What's Your Nervous System Archetype?

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Quiz Questions

1.
When I feel emotionally overwhelmed, I tend to:
- A.
  Say yes to everything and figure it out later
- B.
  Zone out and pretend it’s not happening
- C.
  Make a to-do list and try to get ahead of it
- D.
  Snap, vent, or try to take charge
- E.
  Take a breath and check in with myself first
2.
You try a meditation app. What happens next?
- A.
  You reorganize your entire desktop halfway through
- B.
  You mentally debate with the narrator about their tone
- C.
  You wake up 2 hours later unsure where you are
- D.
  You analyze whether you're doing it correctly the entire time
- E.
  You breathe, cry a little, smile, and feel… something?
3.
When someone gives me unexpected feedback, I usually:
- A.
  Freeze and replay it in my head for days
- B.
  Stay open and consider what feels true for me
- C.
  Try to be extra nice so they still like me
- D.
  Defend myself with all the reasons why I was right
- E.
  Get irritated and push back
4.
How do you typically show up in group settings?
- A.
  The helpful one making sure everyone’s okay
- B.
  Calm, present, and real
- C.
  The one keeping things organized and on track
- D.
  Bold, outspoken, or the one setting the tone
- E.
  Quiet, mostly observing
5.
What’s your relationship to rest?
- A.
  I rest only after everything is in order
- B.
  I don’t know how to slow down without feeling guilty
- C.
  I shut down and scroll endlessly when I’m done
- D.
  I crash after going full steam
- E.
  I value rest and try to stay in rhythm with my body
6.
I tend to carry tension most in my:
- A.
  Shoulders and solar plexus - always bracing or busy
- B.
  Neck and low back - like everything sinks inward
- C.
  Jaw and stomach - I hold a lot in
- D.
  Chest and fists - I feel like I’m charging through life
- E.
  Hips and heart - emotions sit deep in me
7.
When conflict shows up in a relationship, I tend to:
- A.
  Shut down or disappear for a while
- B.
  Avoid it by trying to smooth things over
- C.
  Meet it head-on, even if it gets intense
- D.
  Stay present and try to understand what's underneath
- E.
  Try to control the situation to prevent chaos
8.
Your therapist says, “Just sit with your feelings.” Your first reaction is:
- A.
  “Sure, I’ll journal, cry, stretch, and light a candle - want a playlist too?”
- B.
  “Can I sit while doing dishes and helping three people?”
- C.
  “Feelings? I left those in 2007.”
- D.
  “Do you have a worksheet for that?”
- E.
  “Sit? I’d rather confront my inner demons with a sword.”
9.
What’s your go-to move when something feels emotionally uncomfortable?
- A.
  Change the subject or stay busy
- B.
  Try to fix or solve it immediately
- C.
  Numb out — emotionally or physically
- D.
  Pause and get curious about the feeling
- E.
  Get angry or tense fast
10.
When someone asks you how you're doing, you’re most likely to say:
- A.
  “Busy, but good!”
- B.
  “I’m handling it.”
- C.
  “I’m fine.” (but you’re not)
- D.
  “I’m just trying to stay on top of everything.”
- E.
  “Honestly? Here's what’s real for me right now...”
11.
If your nervous system had a soundtrack, it would be:
- A.
  Fast-paced indie pop with constant choruses
- B.
  Ambient drone music with long pauses
- C.
  Classical music with strict rhythm and structure
- D.
  Heavy metal riffs with sudden volume changes
- E.
  Acoustic, rich vocals with grounded percussion
12.
When I expressed sadness or fear as a child, the response I got was usually:
- A.
  “Don’t worry about it, focus on others”
- B.
  Silence or confusion; it was like no one saw me
- C.
  “You’re being too much” or “Hold it together”
- D.
  “Toughen up” or “Anger is more acceptable”
- E.
  Sometimes comfort, sometimes disconnection...it felt inconsistent
13.
Which statement feels the most familiar?
- A.
  “It’s easier to feel nothing.”
- B.
  “I feel safer when I’m in control.”
- C.
  “I need to be strong to protect myself.”
- D.
  “If I stop, I might fall apart.”
- E.
