Why Your Nervous System Might Still be in Survival Mode (Even After Your TSW Skin Is Calmer)

There’s a strange and tender part of the healing journey that no one really prepares you for.

It’s the moment your skin starts getting better, but you still don’t feel okay.

Maybe the flares are less intense. Maybe you're sleeping a little more. Maybe you're getting out of the house again. But inside, you still feel anxious, disconnected, or like you’re walking through fog.

It’s confusing.

You tell yourself you should feel better.

But your body doesn’t seem to have gotten the message.

If this feels familiar, you’re not alone.

What you’re experiencing might not be a lack of gratitude or resilience.

It might be that your nervous system is still in survival mode., even after the worst of TSW has passed.

Understanding Survival Mode

When your body goes through something traumatic — and yes, TSW is a trauma for many of us — your nervous system responds the way it’s designed to. It moves into protection.

That protection can look like fight or flight. But for many people with long-term skin conditions or chronic illness, it looks more like freeze.

Freeze is not just about feeling calm. It’s about being stuck. Disconnected. Like you’ve shut down to get through the chaos.

And the thing is, even when your symptoms ease… your body might still be bracing.

Still holding on. Still operating as if it’s not safe yet.

Because healing physically does not automatically mean you feel safe emotionally.

Why TSW Can Leave You Frozen

The TSW journey is relentless. It’s months, even years, of:

• Chronic pain and discomfort

• Constant itching, burning, oozing

• Interrupted sleep and extreme fatigue

• Social withdrawal and isolation

• Being gaslit or dismissed by medical professionals

• Losing trust in your body and your ability to heal

  
  

Your nervous system doesn’t forget that overnight.

When you live in a state of high alert for a long time, your body can learn to stay there. Even once the danger has passed, the imprint remains.

It’s not your fault.

And it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

What Survival Mode Looks Like After the Flares Fade

You might not realise you’re still stuck in survival mode until it shows up in your daily life.

It can look like:

• Feeling constantly anxious, even when nothing is wrong

• Emotional numbness or feeling flat

• Difficulty connecting with others

• A sense of being disconnected from your body

• Struggling to make decisions or plan ahead

• Avoiding social situations or responsibilities

• Feeling tired all the time, even if you're getting more sleep

  
  

If this is happening, you’re not broken and you're not alone.

You’re protecting yourself in the only way your body knows how.

And the good news is, with gentleness and support, that protection can soften.

How to Gently Start Coming Out of Survival Mode

There’s no rush here.

This is not about fixing yourself or doing it perfectly. It’s about beginning to build a sense of safety again, slowly, quietly, and in ways that feel manageable.

Here are a few ways to begin:

1. Tiny moments of safety

Rather than trying to overhaul everything, look for tiny signals that say “I’m okay.”

This could be a warm cup of tea, a quiet corner, a favourite song, or five minutes with your feet on the ground.

2. Grounding and orienting

Notice where you are. Look around the room. Feel your body on the chair or bed. Let yourself arrive in the moment without judgment.

3. Soften the pressure to bounce back

You don’t need to set big goals or return to your old life all at once. You’re allowed to take your time. You’re allowed to rebuild gently.

4. Start reconnecting with your body

This can be as simple as placing a hand on your chest and breathing. Not to force calm, but to say, “I’m here. I’m listening.”

5. Be with people who feel safe

Healing is not always a solo job. Sometimes your nervous system needs to borrow safety from someone else. A friend, a support group, even a quiet journaling circle. Find the people who let you exhale.

You’re Not Behind

If your skin is improving but you still feel like you’re stuck, please know this is a completely valid part of healing.

It doesn't mean you're ungrateful or unwell or not trying hard enough.

It means you're human.

There is life after survival mode. Not a perfect, polished life, but one where you can feel more like yourself again. Bit by bit.

And I’m here for that part of your journey too.

If this post resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to one of my upcoming free journaling circles.

These circles are a gentle space to pause, connect, and explore what healing looks like beneath the surface, especially when your nervous system is still holding onto stress, fear, or exhaustion.

You don’t need to have the right words or feel fully “ready.” You just need to show up as you are.

You can learn more and sign up here.

Let this be a space where you can breathe a little easier and feel a little less alone.

With love,

Shai x