The Vibes Are Off.

Have you felt it lately too? People snapping at each other in line, drivers honking faster, the general hum of everyone being just… done? I’ve been hearing it from people and feeling it myself. It feels like the collective volume got turned up, and we’re all running on low battery.

The vibes are off.

Our nervous systems talk to each other, and right now, most of them are tired. Whether it’s the economy, the news, the job market, or just life doing what life does—things feel heavy.

The Science Behind Vibes

Psychologists have a term for this: emotional contagion, or the way we “catch” other people’s emotions without realizing it. Research (Elaine Hatfield et al., 1994) shows that our brains and bodies automatically mirror others’ expressions and tones. When someone’s tense, we subtly tense too. When someone’s calm, our breath slows.

Part of this resonance may involve mirror neurons, brain cells that fire both when we perform an action and when we see someone else perform it. While researchers still debate how much mirror neurons explain empathy, but most agree on this: humans are wired for attunement. We feel what others feel, often before words even catch up. Our brains are built for connection—to ‘resonate’ with the people around us, not to stand apart.

Everyone Feels At Capacity.

When bandwidth is low, everything takes more effort, from focusing to deciding to even caring. Meanwhile, the world keeps pressing in, with deadlines, global events, and daily pressures piling up. Over time, that mismatch builds up into what neuroscientists call allostatic load, the body’s wear-and-tear from chronic stress. People with histories of trauma or chronic stress, may be more vulnerable to carrying higher allostatic load or experiencing a narrower window of tolerance. It doesn’t mean this is inevitable, but it does mean that your nervous system may require extra care and attention to stay regulated.

Whether it’s the weight of the headlines, the cost of living, or the constant pressure to keep up, we’re all carrying more than we want to hold. During this time it’s important to act with intention—to safeguard our window, so to speak. For those managing chronic pain or illness, or those with histories that are triggering, this is essential. We must protect our peace.

Try these small things:

• Breathe slower than you think you need to. Long exhales cue the vagus nerve that you’re safe.

• Spend time with regulated people. Calm really does ripple outward.

• Reduce “nervous system noise.” Less doomscrolling, more quiet time. Notice what media helps your body feel open and what makes it tighten.

• The power of creativity
  Writing, drawing, cooking, gardening—any form of creativity helps your nervous system shift out of survival mode.

• Take social media breaks. Outrage and anxiety spread faster online than calm ever will.

• Rest without guilt. Rest isn’t avoidance; it’s repair. What daily chores can wait? If you have the space and ability, take a day off. If you don’t, close your eyes for a minute and let your body soften. Feeling urgency? Maybe notice that urgency and resistance to rest.

• Be gentle with yourself. The collective stress we’re feeling isn’t imaginary. It’s the hum of a world in overdrive. Your body feels that because existing right now takes energy. Let that be enough.

You’re Attuned.

So if you’ve felt heavier, more irritable, or just plain done—it’s not just you. You’re attuned. It’s okay to notice that and give yourself space to react, process, and repair.

Be gentle with yourself. We’re all in this together.

Want more support? Download my free guide to calming your nervous system.

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