The Regulation Revolution
I’m going to be very real here. I recently caught myself judging someone for talking about their accomplishments. I was sitting at lunch and the person I was with was going on and on about all these amazing things, and I was getting more and more agitated with what she was saying. At one point I looked over to my husband and with the, “alright, I get it” look. And his response checked me back into reality. I was being unkind. I took a step back and asked myself: was I actually annoyed with her? Was I jealous? Or was I overstimulated and just not in a very open state? It was the latter. I am not here to tell you to never be annoyed with someone if they are genuinely being overbearing, but I wasn’t being kind, and I had to ask myself: is this a me problem? Truthfully, it was. It was totally a me problem. Because this person was simply talking about something she was proud of. And I wasn’t doing the same. I was having a low day because my tasks felt unfinished, I had no new news to share, I didn’t get much sleep and so I didn’t want to celebrate anyone because I couldn’t celebrate myself. But here’s the thing: I can still be proud of myself even when nothing monumental happened that week. I was being triggered socially and that shit is not cool. What Is Social Triggering? Social triggering is when another person’s words, energy, or behavior activate your nervous system’s threat response, even when there’s NO actual threat. It doesn’t always look like a blowup. Sometimes it looks like quiet irritation, a tight jaw, or a voice in your head saying I get it already. This type of dysregulation is common and not often acknowledged as a nervous system problem. It’s usually a “YOU” problem instead of a “ME” problems. Why It Matters Research in interpersonal neurobiology shows that our nervous systems are constantly co-regulating. This means it is picking up on the emotional states of the people around us. Think about how you meet an anxious human and then their dog is also always somehow anxious. We pick up on the energy around us. But when someone is in a high-energy, expansive state and we’re depleted, that gap can register as a threat. Not because they’re doing anything wrong, but because our system may already be running on low and not have the capacity to work with theirs. This isn’t a character flaw in us on how we exist, it’s just information we can use to understand ourselves and how we exist in society. While a large part of nervous system regulation is getting yourself out of fight or flight, another huge part is learning to exist with other people, even when they aren’t your people, even when they’re having a bigger day than you. This is how we stop the breakdown of relationships, networking opportunities, and simply existing with others. Now when you check yourself in this judgmental state, this is how we shift back into regulation. Step 1: Remove Yourself - Even for 60 Seconds I politely excused myself, said I needed the bathroom, stepped away, and took a couple of deep breaths. That’s it. You don’t need a 20-minute reset. You need a pause to recalibrate and ask yourself a few questions. Step 2: Run the Reality Check I came back to these four questions: * Is she insulting me? No. * Am I being reactive right now? Yes. * Do I need to contribute, or can I allow her to just speak? I can allow. * Do I have enough energy for that? Yes. Step 3: Release the Expectation That You Need to Perform Sometimes when we’re in conversations, we think we need to match someone’s energy, answer every question, contribute something meaningful. You don’t. Most of the time, people just want to be heard. Letting someone else take up space is not a loss for you, we just need to differentiate between “am I needed as a contributor?” or “can I just be their cheerleader?” Step 4: Come Back With Curiosity Instead of Judgment When I returned to the table, I shifted from why is she like this to she’s really excited about her life right now. This reframe changed how the rest of the lunch felt for me, and I am sure for her. Remember - co-regulating. The Regulation Moments Nobody Talks About This is what gets swept under the rug in conversations about regulation: it doesn’t always look like screaming or a full body breakdown. Sometimes it looks like quiet resentment over lunch. A forced smile. An internal eye roll and then self judgment. These small moments are where regulation actually lives, and where it actually matters. When you take the reaction out of it, you allow yourself to experience. The conversation and the person fully. And yourself, more honestly. That’s the work. Lots of love, Tia PS. If this feels like a pattern in your life, this is the work I do with people and organizations to re-establish stability and growth in your life. Please reach out and let’s talk! Email: wellness@tiadevincenzo.com Website: intuitivelytia.com Frequently Asked Questions Why do I get irritated when people talk about their accomplishments? Irritation around others' success is often a nervous system response, not a character flaw. When your system is depleted, someone else's high energy can register as an unconscious threat — especially if it contrasts with how you're feeling about your own life in that moment. What does nervous system dysregulation look like in social situations? It doesn't always look dramatic. Social dysregulation can show up as quiet irritation, impatience, wanting to leave, or an inability to be genuinely happy for someone else. These are all signals worth paying attention to. How do I regulate my nervous system around difficult people? Start with a physical pause — even 60 seconds alone to breathe. Then run a reality check: is this person actually a threat, or is my system just overwhelmed? From there, release the pressure to perform or match their energy. Presence, not contribution, is often all that's needed. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit tiadevincenzo.substack.com [https://tiadevincenzo.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]
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