BREAK FREE FROM SURVIVAL MODE
Heeeyyyyyyyy y’all, welcome back!! Here we are with another weekly blog post and this week I feel led to share a word on breaking free and breaking out of survival mode. This is a word for those that feel like they are stuck, going around and around the same mountains and feeling like they are just existing and not living. If you can resonate with that, this is for you. Press in!!
Let’s start with this, what is survival mode? Well, survival mode is a state of being where your mind and body are primarily focused on getting through immediate challenges or stressors, often at the expense of long-term well-being. It’s a natural response to high levels of stress and even unresolved trauma. Survival mode is a built-in, short-term response designed to protect you in emergencies, but it becomes problematic when it persists for extended periods. When we experience stressful events our brains begin to function in a different capacity. Before we go any further, it is important to mention that these experiences can either be real life threats or perceived treats to our safety; our brain does not always differentiate between them, it just reacts.
Common causes of survival mode include:
Financial instability
Chronic stress or trauma
Overwork or burnout
Health challenges
Lack of support
Unprocessed grief or pain
Let’s dive deeper into how unresolved and unhealed trauma can lead to survival mode.
When a traumatic event occurs, the brain activates its’ survival mechanisms, like the "fight or flight" response, causing a heightened state of alertness and readiness to react to perceived threats; if the trauma isn't processed and healed, the body can remain stuck in this state, constantly on edge and ready to react to triggers that remind it of the original traumatic experience, essentially living in a perpetual "survival mode.” This is why healing from trauma, past painful experiences and the setbacks of life, is necessary. You cannot sweep those painful events under the rug and expect to thrive in life, it does not work that way. The trauma must be dealt with and healed!! I don’t know who needed to hear that but take heed…HEAL. Unhealed trauma will also show up like this: the brain's alarm center, the amygdala, becomes overactive during traumatic events, leading to the activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the release of stress hormones. This prepares the body for survival mode, which can lead to hypervigilance, arousal, fear, and rage. Please understand this, unresolved trauma takes a toll on your mental health and prolonged survival mode can harm and hinder your quality of life, leading to:
Fatigue and insomnia
Impaired decision-making
Physical illnesses like high blood pressure
Emotional struggles like anxiety, depression, or irritability
Difficulty maintaining relationships (strained relationships)
Lack of focus
Forgetting to care for your basic needs
Increased impulsivity
Neglect of self-care
Survival mode is designed to keep you stuck. But I am here today to let you know that there is hope on the other side of survival and I want you to know that you can thrive and triumph over the trauma. John 10:10 NJKV says, “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” An abundant life!! I know that that may be hard to grasp in the middle of life’s stressors or the back to back traumas that you may have had to endure but know this, the enemy wants you stuck in survival but Christ came that you may have an abundant life- extraordinary, something further, over and above, advantage, more excellent, superadded, exceeding some number or measure or rank or need. Somebody needs to read that again….
Shifting from surviving to thriving is about moving beyond just coping with life’s challenges to creating a life where you feel fulfilled, joyful, and in alignment with God’s will for your life. It requires intentional steps to realign (and renew) your mindset, habits, and priorities. You can do this by:
Shifting Your Mindset
Recognize survival mode: Acknowledge where you are and give yourself grace for what you’ve endured.
Renew (a change for the better) your mind: Focus on opportunities, growth, and gratitude instead of scarcity, lack and fear.
Reframe challenges: See obstacles as learning opportunities instead of roadblocks.
2. Build Emotional Resilience
Process past pain: Seek therapy, counseling, or spiritual guidance to heal from trauma or unprocessed emotions.
Set boundaries: Protect your energy by saying no to draining people or tasks.
3. Prioritize Self-Care
Sleep (6-8 hours) AND rest (in His presence): Make rest a non-negotiable part of your routine (don’t let society suck you into urgency culture).
Move your body: Dance or exercise regularly to boost your mood and energy levels.
Nourish yourself: Eat foods that fuel your body and drink plenty of water.
Do what brings joy: Rediscover your purpose, passions, and activities that make you feel alive.
4. Define Your Vision of Thriving
Clarify your values: What truly matters to you—faith, family, purpose, health, creativity? Be clear on your values.
Set meaningful goals: Identify what thriving looks like in areas like relationships, career, or personal growth.
Create a roadmap: Break goals into small, actionable steps to avoid overwhelm.
5. Anchor Yourself Spiritually (in the Lord)
Reconnect (reconcile) with your faith: Pray, meditate on the word of God, or read scriptures that inspire hope, identity and purpose.
Trust the process: Lean on your firm foundation to navigate uncertainty and find peace and contentment in all things.
Seek alignment: Submit to God’s will and align your daily actions with what you believe to be God's purpose for your life.
The journey from surviving to thriving is a gradual process. It’s about creating a life where you’re not just existing but flourishing. What’s one area in your life where you’d like to start thriving?
I pray that this week’s blog post blessed you and that you now realize and know that you can thrive and break free from survival mode. You do not have to stay stuck in unhealthy cycles that lead to stress and burnout- you can have life more abundantly…BREAK FREE!
***please feel free to comment under this blog post and share with your family and friends. Thank you in advance.
-Sincerely, Sheena M.