Every single one of us gets activated.
Category: Toolbox: Somatic regulation
Why moving your body can be one of the fastest ways to regulate your nervous system
If we view the physical manifestations of stress, fear and anxiety with an evolutionary lens (i.e that our nervous systems are preparing us to fight or flee in response to a perceived threat) then naturally the clever human system has an effective process of discharging these physiological changes (using up stress hormones etc).
Using the language of your nervous system
Although it might not feel like it, that urgent physical alarm you feel at times of stress is your bodies attempt to keep you safe. It wants to protect you because its reptilian logic determines that you need to be prepared to fight or run.
“Sighs are the natural language of the heart”
Thomas Shadwell.
Did you know that we naturally sign several times an hour and that sighing is an important part of maintaining healthy lung function?
The Struggle Switch
Ideas from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Sometimes when we are suffering with big and distressing feelings, we are further exhausted by the hopelessness that comes with having already tried everything in our power to change our situation, and end up feeling defeated.
My top three breath patterns for calm and safety (even if you hate breathing exercises)
Although it might not feel like it, that urgent physical alarm you feel at times of stress is your bodies’ attempt to keep you safe. It wants to protect you because reptilian logic determines that you need to be prepared to fight or run.
Of course, often, that bells and whistles stress response is not required. It might be that your body is having a reaction to a memory, a thought or even something you can’t identify.
To manage this, you can learn to soothe the stress response. This is like speaking the language of your nervous system in order to communicate that you are safe.
FIRST: Make sure you ARE safe
THEN: Notice what’s happening and say to yourself “my body is responding this way because it thinks I need protecting; thank you body, but I got this”