  “I’m learning to feel safe just being me.”
14.
If your inner child were on a playground, they’d be:
- A.
  Pushing everyone else on the swings
- B.
  Sitting quietly under the slide
- C.
  Laughing, barefoot, and doing their own thing
- D.
  Organizing the toys and watching from the edge
- E.
  Running the rules of the game
15.
Growing up, when big emotions were present in the room, I usually:
- A.
  Tried to cheer people up or make it better
- B.
  Shut down or disappeared into my own world
- C.
  Scanned for what I could fix or prevent
- D.
  Got loud or assertive to take charge
- E.
  Felt them deeply, even if I didn’t know what to do with them
16.
Your internal monologue when someone compliments you sounds like:
- A.
  “<404 response not found>”
- B.
  “They’re just being polite. Stay neutral.”
- C.
  “What do they want from me?”
- D.
  “Haha! Let me compliment YOU instead!”
- E.
  “Thanks! That really touched me.”
17.
During moments of stress, I notice:
- A.
  I can’t sit still — I jump into doing mode
- B.
  My energy drops and I feel foggy
- C.
  I try to control my surroundings or keep everything together
- D.
  My voice gets louder or my movements get bigger
- E.
  My breath shortens, but I try to stay grounded
18.
How do you usually feel after a social event or a long day?
- A.
  Wired, but secretly exhausted
- B.
  Numb, tired, and kind of zoned out
- C.
  Stressed unless everything went as planned
- D.
  Drained from keeping it all together
- E.
  Grounded, even if I’m tired
19.
When I need support, I usually:
- A.
  Reach out honestly and ask for what I need
- B.
  Offer to help others instead
- C.
  Push people away or power through it
- D.
  Stay quiet and hope someone notices
- E.
  Figure it out on my own so I don’t burden anyone
20.
I tend to feel most in control when:
- A.
  I’m handling everything for everyone
- B.
  I’m tuned into what I need and responding from there
- C.
  I’m invisible and left alone
- D.
  I’m taking charge and calling the shots
- E.
  I have a plan, a backup plan, and a backup to the backup
21.
My internal self-talk sounds like:
- A.
  “Keep going, don’t let anyone down.”
- B.
  “You’re safe to be exactly as you are.”
- C.
  “Don’t mess up. Hold it together.”
- D.
  “Stand your ground. Don’t show weakness.”
- E.
  “Don’t feel, just disappear.”
22.
If your nervous system were a home, it would be:
- A.
  A cluttered Airbnb everyone’s using
- B.
  An abandoned house with the lights off
- C.
  A tightly run fortress with security alarms
- D.
  A bunker with a watchtower
- E.
  A peaceful cabin with soft lighting and open windows
23.
When I'm alone with my thoughts, I tend to:
- A.
  Fill the time with a podcast, music, or to-do list
- B.
  Mentally check out or get stuck in nothingness
- C.
  Replay scenarios, making sure everything was perfect
- D.
  Argue with imaginary people
- E.
  Reflect, breathe, and notice what’s coming up
24.
I have a hard time trusting that:
- A.
  Anyone would stick around if they saw the real me
- B.
  I won’t be hurt if I let my guard down
- C.
  Things will work out without my constant managing
- D.
  I can stop and still be loved
- E.
  I can trust life and myself, even in uncertainty
25.
I often get praised for:
- A.
  Being helpful and always there for others
- B.
  Being confident and outspoken
- C.
  Being reliable and put together
- D.
  Being chill or “low maintenance”
- E.
  Being grounded, authentic, and present
26.
If someone gets too close emotionally, I usually:
- A.
  Get defensive or feel overwhelmed
- B.
  Make a joke or change the subject
- C.
  Get awkward and try to control the conversation
- D.
  Shut down or disconnect
- E.
  Stay present and let the moment unfold
27.
Your body starts feeling things. You:
- A.
  Immediately vacuum your house, check your calendar, and call your cousin
- B.
  Log out of your brain and become one with the furniture
- C.
  Clench every muscle and pretend nothing is happening
- D.
  Challenge the sensation to a duel
- E.
  Breathe into it and start dancing barefoot in your living room
28.
