Why am I suddenly reacting to everything?

You may be suddenly reacting to everything because your mast cells, your body’s immune alarm cells, have become overprotective, not because you are imagining it. In the script, Dr. Kenny explains that mitochondrial stress, infections, gut imbalance, hormone shifts, nervous system overload, and nutrient deficiencies can all lower your threshold and make normal inputs feel like threats.

Your alarm system may be stuck on high

One of the most helpful ideas in the video is that mast cells are not the enemy. They are part of your body’s security system. They sit at the places where your body meets the outside world, like your skin, gut, sinuses, and even around the brain. Their job is to protect you.

The problem in MCAS is not that this system exists. It is that the alarm loses calibration. Instead of a measured response, the body starts overreacting. That can show up as hives, flushing, itching, dizziness, gut symptoms, anxiety, or food sensitivities that feel random. As a functional medicine practitioner, I see this as a pattern-recognition problem, not a “your body is broken” problem.

Low energy can make mast cells more jumpy

The script starts with a root cause many people miss, mitochondrial stress. Mast cells are energy expensive. When the mitochondria that power them are under strain, the whole system becomes more reactive.

That is one reason people with MCAS often say stress hits them harder, exercise wipes them out, or they feel wired but tired at night. The body is dealing with a mix of oxidative stress, inflammation, and low energy capacity. At Dr. Kenny’s clinic, this is often one of the missing pieces that makes reactivity finally make sense.

The gut, hormones, and stress all shape reactivity

The script also points to the gut-brain-immune axis. A large number of mast cells live in the digestive tract, where they are constantly talking to the microbiome, the vagus nerve, and the immune system. If the gut barrier is irritated or the microbiome is off balance, mast cells can fire more easily, not just in the gut, but across the whole body.

Hormones and the nervous system matter too. Dr. Kenny explains that mast cells respond to estrogen, cortisol, and the overall fight-or-flight state of the body. That is why some people flare around ovulation, around their period, or during times of chronic stress. The body is getting repeated “danger” signals, and mast cells never fully stand down.

Infections, environment, and nutrient gaps can lower your threshold

The video also highlights common pattern starters. Viral illness, especially COVID, can leave the immune system primed long after the infection is gone. Environmental triggers like mold, fragrances, cleaning products, or temperature shifts can then hit harder than they used to.

On top of that, the body needs certain nutrients to keep histamine and mast cells more stable. The script mentions:

  • copper and vitamin B6 for DAO support
  • magnesium for mast cell stability
  • vitamin C for immune balance

The bigger takeaway is simple. You may be suddenly reacting to everything because your body’s protective system has become easier to trigger. That usually means there is deeper stress on the system, from mitochondria, gut imbalance, hormones, infection history, nutrient depletion, or a mix of them. Once you start calming the upstream drivers, the reactivity often stops feeling so random.

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If you are suddenly reacting to everything and want to uncover why

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Answered by Dr. Kenny Mittelstadt, DACM, DC, IFMCP
Certified functional medicine practitioner specializing in advanced lab testing and personalized healing protocols to uncover root causes of health roadblocks.

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