vagal withdrawal
sympathetic overdrive
heart rate variability
Two Roads to a Racing Heart: Vagal Withdrawal vs. Sympathetic Overdrive
A pounding, racing heart can arise two mechanistically opposite ways: your calming brake releasing, or your accelerator flooring itself. They can feel identical but they are not the same problem — and they call for different responses. Understanding which one you're dealing with explains why 'just calm down' fails, and why breathwork sometimes works when reassurance never does.
By VagusSkool Team
Jul 22, 2026