Happy Monday,
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I had some really awesome questions from social media so here's the outline of them below. If you'd like to watch the long form video just click the link below.
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​Click here to watch. ​

SECTION 1 — NERVOUS SYSTEM REGULATION

Q: What are your favorite ways to up or down regulate — and how do you know which one you need?

• Up-regulation = physical movement, daily walks, talking it out (verbal processing)
• Down-regulation = slow showers, dim lights, physical touch, couch time
• How to know: look at patterns — sleep, environment, what happened in the last 3 hours
• The 2-to-1 rule: 2 things you want less of, 1 thing you want more of

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Q: How do I trigger my hyperfixation on purpose instead of waiting for it to randomly show up?

• Get curious instead of judgmental — that's the real secret sauce
• Look at the environment where hyperfixation naturally shows up — recreate those conditions
• Patterns are everything: when do you feel most focused, productive, purposeful?

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Q: Cortisol shut-off switch — I suck at consistency. Do you?

• Everyone sucks at consistency — start there, remove the shame
• Cortisol is not the enemy; chronic stress from repeated avoidance patterns is
• The magic you seek is in the work you're avoiding
• Ask yourself: am I more consistent today than yesterday, and why?

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Q: What do I do once I've identified what's triggering my nervous system?

• Take the old trigger and meet it with a regulated nervous system — intentional re-exposure
• Focus on what you want to experience instead of what you want to avoid
• Don't get rigid about what it has to look like — stay flexible, gather information as you go
• Shift and evolve; the starting point is rarely the final destination

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Q: Best strategies for freeze response?

• The nervous system freezes when it doesn't know the next step or sees no outcome
• Don't shower — just turn the water on. Find the absolute smallest next action
• Curiosity is the antidote: what is the most simple thing I can do right now?
• Lean into it gently rather than trying to blast through it

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SECTION 2 — MENTAL HEALTH & MINDSET

Q: Can dopamine depletion dull your sense of smell?

• Short answer: not directly — but it does create emotional numbing
• Overstimulation causes receptor downregulation (desensitization / habituation)
• Fewer receptors = more extreme spikes, less consistent baseline drive
• Tonic dopamine (baseline) = tied to physical health habits
• Phasic dopamine (bursts) = driven by anticipation and reward

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Q: Resting fills me with anxiety. How do I stop feeling guilty for not being productive?

• You're not alone — this is one of the most common struggles
• Passive recovery (napping, stillness) isn't available to every nervous system
• Active recovery is just as valid: walk + audiobook, fantasy fiction, anything that shifts gears
• Don't avoid the discomfort entirely — gently explore what rest could look like for you

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Q: How do I stop intrusive thoughts?

• Don't run from them — write them down in a pocket journal
• Intrusive thoughts are showing you something about yourself: fear, anxiety, unmet needs
• Go at the big feelings (fear, jealousy, anxiety) with curiosity, not avoidance

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Q: Why do I turn to food for comfort when I'm stressed or emotional?

• Eating is a parasympathetic nervous system response
• You're using it as a regulation strategy — not a character flaw
• Understanding the 'why' is the first step to finding regulated alternatives

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SECTION 3 — PERSONAL & BUSINESS

Q: What's something you struggle with, even with all your knowledge?

• Consistency and imposter syndrome — and they're both still very real
• Writing the book = facing the internet's noise at full volume
• When criticism lands: treat it as a signal that part of you wants more love and attention
• What keeps you going: genuine enjoyment + knowing you're good at it

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Q: How did you build all of this — coaching, content, business?

• Brick by brick. Understanding yourself is the highest-value move
• Use others as models for qualities, not blueprints to copy-paste
• It always comes back to identity: what is it about this person I admire, and why?

If you've been stuck and you're ready for accountability click the link below to apply to work together.
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​Click here to apply!​
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Talk soon,
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Chris Lee