How nervous system regulation is the missing link...
Periods of chronic stress or traumatic stress (especially in early childhood) shape our nervous system so that it quickly activates the fight-flight or freeze response when we’re under pressure.
This leads to emotional and physiological dysregulation, affecting our moods, emotions, thoughts and behaviour, as well as our physical health. Our nervous system state dictates how we feel about our self as a human being, how we perceive everyday events in our life, how we go about our day, how we are at work, at home, and in our relationships.
This nervous system dysregulation can lead to:
Prolonged anxiety, overwhelm, racing thoughts, feeling panicky, and an inability to relax.
It may also leave you feeling flat, dead inside, depressed, numb and disconnected.
You might find yourself shutting down when you need to speak up, saying things that you don’t mean and experiencing relationship struggles.
Physiological dysregulation effects the immune, endocrine (hormonal) and digestive systems leading to chronic health problems like inflammation, gut issues, chronic pain, insomnia, autoimmune and hormonal issues, muscle tension and even weight problems.
The nervous system is the link between your body and brain.
Practices, tools and skills that help to improve the functioning of your nervous system help build stress capacity and resilience, so that when you face challenges or conflict, you don’t move into fight-flight or freeze - the survival responses, but are able to stay present and connected.
The body is able to release old stress, trauma and old emotions out through embodiment (connecting with your body through biological self-awareness - awareness of your body and physiology). So that the nervous system finds new ways of responding to triggers that don’t emotionally hijack you and drain your body of vital energy. This is due to something called neuro-plasticity that allows us to rewire our brain and nervous system at any age. Learning the tools that help you to self-regulate means you can remain calm, energised, balanced and think clearly, and therefore stay healthy and well.
The beauty of the nervous system is that it has the ability to be re-patterned so that your emotional and physical health improves sustainably. Self-regulation and emotional competency are the foundation to this.
Curious to learn more?