Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago
When stress hits, your nervous system takes over before your thinking brain can even catch up.
In this episode, Jess and Steve explore what happens when we react from a survival state instead of responding from our deeper values.
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Understand what your body is doing during fight, flight, freeze, or fawn
✅ Recognize the difference between your nervous system and your observing self
✅ Use mindfulness and ACT-based tools to move from reactivity to intentional action
✅ Rebuild safety in your body through grounding, breath, and self-compassion
Whether you struggle with emotional triggers, relationship conflict, or chronic stress, this conversation will help you reconnect with the calm, wise part of you that knows how to guide the nervous system home.
Steve's Instagram: instagram.com/movewellfeelgood?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWJxbTFrYzBlY3dzNQ==
Jess' Instagram: instagram.com/jessgordon_counselling?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=Ynk0c2E3MXlpemk2
🎥 Watch next:
✅ What is ACT? — youtu.be/PmKEvlv9Cys
✅ The 6 Core Processes of ACT — youtu.be/TPvLEZFa14o
✅ The Struggle Switch: Why Fighting Thoughts Backfires — youtu.be/Mc-n1Sa4PEI
📚 Grab Tim Gordon’s book The Hero Within
amazon.ca/dp/1069285609?tag=catagdefault-20&geniuslink=true
🎓 Check out our online ACT & mental health courses:
thezensocialworker.thinkific.com
💌 Join our mailing list for exclusive updates and free resources:
eepurl.com/c9X9jn
🌐 Visit the official website for blog posts, tools, and more:
thezensocialworker.ca
📸 Follow us:
All things TZSW:
fb.me/thezensocialworker
instagram.com/zensocialworker
twitter.com/zensocialworker
tiktok.com/@zensocialworker
———
Business inquiries & collaborations:
📧 tim@thezensocialworker.ca
———
Thank you for learning and growing with us.
*Disclaimer
1. Conflict of interest: I am an author, I will link to my own books and paid resources as well as use affiliate links. I promise to tell you in videos when I'm being paid (if ever) to advertise during a video.
2. Self help: This channel provides accurate and authoritative information, it is not a substitute for psychotherapy and does not count as a social work service. If you are in need of help, seek out professional services from a licensed healthcare professional.
3. Community: Although this work is my own, I am inspired and supported by a group of clinicians and researchers under the banner of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
When stress hits, your nervous system takes over before your thinking brain can even catch up.
In this episode, Jess and Steve explore what happens when we react from a survival state instead of responding from our deeper values.
You’ll learn how to:
✅ Understand what your body is doing during fight, flight, freeze, or fawn
✅ Recognize the difference between your nervous system and your observing self
✅ Use mindfulness and ACT-based tools to move from reactivity to intentional action
✅ Rebuild safety in your body through grounding, breath, and self-compassion
Whether you struggle with emotional triggers, relationship conflict, or chronic stress, this conversation will help you reconnect with the calm, wise part of you that knows how to guide the nervous system home.
Steve's Instagram: instagram.com/movewellfeelgood?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MWJxbTFrYzBlY3dzNQ==
Jess' Instagram: instagram.com/jessgordon_counselling?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=Ynk0c2E3MXlpemk2
🎥 Watch next:
✅ What is ACT? — youtu.be/PmKEvlv9Cys
✅ The 6 Core Processes of ACT — youtu.be/TPvLEZFa14o
✅ The Struggle Switch: Why Fighting Thoughts Backfires — youtu.be/Mc-n1Sa4PEI
📚 Grab Tim Gordon’s book The Hero Within
amazon.ca/dp/1069285609?tag=catagdefault-20&geniuslink=true
🎓 Check out our online ACT & mental health courses:
thezensocialworker.thinkific.com
💌 Join our mailing list for exclusive updates and free resources:
eepurl.com/c9X9jn
🌐 Visit the official website for blog posts, tools, and more:
thezensocialworker.ca
📸 Follow us:
All things TZSW:
fb.me/thezensocialworker
instagram.com/zensocialworker
twitter.com/zensocialworker
tiktok.com/@zensocialworker
———
Business inquiries & collaborations:
📧 tim@thezensocialworker.ca
———
Thank you for learning and growing with us.
*Disclaimer
1. Conflict of interest: I am an author, I will link to my own books and paid resources as well as use affiliate links. I promise to tell you in videos when I'm being paid (if ever) to advertise during a video.
2. Self help: This channel provides accurate and authoritative information, it is not a substitute for psychotherapy and does not count as a social work service. If you are in need of help, seek out professional services from a licensed healthcare professional.
3. Community: Although this work is my own, I am inspired and supported by a group of clinicians and researchers under the banner of the Association for Contextual Behavioral Science.
