In Part 1 of this two-part series, we explored how driven women use busyness as emotional armor and the uncomfortable feelings often hiding beneath packed calendars. Now, let's examine what happens when our bodies rebel against this pattern—and practical steps for finding safety beyond our to-do lists.

While our minds excel at rationalization ("I'm just dedicated," "This is what success requires," "Everyone is this busy"), our bodies often tell a different story. The physical manifestations of using busyness as escape create their own language of warning—if we're willing to listen.

Your nervous system doesn't lie. When it remains in a chronic state of sympathetic activation—what we call "fight-or-flight"—your body experiences measurable changes: Chronic tension and muscle pain, especially in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. Sleep problems like difficulty falling asleep due to racing thoughts or waking with

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