Why You Keep Reacting…Even When You “Know Better”.

You read the books.
You try to stay calm.
You tell yourself you won’t yell, withdraw, people-please, overthink.
Yet in the moment — boom. You’re doing it again.

Not because you’re broken or failing.
But because your nervous system is leading the way.

When we’re overwhelmed, stressed, or emotionally activated, our survival brain takes over. That part of us isn’t interested in logic or strategy — it’s scanning for threat, repeating old protective patterns, and trying to keep us safe.

That might look like: Snapping at your kids and feeling guilty right after
Numbing out, avoiding hard conversations
Saying yes when your whole body is screaming no
Feeling out of control over tiny things
Totally shutting down under pressure

These aren’t character flaws. They’re adaptive responses — often wired in early life, reinforced over time, and driven by a body doing its best to cope.

The good news? With the right support, these patterns can shift.

When we begin to understand what’s happening under the surface — in our nervous system, our attachment wiring, our beliefs — we gain more choice. More pause. More access to who we are beyond the reaction.

That’s the work I love: helping people recognise and rewire those patterns so they can move through life with more steadiness, boundaries and self-trust.

If you’re feeling stuck, reactive, or simply exhausted from carrying it all — you’re not alone. And there are gentler ways forward.

💬 I’m Cate — a Counsellor working at the intersection of relational healing and nervous system support. I help people reconnect with themselves, their kids, and their inner calm.

Resonate? Let’s talk if you’re ready to start feeling like you again.