Nervous system
Freeme - The App For ME/CFS and Long Covid
When the stress switch gets stuck
If you’ve been unwell for a while, you’ve probably heard the phrase “stuck in fight-or-flight”. It’s a common term in recovery circles, but what does it really mean?
Your body’s fight-or-flight response is controlled by the limbic system, a group of structures deep in the brain, including the amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus. This system constantly scans your environment for danger and prepares your body to respond.
After a major stressor such as a Covid infection, physical trauma, or even prolonged burnout, the amygdala can become hyperactive, or stuck in the “on” position. This means it misreads normal, safe signals as threats.
Your body then responds as if you’re facing a tiger… when in reality, you might just be trying to have a shower.
Why this creates so many symptoms
When the limbic system is locked in survival mode, it triggers a cascade of changes throughout the autonomic nervous system and the HPA axis (your body’s stress hormone system). This can lead to:
Fatigue and post-exertional crashes
Noise and light sensitivity
Digestive issues
Sleep problems
Feeling “wired but tired”
Heart palpitations and dizziness
This pattern is sometimes called limbic system impairment, limbic overactivation, or central sensitisation.
The hopeful truth
The same neuroplasticity that allows the brain to get stuck in this loop also allows it to heal. The limbic system can learn safety again.
This is where brain retraining comes in. By using targeted techniques to interrupt the chronic stress cycle, you can send new signals of safety to your brain. Over time, these messages begin to “rewire” your neural pathways, calming the amygdala and restoring balance to your nervous system.
At first, the changes might be subtle: a little more energy in the morning, sleeping better, less reactivity to noise or light. But as you keep practicing, these small wins build on each other. Your system begins to trust that the danger has passed. Your body starts to prioritise rest, digestion, repair, and healing again.
We’ve seen this transformation happen countless times. People go from feeling trapped in a body that is constantly “on” to experiencing deep rest, vibrant energy, and the ability to live fully again.
At Freeme, we built our program from the inside out. It’s designed by people who have lived this journey and made it to the other side. We know the fear. We know the setbacks. And we also know the joy of recovery.
You’re not broken. You’re not destined to stay this way. Your brain is capable of change, your body is capable of healing, and your life is waiting for you.
The science behind being “stuck in fight-or-flight”
Limbic system: The amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus work together to detect threats and trigger protective responses. In chronic illness, the amygdala can become overactive, interpreting safe situations as dangerous.
Autonomic Nervous System (ANS): Once the limbic system sounds the alarm, the ANS shifts into sympathetic dominance (fight-or-flight). This increases heart rate, heightens alertness, and diverts energy away from healing processes like digestion, immune repair, and deep rest.
HPA Axis: The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis releases stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. In a healthy system, this is temporary. But in a dysregulated system, the stress response stays switched on, creating a constant “revved” state.
Central sensitisation: Over time, the brain and body become hypersensitive, amplifying symptoms like fatigue, pain, dizziness, and palpitations – even without ongoing illness or injury.
The good news: Neuroplasticity means the brain can learn safety again. With the right tools, the limbic system can “stand down,” allowing the ANS and HPA axis to return to balance and the body to heal.
