If you live with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and feel like your body is constantly on edge, you may be dealing with a hypersensitive nervous system. This state—where the body overreacts to stress, sound, light, and even gentle activity—can keep you stuck in a cycle of flare-ups and exhaustion.

Let’s look at 5 common signs of a hypersensitive nervous system in CFS, plus specific ways to help calm it over time.

1. Heightened Sensory Sensitivity (Light, Sound, Smells)

If bright lights, everyday noises, or strong smells make you feel overstimulated or trigger symptoms like headaches or nausea, that’s a clear sign your nervous system is in overdrive.

💡 Try This:

• Limit screen brightness and use blue light filters.

• Reduce background noise or use noise-dampening tools.

• Avoid strong fragrances in your environment.

For insights on living with sensory overload, watch this video on sensitivity and healing in CFS.

2. Tired But Wired at Night

Your body feels exhausted, but your mind races. You feel jumpy, overstimulated, or restless right when you’re trying to wind down. This “wired but tired” state is a nervous system stuck in fight-or-flight.

💡 Try This:

• Practice gentle breathing before bed.

• Turn off screens 1–2 hours before sleep.

• Try calming sounds or guided rest audio.

This video on calming evening anxiety offers techniques to help your system wind down naturally.

3. Intense Reactions to Small Stressors

A tiny issue—like a noise, an email, or a change in plans—can feel huge. That’s a sign your body is hypervigilant and reading normal events as threats. This is common in nervous system dysregulation.

💡 Try This:

• Create calming transitions between activities.

• Use grounding exercises like noticing 5 things you see, hear, or feel.

• Take breaks in quiet, low-stimulation environments.

This video on resetting your stress response can help shift your body out of panic mode.

4. Activity Crashes (PEM) from Minor Effort

When your nervous system is oversensitive, even small amounts of activity can overwhelm your system and trigger post-exertional malaise (PEM). You may feel fine during the activity but crash hours or days later.

💡 Try This:

• Track your energy and learn your personal limits.

• Use interval rest breaks to avoid overexertion.

• Stop before you feel exhausted.

Watch this video on preventing crashes and building recovery momentum for practical pacing tips.

5. Rest Doesn’t Feel Restorative

Even after hours in bed, you wake up exhausted, tense, or foggy. That’s because your body didn’t shift into deep, restorative rest, often due to an overactive stress response overnight.

💡 Try This:

• Use slow transitions into rest (like dim lighting and calming rituals).

• Eat a small protein-rich snack before bed to balance blood sugar.

• Avoid stimulating media late in the day.

To learn more about improving your sleep quality in CFS, check out this video on rewiring your rest and sleep rhythm.

Final Thoughts

A hypersensitive nervous system can make even small daily tasks feel overwhelming—but it can be supported with gentle, consistent care. By learning to spot the signs and adjusting your lifestyle, you can help your body shift back into balance.