Lifetime Stressors

Our brain and nervous system have one main job: to keep us alive. To do this, they constantly scan our environment and internal experiences, asking, “What could threaten our survival?” Most of the time, this system protects us well—but sometimes it becomes overprotective. The brain can start interpreting even safe signals as dangerous, especially if something similar was once associated with pain, fear, or threat. This often happens when the brain has learned from past experiences and is trying to prevent future harm. Pain from an old injury or illness can also leave a lasting imprint, making the nervous system more sensitive over time. The more we experience pain, the better the brain gets at producing it—almost like a learned skill.

To better understand what might be triggering your body’s danger response today, it can help to explore your past. The following questions may reveal experiences that contributed to your nervous system becoming more alert and reactive:

Have you ever had a major move?
Did you go through a difficult breakup?
Was your childhood challenging?
Were you able to express your emotions as a kid?
Did you have an illness that took you out of your normal life for a while?
Have you had any surgeries?
Did you ever lose a job and feel stressed about it?
Have you experienced financial hardship?
Were you bullied as a child?
Have you gone through a traumatic event?
Have you lost a loved one or a pet?
Do you often feel lonely?
Do you struggle in social situations?
Have you been in a car accident?

Have you experienced a natural disaster (fire, flood, earthquake)?
Did you witness violence or conflict at home or in your community?
Were you ever in a care giving role at a young age?
Have you experienced emotional neglect or felt unseen or unheard growing up?
Were there times you felt like you had to be the “strong one” for others?
Have you lived with someone who had mental health or substance use challenges?
Did you experience discrimination, exclusion, or feeling like you didn’t belong?
Were your boundaries ever crossed or ignored?
Have you experienced instability in housing or food insecurity?
Were there times you had to suppress your needs or emotions to stay safe or accepted?
Did you ever fear punishment for expressing yourself?
Have you experienced medical trauma or fear around health care settings?
Were there periods in your life where you felt unsupported or isolated during hardship?

These life experiences can shape how your brain and body respond to the world today. By identifying them, we begin to retrain the nervous system to feel safe again. It also helps us understand that our pain and symptoms aren’t working against us, they’re actually trying to protect us. As we begin to see our pain through this new lens, we can respond with more compassion and less fear, teaching the brain that the pain itself is not a threat.

You may relate to one or two of these experiences, several, or none at all. The good news is, you don’t need to know exactly why your symptoms developed in order to start the retraining process. What matters most is approaching this journey with curiosity rather than pressure. The goal is to explore without over-analyzing, giving your system space to feel safe, supported, and open to change.

JOURNAL PROMPT

What Life-time stressors stood out to you?

Life time Stressors

Lifetime Stressors