Don’t Let Fear Run Your Life: Calm Your Nervous System and Feel Safer
Fear is part of being human - but when it starts running your life instead of protecting you, it’s time to learn how to calm your nervous system and feel safer in your body.
Modern life exposes us to constant stress, information overload, and pressure - and many women find themselves living in a near-permanent state of tension, anxiety, or overwhelm.
But you are not broken. You are human. And you can learn to feel safer and more at ease in yourself.
Episode 24 - Self Defence & Personal Safety for Women Podcast
Practical tools to work with fear instead of living in it
In this episode of Self Defence and Personal Safety for Women, Julie Waite (women’s safety advocate and Co-Founder of Streetwise Defence) is joined by Sadie Marshall, founder of Take A Pause, to explore how fear actually works in the body - and how to calm it in realistic, accessible ways.
This is not just theory. It’s real-life guidance for women who feel overwhelmed, anxious, stuck in chronic stress, or disconnected from their bodies.
Sadie also guides a short, practical breathing exercise you can use anytime to feel calmer and more grounded.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN
Why fear feels so present in modern life
What happens in your body when fear is triggered
Why your body responds the same to real and imagined threats
How to recognise your personal fear signals
How chronic stress affects long-term health
Simple breath and body techniques to calm your nervous system
Why rest, joy and boundaries are essential - not indulgent
How trauma and triggers show up in the body
When therapy and support help healing
How to build long-term resilience and self-trust.
Why This Episode Matters
Many women are living in a constant state of stress or low-level fear without realising it.
When the nervous system stays switched on for too long, it affects health, mood, confidence, relationships, and the ability to feel safe in everyday life.
But with the right tools, support and awareness, fear doesn’t have to dominate your life. You can learn to understand your body’s signals, calm your nervous system, and return to your natural state of balance and wellbeing.
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Sadie Marshall is the Co-Founder of Take A Pause, a wellbeing consultancy that supports organisations to reduce stress, improve physical health, and build calmer, more resilient teams. She works with businesses to deliver movement-based wellbeing programmes, breathwork sessions, and nervous system regulation workshops that help people feel better in their bodies and perform at their best at work.
Sadie specialises in helping people reconnect with their bodies, release chronic tension, and move out of long-term stress responses. Her approach combines practical movement, breathwork, and mindfulness to create simple, accessible tools that fit into real life - not just retreat settings.
With a background in yoga, body-based stress regulation, and workplace wellbeing, Sadie brings a grounded, compassionate, and science-informed perspective to understanding fear, trauma, and emotional resilience.
Find Sadie at:
Website: www.takeapause.co.uk
Instagram: @tapwellbeing
LinkedIn: Sadie Marshall
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Online Self Defence Courses for Everyday Confidence
One of the biggest drivers of fear is not knowing what you’d do if someone tried to harm you.
Learning simple, realistic self defence and personal safety techniques helps replace fear with confidence, clarity, and a sense of control.
Explore our accessible online self-defence courses designed to help you feel safer in your body and more confident in everyday life.
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Legal Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. While we aim to share practical self defence strategies, listeners are responsible for understanding and complying with the laws in their country or region. Streetwise Defence and its hosts are not liable for any actions taken based on this content.