This is what chronic stress really looks like

Let’s talk about the part of wellness that never makes it onto social media.

You know the one, someone deep in a “healing journey”... but mentally checked out.

Waving sage like it’s Febreze. Fast-forwarding through grief like a boring ad.

They’ve got a gratitude list. It’s beautiful. But there’s still a lump in their throat... a gut-knowing that something’s off.

I’ve been there. Maybe you have too.

It’s the spiritual charade we all know:

✨ Keep your vibes high

✨ Shove down “bad” feelings

✨ Just picture what you want, okay?

It looks peaceful. Sounds gentle.

Until you feel like crap...

...and spiral deeper because you're not “zen” about it.

That’s not healing.

That’s pastel repression.

And your nervous system?

It doesn’t care about your positive mindset.

It wants truth.

It tracks whether you’re grounded, not floating on mantras.

It needs proof that every part of you matters...

...even the messy ones that cry, scream, and skip journaling.

Avoiding sadness, anger, or “WTF” doesn’t make you heal faster.

It just builds pressure.

Until it blows.

Cue:

Burnout.

Bitterness.

3 a.m. panic and “Why do I feel like this?”

So here’s your permission.

Feel it all.

Rage.

Fear.

Disappointment.

That numb fog.

The ache with no name.

Don’t shame it as “low vibe” and slam it in a drawer.

Let it rip. Let it roar.

That release?

That’s the healing.

You don’t have to choose between healing and being fully human.

You get both.

No bypassing the chaos.

Just breath. Truth. A body that finally sighs, “God, yes.”

Still faking “fine”?

Still gluing together another vision board?

Try something better.

Grab this Nervous System Prep Guide:

Peace, love and namaste, James