Everyone on TikTok is 'regulating their nervous system'

""Me everyday bc my nervous system doesn't know the difference between a busy day at work or being attacked by a tiger," a TikTok post reads. The sentiment is the same across dozens of videos online. As an antidote to this workplace-anxiety, "nervous system regulation" has been trending across TikTok, with 178,500 tagged videos beneath the hashtag #nervoussystemhealing. "Real footage of me regulating my nervous system at work," one posted, hopping around the bathroom, animatedly shaking her wrists and legs."

""'Nervous system regulation' refers to our body's ability to shift between stress (fight or flight) and calm (rest and digest) in a healthy and balanced way," Dr. Jair Olivares, clinic director at wellness clinic SHA Mexico, told Fast Company. "It's how we adapt to challenges, recover from stress, and stay mentally and physically resilient." Anxiety and perfectionism are all adaptive responses the nervous system uses to keep us safe. This can be helpful when you're actually in danger-like if a wild animal is chasing you."

Nervous system regulation has become a TikTok trend with over 178,500 videos tagged #nervoussystemhealing. Creators post practical clips demonstrating regulation techniques such as hopping, shaking wrists and legs, slow movement, and tapping at work. The trend frames workplace stress as a mismatched activation of fight-or-flight physiology. Dr. Jair Olivares defines nervous system regulation as the body's ability to shift between stress (fight or flight) and calm (rest and digest) in a balanced way. Anxiety and perfectionism are described as adaptive protective responses that can be helpful in real danger but maladaptive in ordinary work situations.

Read at Fast Company