Your Body Isn’t Broken, It’s Overwhelmed

May 4

And When Your Body Doesn’t Feel Safe, It Can’t Heal

So here you are — months, maybe years into your healing journey. You’ve been working diligently to avoid all the foods you know don’t agree with your body, you’re constantly changing up your supplement routine, getting regular labs...all the right things to get to that root cause. And you’ve likely had some big successes along the way, but only to go back to feeling totally crummy.

And yet… your body still feels off.

It’s easy to start wondering:

“What am I missing?”
“Why isn’t this working?”
“Is something wrong with me?”

But what if the problem isn’t that your body is broken?

What if your body is actually doing exactly what it was designed to do?

did you know that god designed Your body to protect you?

At its core, your body is always asking one question:

“Am I safe?”

When the answer is yes, your body can:

Digest Well, Regulate energy, Repair and restore

But when the answer is no — even subtly — your body shifts into protection mode.

What “stress” really looks like

Stress isn’t just major life events. It’s all those little worries that consume our thoughts and keep us awake at night.

In the case of healing, those little worries might include

Your constant scanning for symptoms
Late nights on chat GPT searching for answers
Food fears - “Is this piece of bread going to harm my body / worsen my symptoms / keep me from healing.”
Trying to stay ahead of the next flare-up
Feeling like you have to get it “right” or else you’ll never heal

When your body stays in survival mode

Over time, as your body lives in a state of fight-or-flight, this creates a spiraling of internal pressure, affecting many body systems like digestion, cardiovascular, and immune systems.

It may not always be obvious.
But it is constant.

There is a quote that I love:

“Dripping water hollows out stone, not through force but through persistence.”
‍ ‍-Ovid

Typically, I’ve always viewed this quote in a positive light, but I think it is also a perfect metaphor for what happens to our bodies when we’re in always fearing, worrying, focusing on the negative. It’s all of those little, consistent actions that, over time, wreak havoc in our bodies — “hollowing out the stone”.

And do you know what doesn’t happen when your system is under ongoing stress? Your body doesn’t have the capacity to repair, because it is using all of its resources to prioritize protection. Protection will always come before repair.

So, what might this look like in real life?

fatigue that doesn’t ever seem to go away
digestive issues that come and go
food sensitivities
that wired but tired feeling that keeps you up at night
never actually feeling at ease in your body

This is not your body failing, my friend. I promise that to you. It is just that it’s working overtime to keep you safe.

The missing piece

The most common holistic approaches to health focus on what to do next: Remove this, Add that, Get all these labs, and the stool test and the hormone panel...

And these are not bad things to do. In fact, they can be helpful under some circumstances. But they often overlook something foundational:

the state your body is in while you’re doing all of it.

For me, a lot of these things felt helpful to get a clearer picture of what might be going on in my body, and I truly felt better in my body with some food eliminations. As time went on, though, the process of trying to get to the root cause felt like I was trying to capture the wind. I would try to wrap my arms around it, but was always left empty handed. And that was discouraging, disappointing, and incredibly stressful. I thought that I was helping my body by doing all of the “right things”. But little did I know…

Your body feels the pressure—even while “doing all the right things”, and that leads to a struggle to shift into a restorative state.

A different starting point

What if, instead of asking:

“What do I need to fix next?”

You began asking:

“What would help my body feel supported?”

This is where a true shift begins, friend. It doesn’t happen through force, but through creating an environment where your body no longer feels like it needs to put its boxing gloves on.

This is where rhythm comes in

Simple, steady rhythms signal safety to the body.

Time with God that anchors your day
Honoring your Circadian Rhythm
Nourishing meals without fear
Space for rest
Honoring a weekly rhythm that includes Sabbath
Gentle movement
Honoring your monthly hormonal rhythm

These aren’t just “nice habits”, they are signals that tell your body:

You are safe. You can settle. You can restore.

You are not broken

So my friend, if you’ve been feeling stuck, discouraged, or confused, know this…

You’re are not broken. It may simply be that you are living in a body that has been under more pressure than it was meant to carry.

Repeat these words after me:

MY BODY IS NOT BROKEN. GOD CREATED MY BODY. HE CREATED IT IN HIS IMAGE. HE CALLED IT VERY GOOD. MY BODY IS GOOD.

There is a different way

A way that isn’t built on constant striving to fix yourself.

A way that supports your body, your mind, and your faith together.

A way that allows you to step out all of those feeling of overwhelm, frustration and disappointment, and into steadiness and peace.

And this is where we begin.

Click HERE to receive my Sacred Morning Guide to start your day in a new rhythm, with more peace.

a prayer for you

Heavenly Father,

While I don’t personally know the woman who is reading this prayer, you do. You know her better than anyone else. You created her in your image - body and soul - and you called your creation of her very good. (Genesis 1-2) You knit her in her mother’s womb with intent and great care — She is fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalms 139:13-14) Lord, you know her struggles and you know exactly what she needs and I thank you for being such a good and loving Father who supplies her with those needs. I pray, Lord, that you will strengthen her with your truth and the wisdom it provides to help her walk confidently through this challenging season, knowing that you are there by her side. Fill her with your Spirit, reminding her to replace all of her worries and fears with faith and hope in you, Jesus.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Important Note: I am a certified Health and Wellness Coach, not a licensed medical professional. The information shared on this blog reflects my personal experiences and is intended for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical, mental health, or dietary advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

If you are dealing with a serious or chronic medical condition, please continue to consult and follow the guidance of your licensed healthcare providers. Do not discontinue or modify any prescribed treatments or medications without the supervision of your healthcare team.

This blog is intended to support women who experience a dysregulated nervous system and/or frustrating health symptoms and who are seeking guidance for reducing stress, cultivating healthy rhythms, and improving overall wellness. It is not intended to treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition.

Brynn Renné