My reaction to needing help is usually:
- A.
  “I’ll just do it myself.”
- B.
  “Forget it, it doesn’t matter.”
- C.
  “I can’t ask, it’ll throw everything off.”
- D.
  “No one can do it like I can.”
- E.
  “Let me feel into what support would feel good.”
29.
When I get triggered, I tend to:
- A.
  Get sharp or lash out
- B.
  Space out or go numb
- C.
  Blame myself or overcorrect
- D.
  Clean, work, or distract myself immediately
- E.
  Pause and try to tune into what’s underneath
30.
Your emotional landscape feels most like:
- A.
  A never-ending group project
- B.
  A foggy forest at night
- C.
  A museum where nothing can be touched
- D.
  A battlefield with no exit
- E.
  A garden — messy, but alive and tended
31.
As a kid, I most often felt responsible for:
- A.
  Making sure everyone was okay
- B.
  Staying out of trouble and not needing anything
- C.
  Keeping things organized or under control
- D.
  Protecting myself or others from getting hurt
- E.
  Being true to myself, even if it meant standing out
32.
When I’m vulnerable, I worry that:
- A.
  I’ll make things harder for everyone
- B.
  No one will know how to respond
- C.
  It’ll disrupt the balance I’ve worked hard to maintain
- D.
  I’ll lose control or be seen as weak
- E.
  I’ll be too much or too emotional
33.
When things go wrong, I usually:
- A.
  Disappear emotionally or physically
- B.
  Try to figure out what I did wrong
- C.
  Blame or take charge
- D.
  Take a step back and listen to what I need
- E.
  Try to fix it immediately or help others
34.
People often describe me as:
- A.
  Organized, logical, or dependable
- B.
  Energetic, caring, and always busy
- C.
  Quiet, intense, or hard to read
- D.
  Strong, passionate, and protective
- E.
  Warm, real, and deeply grounded
35.
I feel most like myself when I’m:
- A.
  Feeling deeply and expressing fully
- B.
  Alone with music or nature, unplugged from the world
- C.
  Checking things off my list with precision
- D.
  In motion, doing something meaningful
- E.
  Speaking up for something that matters

Quiz Outcomes

1.
The Runner
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"I outrun the pain."You move fast - physically, mentally, emotionally. You’re often seen as capable, upbeat, and endlessly helpful, but beneath the motion is a body holding grief, anxiety, and unspoken needs. You’ve mastered the art of appearing put-together, yet stillness feels threatening, and slowing down brings discomfort. You’ve learned to manage emotions by staying ahead of them. You do more, give more, and keep going because stopping might mean feeling everything you’ve been carrying.How This Shows Up in Your BodyTight chest, jaw, and solar plexusRestless energy or inability to relaxDigestive issues or inflammatory patternsHigh alertness in eyes or voice toneQuick movements, forced smile, high-functioning exhaustionYour Nervous System PatternYour system lives in a chronic sympathetic state: more “go” than “rest.” This often shows up as fawning, flight, or a polished kind of panic masked as competence. You avoid collapse by staying in motion. Stillness can feel unsafe, unfamiliar, or like failure, even though your deeper self longs for pause, presence, and permission to just be.Your Growth Stage: Shadow Expression or Integration?You may be in a Shadow Expression if you're constantly overcommitted, anxious in rest, or feel emotionally brittle beneath your smile. You may be moving toward Integration if you're learning to pause, feel your own needs, and say no without guilt -> reclaiming time, energy, and truth.What You May Long For Deep DownTo stop without crumblingTo receive as much as you giveTo feel your emotions without fear of breakingTo rest, soften, and be held without needing to performSimple Practices to Begin Your Healing Journey💠 Movement Before Stillness: Shake, bounce, walk, then sit. Let your body discharge energy before you drop in. 💠 Elongated Exhales: Inhale for 4, exhale for 8. This activates your parasympathetic nervous system and creates a sense of calm. 💠 Safe Pausing: Try 2-minute pauses between tasks, just to feel your body and notice what's there. Build from there.You Don’t Have to Run to Be Safe.You deserve spaces that don’t require performance. You’re allowed to rest without losing your worth. You’re allowed to be, without doing anything at all.
