Why You’re Not ‘Crazy’: The Neuroscience of an Over Activated Nervous System
Why You’re Not “Crazy”: The Neuroscience of an Overactivated Nervous System
By Melania Macias — Christian Trauma Recovery Strategist
Have you ever wondered why your body reacts so intensely to things that seem “small”? Why do noises, conflict, or stress feel like danger—even when you know you’re safe? Why does your heart race, your thoughts spiral, or do you feel overwhelmed for no logical reason?
Let me reassure you with the truth:
You are not crazy. You are not broken. Your body is responding exactly how it was trained to survive.
Today, I want to help you understand why this happens through both neuroscience and Biblical truth, so you can finally make sense of what’s going on inside of you—and start healing from it.
God Designed Your Body with a Built-In Alarm System
Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us that God “knit us together” with intention and precision. Nothing about your body is accidental—including the way your nervous system responds to danger.
Neuroscience calls this alarm system the autonomic nervous system, made up of two parts:
1. Parasympathetic Nervous System — “The Calm System.”
This system helps you:
slow your breathing
relax your muscles
think clearly
feel grounded
hear God’s voice more easily
It’s the state you were designed to live in most of the time.
2. Sympathetic Nervous System — “Fight or Flight.”
This system activates when you’re in danger. It triggers:
rapid breathing
tense muscles
tunnel vision
racing thoughts
heightened fear or alertness
This system is good—when used properly. It’s God’s way of warning you when real danger is near.
But here’s the problem…
When You’ve Experienced Trauma, Your System Starts Sounding False Alarms
If you grew up in chaos, neglect, emotional instability, or fear, your nervous system adapted to survive. Your body learned:
“Danger is normal. Stay on guard.”
So now, even as an adult, your body remembers danger even when your mind doesn’t.
Small things can feel threatening:
a sharp tone
a loud noise
someone’s facial expression
a crowded room
For me, loud environments—like a restaurant—were overwhelming. I felt like my brain was trying to hear every conversation at once. My heart raced. My breathing sped up. I felt the urge to escape.
Not because I was weak.
Not because I lacked faith.
But because my nervous system had been trained for survival, not safety.
The Enemy Uses Trauma to Distort What God Created for Protection
God designed your alarm system to protect you from danger.
Trauma hijacks it.
And the enemy uses that open wound as a legal right to torment with:
irrational fear
panic
constant anxiety
confusion
feelings of danger where no danger exists
This was never God’s design.
But healing is possible when we identify these open doors, break the enemy’s legal rights, and allow the Holy Spirit to heal the wounded parts of our souls.
The 3 Brain Areas Trauma Overactivates
Trauma doesn’t just affect emotions—
it affects your brain structure and function.
Here’s how:
1. The Amygdala — The Fear Center
When overactivated, you may experience:
constant fear
feeling unsafe
jumpiness
sudden anxiety
being on edge for no reason
This is why anxiety feels so quick and intense.
2. The Hippocampus — The Memory Center
Trauma can shrink or dysregulate this area, leading to:
foggy or scattered memory
flashbacks
emotional triggers
reliving old pain
intense reactions to smells, tones, or environments
Your brain isn’t “failing”—it’s trying to protect you.
3. The Prefrontal Cortex — The Thinking Center
When this part becomes overwhelmed or shuts down, you may notice:
difficulty thinking clearly
trouble making decisions
emotional overwhelm
shutdown responses
“I know this isn’t logical, but I’m still scared…”
This is why you struggle to talk yourself out of fear.
Your thinking brain is offline.
The Good News: You Can Get Your Peace Back
I know the pain of living in a body that feels like a battlefield.
For 33 years, the enemy robbed me through:
anxiety
panic
fear
trauma cycles
emotional overwhelm
But God restored me—and now He is using my story to help other women walk into freedom.
You are not powerless.
You are not stuck like this.
Your peace can be restored.
Ready for Healing? Here’s Your Next Step
If you're ready to:
✔ understand the root of your fear
✔ break trauma patterns
✔ reclaim your peace
✔ shut the enemy down
✔ step into your God-given identity
I want to invite you to start with REDEEM, my powerful foundational workshop for Christian women healing from trauma.
Inside REDEEM, I walk you through the first 3 pillars of my signature process:
Reveal the Roots
Exchange the Lies with God’s Truth
Disarm the Enemy’s Legal Rights
If coaching isn’t the season you’re in right now, this workshop is the perfect place to begin.
I’ll link REDEEM below. After Black Friday sale of 50% off, the workshop will go back to $197. Spots are limited, so sign up now!
