How to Reconnect With Yourself After a Season of Stress
- Lauren Veazey, MA LPCC
- Jan 2
- 7 min read
There are times in life when you realize you’ve been pushing through the days—but not really inhabiting them.
You’re keeping it together…even though every bone in your body feels tired.
You’re ticking boxes…but your own needs are missing from the to do list.
You’re moving forward…while feeling like you’re on autopilot.
You might notice that you feel disconnected, emotionally flat, more irritable than usual, or strangely exhausted even though the most intense part of the stress has passed. You may find yourself wondering:
Why don’t I feel like myself?
Why am I still so tired now that things have slowed down?
Why does it feel hard to access joy, motivation, or clarity?
There are good, legitimate reasons why—and none of them have to do with you not trying hard enough.
Stress—especially prolonged, low-grade stress—has a way of pulling us out of ourselves, and it doesn’t always arrive with a clear beginning or end.
Sometimes a stressful period is obviously defined, like a demanding work season, a health scare, or the holidays. Other times, stress is quieter and more cumulative.
A period of stress can look like weeks of illness cycling through your household.
It can look like disrupted sleep, caregiving for a child or parent, work deadlines piling up, financial pressure, relationship strain, or simply being “on” for too long without a real break.
It might follow a big life transition—or no single event at all, just the slow accumulation of responsibilities, worry, and emotional labor. Even positive changes can be stressful. And often, by the time things settle down, your body is still holding the impact.
Reconnecting with yourself after a season like this isn’t about snapping back or pushing through. It’s not about “getting motivated again” or fixing yourself.
It’s about gently finding your way home.
First, Let’s Normalize the Disconnection
After a busy or stressful season, many women expect to "bounce back" quickly.
The calendar clears. The routine returns. The crisis passes.
So why don’t you feel back to "normal" yet?
Because stress shifts us into survival mode.
When you’re managing logistics, people’s feelings, time pressure, financial strain, or constant decision-making, your nervous system prioritizes getting through—not checking in.
Disconnection is not a failure. It’s a protective response.
And reconnection doesn’t happen through force or discipline. It happens through safety, slowness, and self-attunement.
Let's talk about how.
1. Start With Your Body, Not Your Brain
Stress can be felt in the body long after the stressful season ends.
So if you feel foggy, flat, or easily overwhelmed, try shifting from thinking your way back to yourself to feeling your way back.
Instead of asking, “What’s wrong with me?” try asking:
Where do I feel tension I’ve been ignoring?
When do I feel even a small sense of relief?
What moments make my shoulders drop or my breath deepen?
Guided Exercise: The 60-Second Body Check-In
Set a timer for one minute.
Sit or stand comfortably.
Place one hand on your chest or belly.
Take one slow breath in through your nose and a longer breath out through your mouth.
Silently scan your body from head to toe.
Then answer these three questions—no fixing required:
Where do I feel the most tension right now?
Where do I feel even a little bit of ease?
What would help my body feel 5% more comfortable?
If the answer is “nothing,” that’s information too. Reconnecting with yourself starts with tuning into your body.
2. Reclaim One Thing That Was Yours Before the Stress
When stress stretches on, it doesn’t just exhaust us—it narrows our lives.
This exercise helps you identify which forms of nourishment have quietly fallen away, without turning reconnection into another task.
Guided Exercise: The “What’s Missing?” Check-In
Read through the questions below and notice your immediate reaction—not what you think should help, but what actually feels absent.
Activities: What have I stopped doing that used to bring enjoyment or a sense of flow?
People: Who do I feel most emotionally regulated around—and how often am I seeing them?
Sensory experiences: What sensations does my body seem to be longing for right now?
Interests: What curiosities or passions feel dormant—not because they aren’t important, but because life got crowded?
There is no requirement to “fix” what you notice.
Let awareness alone begin to widen your sense of self again.
3. Lower the Bar for “Getting Back to Normal”
The expectation that you should feel "back to normal" immediately after a particularly stressful period ends can keep set you up for self-judgment.
But reconnection doesn’t happen all at once.
It happens in small, imperfect moments.
Guided Exercise: The 5-Minute Reconnection Practice
Choose one thing that used to help you feel like yourself.
Now set a timer for five minutes.
During those five minutes:
You are not allowed to optimize it.
