Have you ever felt like your body’s been plugged into an electric socket, buzzing with energy that you can’t seem to turn off? For many people living with fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, or FND, this sensation—often described as internal tremors or a persistent internal shaking—can be a constant and unsettling part of daily life. It’s as though the electricity in your body has been dialled up to maximum, leaving you feeling “wired but tired,” unable to calm down even when exhaustion hits hard.
What Do Internal Tremors Feel Like?
These tremors don’t usually present as visible shaking. Instead, they manifest as a deep internal vibration or buzzing, like your entire body is humming with energy. The feeling can be accompanied by a sense of being constantly "on edge," and some people even describe seeing flashes of light, as if their brain is firing too rapidly. You might fall asleep for short bursts, only to wake up feeling like you’ve been jolted awake by an invisible force. Even when sleep comes, it's often broken and filled with nightmares.
This overwhelming internal activity can leave you physically and mentally drained—worn out from the constant internal buzzing, yet unable to rest. It's a paradox many people with these conditions face: being exhausted but wired at the same time.
What Causes These Sensations of Nervous System Overactivity?
At the core of these internal tremors is likely a dysfunction of the nervous system, particularly the brain’s difficulty in regulating signals effectively. In conditions like fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, and FND, the nervous system seems to be in a state of hyperarousal, reacting to stimuli that normally wouldn’t trigger such heightened activation.
Nervous System Dysregulation: The nervous system controls many functions in the body, including how we rest and respond to stress. In these conditions, the nervous system becomes hypersensitive, amplifying signals that would usually be insignificant. This constant firing of signals can lead to that feeling of "overwiring"—where your brain and body are buzzing with activity, even when you should be calm.
Hyperarousal and the Fight-or-Flight Response: When the nervous system is in a hyperaroused state, it essentially behaves as though the body is under constant threat. The brain pumps out signals, preparing you for action, but in the absence of a real threat, this energy has nowhere to go. It gets trapped inside, leading to sensations of buzzing and shaking.
Cortisol and Stress Hormones: The body's stress response, including the release of cortisol and other hormones, can also feed into this overactivity. In conditions like fibromyalgia and ME/CFS, stress hormones often remain elevated for extended periods, adding fuel to the nervous system’s overdrive.
How Can We Calm the Nervous System?
While internal tremors can feel relentless, there are ways to calm this overactivity and bring the nervous system back to a more balanced state. Here are some strategies that can help
Pacing and Rest: Managing activity levels through pacing can prevent overstimulation of the nervous system. Taking regular breaks and resting before exhaustion sets in can help regulate energy use and reduce the feeling of being "wired."
Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques: Practices like mindfulness, meditation, and deep breathing can help activate the parasympathetic nervous system (the “rest and digest” system). By focusing on calming the mind and body, you can counteract the constant firing of electrical signals in the brain.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation: Stimulating the vagus nerve, which plays a key role in calming the nervous system, can help reduce internal tremors. Gentle practices like humming or singing, have been shown to help tone the vagus nerve and promote relaxation.
Sleep Hygiene: Establishing a healthy sleep routine can help manage sleep disturbances and reduce nightmares. Creating a calming bedtime routine, avoiding screens before bed, and practicing relaxation techniques can help prepare the body for rest.
Grounding Techniques: Simple grounding techniques, like standing barefoot on grass or focusing on tactile sensations, can help bring your attention away from the buzzing inside and back to the present moment, reducing the sense of internal overwhelm.
Nutritional Support: Anti-inflammatory foods that support nervous system health can also play a role. Omega-3s, found in foods like fish and chia seeds, and antioxidant-rich berries like blueberries may help reduce nervous system inflammation and promote healing.
Diet’s Role in Calming the Nervous System: The Gut-Brain Axis
An often overlooked factor in nervous system regulation is the gut-brain axis, the bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. The gut produces key neurotransmitters like serotonin, which significantly influence mood, stress responses, and overall nervous system function. However, when the nervous system is dysfunctional—especially when the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the "fight or flight" response) is in overdrive—it sends stress signals that can disrupt gut health.
This is problematic because the parasympathetic nervous system (which governs "rest and digest" functions) struggles to function properly when the body is in a constant state of stress. As a result, digestion becomes impaired, gut inflammation increases, and the balance of beneficial gut bacteria, known as the gut microbiota, can become disrupted.
This imbalance can lead to worsened gut health, further amplifying the stress response. It’s a vicious cycle: stress harms the gut, and a dysregulated gut fuels more stress and nervous system dysfunction.
However, because the gut-brain axis is bidirectional, this cycle can also work in reverse. By eating foods that support gut health, we can send calming signals back up to the brain, helping to regulate the nervous system and reduce symptoms of hyperarousal, such as internal tremors.
Probiotics and Prebiotics
Supporting the gut microbiome with probiotics (live beneficial bacteria) and prebiotics (fibres that feed these bacteria) helps maintain gut health, which in turn helps regulate the central nervous system (CNS). A healthy gut microbiome can reduce inflammation, support the production of calming neurotransmitters, and reduce the overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. This gut support helps rebalance the parasympathetic system, improving overall nervous system function and reducing internal tremors.
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
Consuming anti-inflammatory foods—such as omega-3-rich fish, flaxseeds, and antioxidant-packed berries like blueberries—can reduce inflammation throughout the body, including in the nervous system and gut. Chronic inflammation is known to exacerbate nervous system hypersensitivity, so reducing it can help ease symptoms like internal buzzing or tremors. Lowering inflammation also allows the parasympathetic nervous system to operate more effectively.
Reducing Stimulants and High-Sugar/Carb Diets
Stimulants like caffeine and sugar can worsen nervous system reactivity, increasing over-electrical activity that contributes to stress and tremors. Reducing or eliminating high-carb and high-sugar foods can help avoid sudden blood sugar spikes and crashes, which are known to overstimulate the sympathetic nervous system. A more balanced diet can prevent these fluctuations, helping to calm the nervous system.
By addressing gut health through diet, we can positively influence the nervous system from the inside out. This holistic approach helps calm the hyperarousal that underpins symptoms like internal tremors, creating a more balanced and resilient nervous system.
A Path to Calming the Storm
While there may be no one-size-fits-all solution to managing internal tremors, calming the nervous system through small, consistent practices can make a significant difference. It’s about finding ways to gradually quiet that internal buzzing—giving your body and mind the space to recover, rather than letting the storm rage on unchecked.
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