Domain: Stress & Threat Activation 3-5 min read Updated: 2026-01-15

When the Body Doesn’t Want to Stay Put

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The body does not want to stay put.

Movement feels closer

than rest.

This impulse

is normal

in mobilized states.

Naming it

prevents misinterpretation.

You are not incapable

of stillness—

you are prepared

for motion.

Recognition

allows choice

to return later,

without forcing

either outcome.

Normalize movement impulses with DojoWell.

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Frequently Asked Questions

I’m at dinner with friends, but I have this overwhelming urge to just get up and walk out. Why?

Your "Body Doesn’t Want to Stay Put." Under high activation, movement impulses are natural survival responses. In the Meaning Density Model™, your system perceives the "social load" as a "density threat" and wants to "un-occupy" the space to regain safety. Normalizing this urge—"My body is ready to leave"—reduces the panic that often accompanies the feeling of being "stuck."

How do I handle the "urge to leave" without actually leaving?

Give the body a "Proxy Movement." Fidget with a napkin, tap your toe, or shift your weight in the chair. These are "Partial Flight" movements that satisfy the nervous system's need for "Motion." DojoWell teaches that by allowing 10% of the movement, you prevent the other 90% from turning into a full-scale "Escape Loop," keeping you present and regulated.

When the Body Doesn’t Want to Stay Put