You’re Not Overreacting – You’re Responding
Why your reactions might make more sense than they seem

Have you ever snapped at someone and then felt confused or guilty afterwards?
Or felt foggy, frozen, or on edge—and wondered, “Why am I like this?”

You’re not alone.

These kinds of reactions are common. And often, they’re not signs that something’s wrong with you—but signs that your nervous system is doing what it’s learned to do to keep you going.

These are patterns—not flaws

You might notice things like:

• Feeling shut down or disconnected under pressure
• Keeping busy, always needing to “do” something
• Snapping or feeling easily overwhelmed by small things

These responses—commonly known as freeze, flight, or fight—are natural. They’re shaped by our experiences, our environment, and what our body has learned over time.

Even when the moment doesn’t seem “big enough” to justify the reaction, your body might still be responding to something familiar. It might be trying to protect you, even if nothing is actually going wrong right now.

Our bodies hold what we’ve been through

Sometimes, our systems keep old patterns running—just in case.
Because at one point, they helped us get through something hard.
They made us feel more in control. Or safer. Or invisible. Or loud enough to be heard.

The body doesn’t always ask whether something is true, fair, or current—it just remembers what felt necessary at the time.

You’re not failing. You’re responding.

Understanding these responses doesn’t mean ignoring them.
It means we can stop blaming ourselves—and start getting curious.

Not “What’s wrong with me?”
But “What’s my system trying to protect me from right now?”
Or even, “What’s familiar about this moment?”

That shift can make all the difference.

If this resonates, you’re not alone. This is something we explore in our trauma-informed programmes, workshops, and resources.