Socially Hijacked

What if every simple interaction felt like a life-or-death moment? Socially Hijacked: When Connection Feels Like Survival is a compassionate, science-informed guide for anyone whose body shuts down the moment social pressure appears. Your mind goes blank. Your chest tightens. Someone says "hello," and suddenly your nervous system reacts as if you're under attack. This isn't shyness or overthinking—it's a physiological hijack. And no amount of confidence tips can override a dysregulated system. This book begins where traditional social-skills advice fails: with your nervous system. Instead of scripts, pep talks, or forced extroversion, Socially Hijacked shows you how to work with your physiology so you can stay grounded, present, and capable during real human connection. You'll learn to recognize the early signs of dysregulation, reset your body in the moment, and finally show up as your authentic self—without masking, performing, or spiraling in shame afterward. Inside, you'll learn how to: Recognize when your body is about to hijack a conversation Reset your nervous system quickly, anywhere Stop performing and start connecting authentically Build meaningful relationships without burning out Set boundaries that protect your energy Move through social situations without replaying every word afterward You'll discover how to build internal safety first, so connection stops feeling like a threat and starts feeling possible again. This book is for you if you freeze mid-sentence, dread small talk, replay conversations for days, feel like you're performing instead of participating, or struggle to feel like yourself around others. If your body panics long before your mind can catch up, this is your roadmap back to grounded, honest connection. Because the goal isn't to become charismatic. The goal is to become regulated enough to be yourself. And when you can stay regulated, connection becomes something you can enter without bracing—something real, something sustainable, something you can trust. If your body keeps shutting you down in moments that should feel simple, this book gives you the tools to finally stop the hijack and stay present. Your nervous system can be retrained. Your reactions can be rewired. You don't have to live at the mercy of panic anymore. Start here, and let this be the moment everything begins to shift.