Your Nervous System Is Not the Problem — It’s the Clue

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” — eating well, moving your body, taking the supplements — and you still feel like a foggy, frazzled version of yourself… this post is for you.

In this episode of the Andrea Kay Wellness Podcast, we’re talking about one of the most misunderstood (and overlooked) aspects of women’s health: the nervous system, and more specifically, the vagus nerve.

What your doctor probably didn’t explain — but absolutely should have — is how the health of your vagus nerve impacts everything from brain fog to burnout.

Because your symptoms aren’t random.
They’re not in your head.
They’re messages.

And your nervous system isn’t the problem — it’s the clue.

Wait—What Is the Vagus Nerve?

Let’s keep it simple.

Your vagus nerve is the longest cranial nerve in your body. It’s deeply connected to your parasympathetic nervous system (aka your rest, digest, and heal state). When your vagus nerve is functioning well, you feel calm, clear-headed, and regulated. When it’s not? You feel… off.

Chronic overwhelm. Poor sleep. Anxiety. Irritability. Autoimmune flare-ups. Sound familiar?

For many women — especially moms, caregivers, high-achievers — poor vagal tone is at the root of these issues.

Why Women Are Especially Affected

Your nervous system isn’t broken — it’s just overloaded. And here's the kicker: the wellness industry doesn’t talk about this nearly enough because it’s not flashy or easy to sell. But it is foundational.

You’ve probably been told to:

• Buy another supplement

• Sign up for another bootcamp

• Detox harder, try harder, be better

But here’s what I’ve learned (the hard way): none of it works if your nervous system isn’t supported first.

Signs of Poor Vagal Tone

• Constant fatigue

• Easily overwhelmed

• Brain fog

• Feeling like you’re “on edge” all the time

• Struggling to relax, even in calm moments

• Snapping at people you love

• Shallow breathing or tight chest

• Digestive issues

Sound familiar? You’re not alone.

And more importantly: you’re not meant to feel this way.

What You Can Do About It (That Doesn’t Involve a $300 Supplement)

The best part of this episode? I’m giving you tangible, doable tools you can start using right after you hit play. No magic powders. No wellness retreats. Just real, research-backed practices to support your vagus nerve.

Things like:

• Breathwork and exhale-focused breathing

• Cold exposure (yes, a splash of cold water counts)

• Humming or singing (seriously)

• Gentle movement like walking or stretching

• Co-regulation through safe relationships

• Turning off the noise and actually resting

Small shifts. Big impact. Because you don’t need more pressure. You need more peace.

You’re Not Broken. You’re Just Burned Out.

I want you to know this:

✨ Your body isn’t betraying you. It’s speaking to you.
✨ You don’t need to be fixed. You need to be supported.
✨ You don’t need to do more. You need to feel safe again.

This is where healing begins — not in the hustle, but in the slowing down. In the listening. In the coming home to your nervous system and your self.

You are not broken. You are waking up.
And there is so much power in that.

Resources:

📘 Feeling overstimulated and over it? Check out Calming Your Cortisol Chaos — the workshop that helps you understand what’s happening in your body and how to support it naturally

🌿 Struggling to prioritize yourself in motherhood? Explore Perfectly Unbalanced — a masterclass on letting go of guilt, advocating for your needs, and redefining what balance means

This post is based on Episode 7 of the Andrea Kay Wellness Podcast. Listen wherever you get your podcasts.