From Therapy Office to Online Freedom: My Favorite Nervous System Hacks

If you’ve ever felt like your job was slowly chipping away at your well-being—but you stayed because you were good at it or felt called to help—you’re not alone.

I’ve walked away from not just one, but two careers in the helping professions. First, the therapy office. Then, the high school classroom.

Both of those roles were meaningful… but they also cost me my health.

For years, I lived in a constant state of stress. Even when I wasn't working, my body was stuck in survival mode. And when I finally stepped away, I had to re-teach my nervous system what calm even felt like.

So if you’re also trying to recalibrate after years of chronic stress, here are a few nervous system regulation tools that have actually helped me in real life.

1. Hydrogen-Rich Water All Day, Every Day

This was one of the very first holistic tools I added to my life—and it’s still the one I use most consistently. Hydrogen water helps lower inflammation, improve hydration, and support the gut-brain connection (which is HUGE for nervous system health).

It sounds simple, but I swear this daily ritual made me feel grounded again—especially in the early stages of my healing journey when everything felt like too much.

2. Protecting My Energy Like It’s Sacred (Because It Is)

Once I transitioned out of my old careers, I became extremely intentional about my schedule. I no longer give away my time or emotional bandwidth freely like I used to.

I check in with my body before saying yes to things. I’ve cut ties with energy-drainers. And I give myself permission to rest without guilt—because that’s what healing looks like.

3. Peptides + Adaptogens That Help Me Feel the Difference

Let’s talk nervous system support. Because healing wasn’t just mindset and boundaries—it was also giving my body real support during the rewiring process.

💧 MAKE Wellness CALM Peptides – These help take the edge off when I’m feeling overstimulated or anxious. It’s like a soft exhale in supplement form.

👉 Try them here

🌿 Cured Nutrition Serenity – This supplement blends adaptogens and calming herbs like reishi and ashwagandha. It’s helped me feel more emotionally stable on the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship.

👉 Use this link and my code stefanie for 15% off.

You’re Not Meant to Just Cope—You’re Meant to Thrive

When I left the therapy room and classroom, I didn’t know what life on the other side would look like.

What I found was freedom. A slower pace. A body that finally stopped screaming.

If you’re in that in-between space right now—tired of how things are but unsure how to change—it starts with small shifts. Listening to your body. Supporting your nervous system. Creating space to feel human again.

You’re not crazy. You’re not lazy. You’re just burnt out.

And you don’t have to stay there.