We’ve all experienced Survival Mode at one time or another – it’s our natural response to stress. The more overwhelmed we feel, the deeper we sink into it.
Physiologically, Survival Mode triggers a cascade of changes: increased heart rate and blood pressure, tight muscles, stress hormones, inflammation, and a narrowed focus. We become reactive, unable to see the bigger picture. We disconnect—mentally, emotionally, and physically. We lose touch with our inner wisdom.
This state is meant to be temporary, not a permanent way to live life. Survival Mode robs us of energy in order to keep us alive. We end up having LESS: less energy for what we love or want to do, less engagement, less connection. Staying in Survival Mode for the long-term depletes us and stunts our growth and our ability to heal.
When we’re in Survival Mode, we are less intelligent. The choices we make are based on surviving, not thriving. This is why even though we might know that something is not good for us, we do it anyway. Whether it’s snacking late at night, not starting an exercise program or not firming up our boundaries in our relationships.
I love it when I hear from practice members after they’ve started care, that all of a sudden, one day, they decide to quit smoking or start an exercise program. They have been smoking for 30 years and have tried to quit numerous times and yet failed on each attempt. And now seemingly out of nowhere, they just decide. There’s no fighting or having to muster up the will or anything like that. When we are able to get out of Survival Mode, our capacity for living life expands! And we’re able to access our in-born intelligence.
When we’re able to get out of Survival Mode, we are then able to make changes in our lives. What changes? Those changes that we all need to make. The same changes that our symptoms are there to remind us of. If I eat crappy food and create a lot of inflammation in my body, am I not creating the hardening of my arteries? The body puts cholesterol on the insides of arteries to deal with inflammation in the system. Atherosclerosis is typically due to inflammation which is usually caused by too much sugar and stress.
If we have high cholesterol, we are faced with a choice: the choice of cutting down on sugar (which means changing your eating habits) or taking a drug to lower your cholesterol levels. If you choose to change your eating habits, you’re going to effectively help your body heal and the levels of cholesterol will go down naturally.
Choosing to take the drug is essentially like taking the battery out of the fire alarm when it wakes you up at night. It’s not going to make you healthier but it’s going to help you feel like you’re doing something about “the problem”.
NeuroSpinal Optimization (NSO) helps you to leave Survival Mode. Instead of chasing symptoms, it enhances the body’s natural ability to heal and thrive.
No matter your diagnosis, story, or beliefs, your potential to grow, adapt, and heal is still alive within you.
The truth about Survival Mode is that it will end up depleting you, aging you prematurely and taking away any kind of quality of life, all in the name of keeping you alive.
It’s really not worth the price you pay.