming.
When caught in the trauma loop, the nervous system is locked in survival mode. We cycle between three main positions — fight, flight, or freeze — each with its own neurochemical profile and psychological impact.
Fight – The body releases cortisol and adrenaline, preparing for confrontation. In this state, people may feel more irritable, short-tempered, or aggressive than usual. Small frustrations can escalate, and it becomes difficult to let things go.
Flight – Also driven by cortisol and adrenaline, this state fuels anxiety and restlessness. It can feel impossible to relax, with constant worry, hypervigilance, and jumping at noises or sudden movements. Sleep is often disrupted, and concentration becomes difficult.
Freeze / Shutdown – When the system is overwhelmed and unable to sustain fight or flight, the body releases natural opioids to numb distress. This leads to feelings of depression, procrastination, lack of motivation, and emotional flatness. People may feel “frozen,” disconnected, or as if they are watching life from the outside.
Recognising these states is vital, but recognition alone is not enough. Unless the underlying physiology is rebalanced, the mind and body will remain in survival mode — which is why nervous system regulation is the foundation of real healing.
The Impact of Stress and Trauma
Living in these survival states affects every part of health:
Sleep: poor quality, difficulty falling or staying asleep, night waking.
Mood: swings between anxiety, irritability, and depressive lows.
Gut health: stress hormones disrupt digestion and the microbiome, worsening inflammation and mood.
Immune system: chronic stress weakens immunity, leaving the body vulnerable.
Energy: constant adrenaline output depletes the system, leading to burnout.
This is why approaches that only focus on thoughts or behaviour often fall short. Healing requires restoring physiological safety before the mind can fully engage in recovery.
Simple Steps to Support Your System
While professional care may be needed for recovery, there are simple steps you can begin at home:
Mindfulness: Pause for a minute, focus on your breath, and notice one sound, one sensation, and one thought without judgment. This helps reduce reactivity and anchors you in the present.
Touch exercise: Place one hand on your chest and one on your stomach. Breathe slowly. This simple act signals safety and calm to your nervous system.
Sleep hygiene: Create a bedtime routine that helps you wind down. Limit screens an hour before bed, keep your room dark and cool, and go to bed at a similar time each night.
Rhythm and rest: Build breaks into your day. Even five minutes away from screens, with a stretch or a glass of water, tells your body it is safe to pause.
These small practices can help signal safety to your nervous system, but they are only first steps. Lasting recovery usually needs specialist guidance to restore balance to the body and regulate the physiology fully.
Naturopathy and Nutrition
Naturopathy offers safe, holistic support that complements psychological care. At its core, naturopathy works by helping to regulate the nervous system, which is the foundation for all other healing. Without this regulation, no amount of talking or self-help can bring lasting change.
Nutrition plays a vital role in supporting this regulation and building resilience:
The gut–brain connection shows that a healthy microbiome reduces anxiety and improves mood stability.
Balanced nutrition supports stable blood sugar and hormone regulation, protecting against energy crashes.
Anti-inflammatory foods reduce the physical burden of chronic stress.
Practical nutrition and lifestyle tips:
Eat for balance: Include protein at each meal (eggs, fish, pulses), plenty of colourful vegetables, and whole grains to stabilise energy.
Foods that nourish the nervous system: dark leafy greens (magnesium), pumpkin seeds (zinc), oily fish (omega-3s), and fermented foods like sauerkraut or kefir for gut health.
Hydration: Aim for 1.5–2 litres of water daily — dehydration can worsen anxiety and fatigue.
Epsom salt baths: Rich in magnesium, which helps relax muscles and calm the nervous system. Add a handful to a warm bath before bed.
Essential oils: Lavender and geranium can be deeply calming. Blend a few drops into a carrier oil or water spray to apply to your temples, spritz on your pillow, or add to a warm bath.
Movement: Gentle exercise such as walking, stretching, or yoga helps regulate cortisol and release tension.
