With everything going on in your work life right now, does it sometimes feel like you’re trying to walk through quick sand? Do you barely have the energy to make it through the day, often feeling on edge and exhausted? The cloud of uncertainty you’re living under right now may have caused a shift from feeling like you’re thriving to living in ‘survival mode’. And the symptoms you’re experiencing are a normal response to stress, not a reflection on your strength or capability as a person. It’s your body’s evolutionary response to danger and is meant to protect you in times of threat.

What Is ‘Survival Mode’?

You’ve probably heard the term before, but what exactly does ‘survival mode’ mean? When you’re in survival mode, your brain is focused on getting through challenges. It’s constantly on alert to protect you from threats and can stop you from resting or enjoying life. Survival mode can appear differently in different people. For some, it looks more like anxiety, and in others, flatness and depression. For example, if you have anxiety, you feel hypervigilant and on high alert. In those with constant low mood, lack of energy and feeling ‘flat’, the parasympathetic nervous system may be over-functioning. In both cases, the nervous system has become dysregulated in response to stress.

When you’re knee-deep in survival mode, particularly for a long period, it can be difficult to identify the symptoms. Here are 5 common signs to look for:

• Difficulty making decisions: When you’re in survival mode, even small decisions can feel overwhelming. Choices that used to be easy and straightforward, like deciding what to eat or what to wear, might feel challenging and even impossible at times.
• Feeling unmotivated: Activities and tasks that used to excite you might now feel draining or pointless. You may feel a general lack of motivation and may start feeling down on yourself for being ‘lazy’. But it’s far from it – it’s a sign that your mind and body need a break.
• Lack of focus and concentration: You may find it hard to concentrate on tasks or keep forgetting things. A lack of focus can happen when your brain is overloaded with stress and anxiety.
• Frequent mood swings and irritability: The constant tension and anxiety that comes with survival mode can make your mood change quickly and you might find yourself becoming irritated by small things that didn’t use to bother you.
• Inability to relax or unwind: Your mind might be racing constantly, making it difficult to enjoy downtime, hobbies or rest properly.

Persistent, unresolved stress is a key indicator of survival mode. It’s normal to feel stress from time to time, but if this stress doesn’t go away and starts affecting your daily life, it’s a sign you’re stuck in a survival state. Extended periods can have major impacts on everything from your physical health to your relationships and overall quality of life.

So many of us are facing unprecedented challenges in our work life, but feeling stuck in survival mode and unable to plan for the future doesn’t have to feel like your ‘new normal’. Working with a coach, like Leah M Joppy and Associates, provides a fresh perspective, goal setting and strategies to move from merely surviving to thriving. To learn more, call us at 301-670-0051 or email us at leah@lmja.com.