Sympathetic Activation
“Wired / activated / on-edge”
1) My mind races and I can’t shut it off.
2) My body holds tension (jaw, shoulders, stomach, clenched muscles).
3) I feel restless or agitated; it’s hard to sit still or relax.
4) I notice panic-like sensations (heart racing, short breath, tight chest).
5) I feel hypervigilant, easily startled, or “scanning” for what could go wrong.
Dorsal Shutdown
“Collapsed / numb / shut down”
6) I feel numb, disconnected, or emotionally shut down.
7) I struggle to initiate tasks; everything feels like effort.
8) I feel exhausted in a way that rest doesn’t fully fix.
9) I withdraw socially or isolate more than I want to.
10) I feel hopeless, stuck, or like I’m “shutting down.”
Ventral Regulation
Protective capacity (reverse-scored)
11) I can feel calm in my body.
12) I can connect with people without it draining me.
13) After stress, I recover within a reasonable amount of time.
14) I can stay present and grounded more often than not.
15) I feel safe enough to rest.
Biological Load
Body-based drivers that can amplify anxiety
16) My sleep quality is poor (trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking unrefreshed).
17) I get blood sugar crashes (shaky, irritable, anxious when hungry; energy drops).
18) I have gut symptoms (bloating, discomfort, irregular stools).
19) I experience brain fog or low mental clarity.
20) I notice inflammation signals (aches, headaches, frequent illness, persistent pain).
