The Case:
- Selena has Hashimoto’s and is struggling with the symptoms of her hypothyroidism, like fatigue and anxiety
- She is also experiencing heart palpitations, insomnia, and overstimulation (especially in crowded places)
- She’s tried protocols for mold, adjusted her supplements, and changed her diet but symptoms persist
What Nervous System Dysregulation Looks Like in Real Life
When Selena first came to me, she described what many of my clients with Hashimoto’s experience – deep fatigue layered with intense anxiety. She was exhausted but when it came time for bed, she couldn’t rest. Her mind raced constantly. She had trouble sleeping, often woke with heart palpitations, and felt incredibly overstimulated in crowded or busy environments. Her body was clearly sending signals, but she had been pushing through for so long that she wasn’t sure what was normal anymore.
This is when I suspected there was something else causing her nervous system dysregulation.
We often think of healing in terms of supplements and lab results, but when the nervous system is stuck in a sympathetic state (fight-or-flight), it can override even the best protocols.
I invited Kristen Schwartz, trauma-informed coach and expert in empaths and nervous system healing, to explore this deeper with me. Kristen is the author of The Healed Empath and the founder of Realized Empath. Her work helps sensitive, empathic people regulate their nervous systems so they can feel safe in their bodies and empowered in their healing journeys.
Why the Nervous System Matters in Thyroid Healing
According to Kristen, nervous system regulation isn’t just helpful, it’s essential for healing. When the body perceives constant danger (even low-level stress), it keeps energy focused on survival, not repair. This creates a hormonal cascade that can worsen symptoms like:
- Sleep disruption
- Anxiety and panic
- Heart palpitations
- Brain fog and decision fatigue
- Immune system confusion
These are symptoms I hear all the time from my clients with Hashimoto’s. It can be a bit of a vicious cycle. You feel overwhelmed, your body gets stuck in survival mode, and your thyroid takes the hit.
How Empaths and Highly Sensitive People Experience Stress Differently
Kristen specializes in working with empaths and HSPs (highly sensitive people), and this was such an important part of our conversation. Sensitive people are often more impacted by noise, crowds, conflict, and emotional energy, and when this isn’t recognized, it can lead to chronic overstimulation.
She explained that many of her clients were told they were “too sensitive” growing up. This often led them to disconnect from their bodies and suppress their emotions. Over time, this disconnection from self becomes another stressor (and a hidden block to healing).
Kristen also spoke about how these patterns often originate from unrecognized or unresolved trauma. Repeatedly being invalidated, dismissed, or told to ‘toughen up’ can create a trauma response in the body, causing us to shut down or dissociate as a means of self-protection. Understanding this helps explain why nervous system dysregulation becomes so common for sensitive individuals.
If a light bulb just went off for you, know that you’re not alone and it’s not all in your head. Your sensitivity is valid. And it may be one of the missing links in your healing journey.
How Sensitive People and Empaths Regulate Their Nervous System with Hashimoto’s
One of the key insights Kristen shared was how important it is to feel safe in your own body. For many women (especially those who identify as empaths), this can be a real challenge. Kristen explained that when you’ve spent years disconnected from your own needs or constantly absorbing the energy of others, your nervous system never truly gets a break.
What stood out most in our conversation was her invitation to simply begin by noticing. She encouraged listeners to get curious and feel into questions like:
- Where do you feel tension?
- What happens in your body when you’re overwhelmed?
- What if you allowed that awareness without needing to fix it immediately?
Rather than offering a step-by-step protocol, Kristen emphasized creating space for that inner reconnection. She further explains that every empath or highly sensitive person is going to experience their deep connection to feeling differently, so exploring what that feels like is going to be individual.
Kristen shared a personal example: when walking with her husband after his stressful day, she’d often start feeling his emotions in her own body. To separate her energy from his, she developed a mindful trick, mentally listing visual differences between them, like clothing or accessories. This helped her return to her own energetic boundary and stay present.
She also described how tuning into the buzzing sensations in her hands and feet anchors her in her own energy. This simple practice helps her stay grounded, especially during emotionally charged conversations.
But, rather than offering a checklist, Kristen emphasized creating awareness and getting curious about your inner state so you can gently return to it. These moments of grounding don’t require perfection or performance.
She reminds us that healing starts with presence, and presence starts with permission to feel what’s true for you in the moment.
How Slowing Down Helps to Balance the Thyroid
Once I helped Selena see her symptoms as nervous system dysregulation, not just “in her head”, everything started to shift. She stopped pushing through and began paying closer attention to what triggered her overwhelm and where she needed more calm and support.
We simplified her supplement routine and prioritized sleep support. But most importantly, she gave herself permission to slow down.
Within weeks, her heart palpitations reduced significantly. She reported sleeping more soundly, feeling less anxious, and being able to handle busy environments without shutting down. Her energy began to stabilize as she learned to regulate and respond with more presence.
You Can’t Heal a Body You’re at War With
One of the most common themes of this podcast is that we so often feel like our bodies are betraying us and that we are in a constant battle to maintain our health. This episode was such an important reminder that you can’t heal a body you are disconnected from. Nervous system regulation isn’t a nice-to-have; it’s foundational. Despite our conditioning to push through, so often the exact opposite is what’s needed to truly experience optimal health. This is exactly what Selena discovered.
If you’ve been struggling with thyroid symptoms, especially when nothing seems to work, I encourage you to explore how your nervous system might be involved. You are not broken. You may just need to feel safe enough to heal.
Remember, when it comes to thyroid health, the first step is to fully understand what’s going on. That includes knowing your thyroid type and how to support your body most effectively. To learn all about this and so much more, I invite you to join me for my free training at www.innatopiler.com/training.
Eliminating Health Mysteries
For Selena, we were able to find that missing piece of the health puzzle and help her regain her health. Could this be the missing clue for you or someone in your life?
Links:
Resources mentioned
Thanks to my guest Kristen Schwartz. You can connect with her on Instagram or through her website: https://www.realizedempath.com/
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Related Podcast Episodes:
How to Support the Nervous System for Hashimoto’s and Hypothyroidism with Dr. Cathleen King 5 Ways to Downregulate the Nervous System and Heal Faster with Guest Patrick Lerouge 5 Signs You’re an Empath (and How to Thrive if You Are) with Stephanie Roman The Unexpected Diagnosis: Empath w/ Lori KennedyThanks for Listening
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PLEASE NOTE
All information, content, and material on this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider.
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