2.
The Fortressed
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"I control for safety."You are composed, capable, and precise, but under the surface, there’s a world you’ve kept tightly locked away. You lead with logic and structure. You stay in control. And while others may admire your stability, they often don’t see the cost: the effort it takes to stay braced, the numbness behind the mask, the fear of feeling too much.You’ve learned to rely on containment as your form of protection. But healing doesn’t mean losing control. It means discovering you don’t have to grip so tightly to stay safe.How This Shows Up in Your BodyTense shoulders, stiff hips, locked jawShallow breathing and fixed postureStillness that’s rigid, not restfulAvoidance of spontaneous movement, play, or expressionDisconnection from sensuality, pleasure, or fluidityYour Nervous System PatternYou live in a functional freeze: not collapsed, but frozen in composure. Your nervous system holds both sympathetic tension and dorsal withdrawal, making you appear “fine” on the outside while feeling internally braced, disconnected, or numb. You may intellectualize your experience, override your needs, or disconnect from your body’s cues. Safety to feel must come gently, not through force, but through permission.Your Growth Stage: Shadow Expression or Integration?You may be in a Shadow Expression if you feel emotionally flat, rigid in routines, avoid vulnerability, or over-rely on logic to feel safe. You may be in Integration if you’re beginning to soften your edges, move with more freedom, and access a fuller emotional range without fear of unraveling.What You May Long For Deep DownTo be safe enough to let goTo experience freedom in your body and emotionsTo play, express, and connect without fear of collapseTo feel deeply without losing control or being judgedSimple Practices to Begin Your Healing Journey🔓 Progressive Muscle Relaxation: Tense and release muscles in small waves. This builds trust in feeling sensation and letting go safely. 🔓 Breath into the Belly: Place one hand on your belly. Practice slow, deep breathing to reconnect with your lower body. 🔓 Rhythmic Movement: Try gentle dance, swaying, or circular motion. Let your body remember it’s allowed to move and even enjoy it.You Don’t Have to Stay Guarded.Control kept you safe, but it’s not the only way.You get to soften. You get to feel.You get to be fully alive, not just functional.
3.
The Fighter
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"I fight to protect."You meet the world with power. Bold, direct, and intensely alive, your presence is felt (and sometimes feared). You learned early that strength was survival. That if you stayed ahead of danger, if you were louder, faster, tougher - you couldn’t be hurt.But under that armor lives a tender, sensitive being. One who never got to show how much they were hurting. Anger became your protector. But grief, softness, and connection? They are the doorways back home.How This Shows Up in Your BodyTight jaw, clenched fists, furrowed browRestless energy, forceful movement, hot flashes or tensionChest pressure or heat, especially when emotionalFast walking or talking, intensity in gesturesStruggles to physically relax, even when “at rest”Your Nervous System PatternYou live in sympathetic dominance: a constant readiness to fight, defend, or dominate. This doesn’t mean you’re aggressive; it means your system equates strength with safety. Stillness can feel like exposure. Vulnerability, a trap. But slowing down isn’t giving up. It’s learning that safety doesn’t have to come through force, it can come through connection.Your Growth Stage: Shadow Expression or Integration?You may be in Shadow Expression if you feel reactive, easily triggered, or unable to sit with sadness without becoming angry or restless. You may be entering Integration if you’re noticing softer emotional states, expressing grief or tenderness, or pausing before acting on intensity.What You May Long For Deep DownTo feel seen beyond your fireTo trust that you don’t always have to be “on guard”To express sadness without it becoming rageTo let someone in, without losing your edgePractices to Begin Your Healing Journey🔥 Ground Through Movement: Use rhythmic, weight-bearing motion (like walking or dancing) to channel excess activation and reconnect with your body’s rhythm. 🔥 Cooling Breath: Inhale through the nose, exhale slowly through pursed lips. Helps regulate heat and intensity in the system. 🔥 Anger-to-Grief Pendulation: When anger arises, ask gently — is there hurt underneath? Practice moving between the two with breath and sound.You’re Allowed to Soften.Your fire is sacred, but you don’t have to burn yourself to protect others. True power includes tenderness. And you are allowed to be both strong and soft.
