Hope Prevails Blogs

Waking at 2 a.m. can feel like your body has slammed the alarm button. Your heart thumps, thoughts speed up, and sleep feels far away. If this is familiar, you are not broken. Your nervous system is doing a very good job of trying to keep you safe at the wrong time. EMDR-informed strategies can help your system stand down, so you can return to rest.

An anchor is a reliable cue, practice, or relationship that helps you steady your nervous system when emotions surge. Think of it as the thing you reach for when stress pulls you off course, a simple touchstone that brings you back to the present with a little more safety and choice.

We often think of exercise as a body goal. In therapy, I see it as a nervous system tool. Regular physical activity signals safety to the brain, steadies the stress response, and builds a felt sense of capability. You do not need a gym membership or perfect routines. Small, repeatable bouts of movement can shift mood, improve clarity, and support sleep.