You are not allowed to judge it.
You are not allowed to turn it into a habit.
When the timer ends, stop—or keep going, if that feels right (but don't force it).
This teaches your nervous system that reconnection does not require perfection or endurance. You’re allowed to touch back in gently.
4. Release the Guilt Around Rest and Slowness
Many women struggle to reconnect because we've been taught to prioritize productivity over rest—we think if we do enough, we'll feel better. But often, we just need to let ourselves be.
Rest is not a reward. Rest is a biological necessity after sustained effort.
And rest often requires boundaries. Saying no or stepping back can feel uncomfortable or even “wrong” at first, because society has taught women that we must always give, manage, or accommodate. But honoring your limits—protecting your time, energy, and attention—is essential for recovery.
You deserve space to breathe. You deserve the chance to pause. You deserve to say no without guilt. Boundaries are not selfish—they are a critical part of reconnecting with yourself.
Guided Exercise: The Permission Reframe (Rest + Boundaries)
Step 1: The Permission Reframe
Complete this sentence in writing or in your mind:
“I am allowed to rest because __________________.”
If your mind resists, try filling it in with:
because my body is tired
because stress takes energy
because I’m human
Read it slowly. Notice any tension, judgment, or relief that comes up. This small practice reminds your nervous system that slowing down is safe and valid—it doesn’t make you lazy or behind.
Step 2: Reframe Permission to Set Boundaries
Sometimes rest requires saying no or stepping back. Try completing this sentence:
“I am allowed to say no or set boundaries because __________________.”
Some examples to spark ideas:
because my time and energy are limited
because I need to protect my well-being
because I deserve space to recharge
because my needs are as important as others’
Step 3: Practice Speaking Your Boundaries
If it feels right, try saying one of these scripts (aloud or in writing) when setting limits:
“I can’t commit to that right now, I need to rest.”
“I’m going to step back from this for today—I need some time for myself.”
“I appreciate the offer, but I need to prioritize my energy right now.”
“I’m not available for that, and that’s okay.”
This small practice trains your nervous system and mind to recognize that boundaries are not selfish—they are part of your recovery, your reconnection, and your self-respect.
5. Expect the Process to Be Nonlinear
Some days you’ll feel more like yourself.
Other days you’ll feel irritable, numb, or disconnected again.
Reconnection is not a straight line—it’s a relationship that shifts with hormones, grief, stress, and life demands.
Guided Exercise: The 3-Minute Grounding Breath
When you notice disconnection or overwhelm, pause for a short grounding practice:
Sit or stand comfortably. Close your eyes if it feels safe.
Take a slow breath in through your nose for a count of four.
Hold for a count of two.
Exhale gently through your mouth for a count of six.
Repeat for three minutes, noticing your body, the rise and fall of your chest or belly, and the sensation of air moving in and out.
This simple practice reminds your nervous system that it’s safe to pause and reconnect with the present moment.
Over time, even small moments like this help you feel more like yourself—without pressure, judgment, or timelines.
Coming Back to Yourself Takes Time
After a period of stress, you don’t need to reinvent yourself.
You need:
Time
Permission
Gentleness
Less pressure to perform. More space to listen within.
You are not behind. You are recovering. And that's allowed.
Want Support Reconnecting With Yourself?
At Her Time Therapy, we work with women who are exhausted from holding everything together and want to feel more grounded, present, and connected again.
Therapy can help you:
Process stress and burnout
Reconnect with your body and emotions
Release guilt around rest and boundaries
Reclaim aspects of yourself that stress has crowded out
If you’re ready to honor your nervous system and your lived experience, we’re here.
Call/Text (303) 900-8225 | info@hertimetherapy.com | www.hertimetherapy.com
About the Author
Lauren Veazey, MA, LPCC, NCC, is a Licensed Professional Counseling Candidate at Her Time Therapy, PLLC, a group therapy practice specializing in teletherapy for women. A mom of two with a particular passion for working with the perinatal and postpartum population, busy/overwhelmed women, and those experiencing grief, she believes in the healing power of therapy for women to love themselves, trust themselves, and know themselves.
*Disclaimer: This blog does not provide medical advice and the information contained herein is for informational purposes only. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a licensed health provider before undertaking a new treatment or health care regimen.
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