4.
The Ghost
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"I freeze to survive."You move through life quietly, not because you want to, but because somewhere along the way, you learned that becoming invisible was the safest choice. You’ve disconnected from your emotions, your body, and often, your sense of aliveness. You might be seen as calm or easygoing, but inside, you often feel numb, lost, or far away from yourself.You’re not broken, you adapted. Dissociation, collapse, and withdrawal are not flaws, they are intelligent survival strategies. Beneath the flatness is a sensitive, feeling being waiting to be welcomed back to life.How This Shows Up in Your BodySlumped posture, cold hands or feetLow muscle tone, minimal facial expressionShallow breath or no awareness of breath at allChronic fatigue, brain fog, digestive sluggishnessWeak or flat voice, reduced desire or driveYour Nervous System PatternYou live in a dorsal vagal freeze state, which means your system prioritizes shutdown as a way to preserve energy and avoid overwhelm. This may have started early when feeling too much with no one to help regulate you made emotional absence the safer option. Coming back into your body may feel scary, foreign, or even impossible at times. But reconnection is possible and it begins gently.Your Growth Stage: Shadow Expression or Integration?You may be in a Shadow Expression if you feel emotionally flat, have trouble naming sensations or needs, or often feel disconnected from others and yourself. You may be entering Integration if you're noticing subtle sensations, expressing even small emotions, and allowing tiny moments of presence without retreating.What You May Long For Deep DownTo feel something againTo be seen without pressureTo be invited gently back into the worldTo connect without having to explain why it’s so hardPractices to Begin Your Healing Journey🌀 Micro-Movements: Wiggle your toes. Roll your shoulders. Gentle, simple movement reawakens body awareness without overwhelming your system. 🌀 Orienting: Look around the room slowly. Let your eyes land on something neutral or beautiful. This builds nervous system safety. 🌀 Warmth + Containment: Wrap in a soft blanket, drink warm tea, or hold your own hand. These small acts of self-contact foster safety and presence.You’re Not Meant to Stay Numb.You get to return to your body at your own pace. You get to feel, not all at once, but in small waves. You don’t have to be loud to be alive. You just have to be here.
5.
The Rooted
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"I am home in myself."You move through life with grounded presence and steady grace. You don’t need to prove, please, or protect. You respond rather than react. Your emotions flow, your body speaks, and your intuition guides. You’ve done the work to come back to yourself or you're arriving at a place where you can truly begin.The Centered archetype isn’t about being perfect or healed - it’s about having the capacity to meet life as it is, with presence, resilience, and openness.How This Shows Up in Your BodyRelaxed posture and rooted breathOpen chest and soft bellyFluid movement, clear voice, responsive eyesTouches the ground with awareness and confidenceSexual energy is integrated, expressive, and unashamedYour Nervous System PatternYou have access to ventral vagal regulation: a state of safety, connection, and flexibility. You can move between activation and rest without getting stuck.-> Sympathetic energy fuels your passion, not your panic.-> Dorsal states serve rest, not retreat.-> Your body feels like a trustworthy place to be.Your Growth Stage: Shadow Expression or Integration?If you’re here, you may already be in Integration or you’ve touched into this archetype through deep healing. You can hold space for intensity without shutting down, express without controlling, and love without losing yourself. There may still be edges, moments of constriction or regression, but they don’t define you anymore.What You May Long For Deep DownTo stay connected to yourself in any environmentTo lead or serve without abandoning your needsTo be a safe place — for yourself and othersTo live fully, truthfully, and without fragmentationPractices to Continue Your Embodiment Journey🌿 Spontaneous Movement: Follow your body’s impulse -> sway, stretch, shake, or be still to stay attuned and free. 🌿 Embodied Boundaries: Practice saying yes and no from your body, not just your mind. Track how each answer lands in your breath and posture. 🌿 Pleasure as Regulation: Let joy, connection, sensuality, or creativity become a pathway to presence, not as something you earn, but something you embody.Keep Listening InwardYour center is alive, wise, and resilient. Keep tending to it with curiosity and compassion. You are not only surviving, you’re becoming!