10 | Somatic Side: What to do when your gas pedal is stuck

Why is it often hard to truly relax? And what’s happening beneath the surface when we feel “wired but tired”?

Following our last chat with Rachel Hamlin, we break down why downregulation can be so tricky in modern life, and cover practical somatic tools to have in your back pocket. If you’ve ever found yourself on the thought carousel at night and struggling to step off, this one’s for you.

Key Ideas

[01:00] Why It’s So Hard to Switch Off

Oren explains why our ancient survival wiring clashes with our modern environment, making relaxation something we have to re-learn.

[02:30] The Science of Downregulation

Discover what downregulation is, why “just relaxing” doesn’t work, and how the autonomic nervous system responds to constant, low-grade stressors.

[04:30] The Window of Tolerance: Finding Your Center

An intro to Dan Siegel’s Window of Tolerance, a framework that helps you get a sense of your arousal level so you can determine what you need.

[06:30] Practical Tools for Unwinding

Accessible techniques to based on the “Clearing” and “Caring” pathways.

[09:30] Clearing vs. Caring: Choosing the Right Practice

Two distinct approaches to managing arousal — one to release excess energy, the other to gently soothe.

Somatic practices are not one-size-fits-all. Learn how to personalize these practices, tune into your body’s unique signals, and adjust based on what feels right for you.

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Intro/outro music by Youssouf Karembe (licensed). Listen to the full track here.