What Stress Really Does to Your Brain (And How to Reset It)

The neuroscience of dysregulation in your nervous system, and how to return to baseline →

Author

Doone Roisin
June 29, 2025

Introducing ✨ Highly Functional ✨ a five-part series in partnership with Mood on the science of stress, energy, and emotional regulation in women — with real insights, daily rituals, and evidence-backed tools to help you feel better and recalibrate.

Have you ever tried a THC gummy for stress or anxiety?

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The Neuroscience of Emotional Regulation

You know the kind of day where you hold it together until 8:47PM… then randomly cry while unloading the dishwasher?

Not because you’re upset. Because you’ve been “on” all day - calm, capable, composed - until your nervous system finally has the quiet to unravel.

It’s not burnout in the big, dramatic way. It’s the kind that builds silently when your nervous system is so fried it doesn’t even bother sending the usual warning signs. Ugh.

Here’s what’s happening in your body on a day like that:

🧠 Your amygdala (the brain’s internal alarm system) goes into overdrive

😵 Your prefrontal cortex (the calm, rational part) goes offline

📈 Your cortisol spikes, your heart rate jumps, and your nervous system starts to flood

Harvard researchers have found women are twice as likely to experience anxiety as men in part because we carry stress differently, often silently, while being expected to self-regulate and stay pleasant. Over time that doesn’t just change your mood, it changes your baseline.

This is where micro-dose gummy’s can help as a tool for recovery.

At low functional doses, THC works with your endocannabinoid system (ECS). The internal network responsible for regulating stress, emotion, and nervous system balance. It helps your body shift out of reactive mode and remember what calm feels like.

Bc when stress becomes chronic, the body often forgets how to down-regulate on its own. You might lie down but never feel rested, breathe deeply but still feel wired. That’s where external support can make a difference.

A University of Chicago study found that low-dose THC reduced emotional reactivity without impairing clarity. And our pals at Yale found that prolonged amygdala overstimulation makes it harder for the brain to reset - a loop many high-functioning women stay stuck in.

That’s why support matters.. and why doing nothing isn’t always enough.

How to Interrupt a Stress Loop & Rewire Your Mood →

Try this when you feel overstimulated, detached, or emotionally maxed out:

1. Activate your vagus nerve
Do 30 seconds of humming, gargling, or cold exposure (even just splashing your face with cold water). This signals safety to the body and helps calm your heart rate.

2. Shift your posture
Drop your shoulders. Unclench your jaw. Widen your stance. The nervous system tracks posture for cues — physical expansion helps downregulate emotional contraction.

3. Use scent as a circuit-breaker
Smell something familiar, grounding, or slightly bitter (citrus, rosemary, vetiver). Your olfactory system is directly connected to emotional memory — it helps interrupt spirals.

4. Take a low-dose gummy (optional!)
A gummy supports the endocannabinoid system, helping reduce cortisol and restore emotional equilibrium. Pair it with stillness — not scrolling, multitasking, or stimulation.

5. Do nothing
Literally. Let your body recalibrate without giving it another job. Regulation isn’t always active — sometimes it’s about pausing long enough for your system to reset.

Don’t know where to start? Try Mood →

Formulated for functional calm Micro-Dose Gummies by Mood are designed to help you unwind gently, without getting that high feeling. Each one contains just 5mg of Delta-9 THC — ideal for first-time users or anyone looking to take the edge off without the fuzz.

Use it when you're feeling overstimulated, emotionally maxed out, or on the verge of a spiral. It’s subtle, fast-acting support for your nervous system.

Have questions about using THC for stress, sleep, or mood?
We’re asking an expert to answer your most need-to-know questions. If there’s something you’ve been too shy to ask — now’s your chance👇

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