Support structure: Prioritise rest, rhythm, and connection — regular mealtimes, consistent sleep, and supportive relationships all help the nervous system feel safe.
Herbal medicine examples:
Passiflora (Passionflower): a gentle but effective herb that calms anxiety and supports restful sleep.
Valerian: often used for sleep disturbance and nervous tension.
These are just two examples. With a personalised naturopathy consultation, more specific herbal and homeopathic remedies can be chosen to address your unique symptoms — whether that’s anxiety, low mood, addictive patterns, or physical imbalances.
Why Addressing Stress, Trauma & Burnout Matters
Unresolved stress, trauma, anxiety, and burnout don’t just “go away.” Over time, they can place enormous strain on the body:
Adrenal exhaustion – leaving the body unable to regulate energy and mood.
Cardiovascular stress – increased risk of high blood pressure and heart disease.
Digestive damage – ulcers, IBS, and inflammation of the gut lining.
Immune depletion – more frequent illness, slower healing.
Organ impact – especially kidneys and liver, which are heavily affected by long-term stress hormones.
Prevention is always better than cure. Supporting your body and mind now can save you from deeper health struggles later. By focusing on nervous system regulation, you build resilience and create the conditions for your whole system to heal.
We often spend thousands on cars, clothes, and houses, and enter into credit card agreements, mortgages and debt — but it’s our health that truly carries us through life. Isn’t it worth investing in that too?
Monthly Wellbeing Packages
Consider a Naturopathy Monthly Wellbeing Package.
For just £55 a month, you’ll receive:
A personalised treatment plan*
Monthly 25-minute check-ins
Email support between sessions
Nutritional guidance and meal support
Medicinal herbalism and homeopathic remedies, tailored to you *£100 one-off investment for the treatment plan which you can keep for life
This small, ongoing investment offers consistent support — helping you prevent stress, anxiety, trauma, and burnout from taking a toll on your long-term health. __________________________________________________
Testimonial "Whilst I have the medical knowledge and knew I was experiencing ongoing stress levels, I hadn’t quite grasped how burnt out I was. I later learnt that that too was part of my survival mechanism to keep on going. Philippa was knowledgeable, empathic and highly professional. I really valued the safe space she held for me as a psychologist and colleague. I have more tools in my kit to manage stress and attend to self-care, which ensures I am fit to practice and healthy for my own patients and family." — Anon. GP, Barbados
How I Can Help
If stress, burnout, anxiety, or trauma have escalated and feel unmanageable, I offer a multi-dimensional approach to recovery, always beginning with nervous system regulation. This is the foundation that allows psychological healing, lifestyle change, and deeper resilience to take root.
Safe physiological regulation – somatic psychotherapy and TRE, teaching you to regulate outside sessions.
Psychotherapy – re-wiring the brain, healing relationships, and shifting behavioural patterns.
Naturopathy – lifestyle medicine, nutrition plans, herbal medicine, and homeopathy.
Wellbeing packages – ongoing monthly support for sustainable recovery.
For Practitioners
If you are a therapist, coach, or practitioner, supporting others through trauma, ill-health and burnout can take its toll. I also provide mentorship and supervision to help you stay resourced and balanced in your professional practice.
Final Words..
If you are struggling with stress, burnout, trauma, or anxiety, you don’t have to do this alone. I would love to support you with a safe, integrative approach that addresses both mind and body. You can explore my services here, or simply reach out in confidence to start a conversation.
References
Williams, P. (2024). Exploring an Animalistic, Trauma-Informed Framework to Understand Depression,
and the Need for Effective, Non-traditional Psychotherapeutic Interventions That Attend to Physiological Processes. IntechOpen. doi: 10.5772/intechopen.1003975 Williams, P. (2018). Working with relational trauma: Limbic restructuring through equine-facilitated psychotherapy. In Equine-assisted mental health for healing trauma (pp. 69-83). Routledge.
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