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What's getting on your "vagus" nerve?

Writer's picture: LauraLaura

Updated: Jan 18, 2024

I am absolutely fascinated by the information in one of my health coach training modules through IIN - the mind-body connection. While a lot of this is new learning for me, I did have a basic understanding and belief system about how the brain and body communicate. However, the depth of information around this topic that has been uncovered in recent decades of scientific research is pretty amazing stuff.


Today's post is about the ANS (autonomic nervous system) and, in particular, the vagus nerve and how it impacts our health and wellness.


First, some basics. The autonomic nervous system is sometimes referenced as our involuntary nervous system in that it regulates systems that are not influenced by our will such as breathing, respiration and heart rate.


The ANS has two parts - the sympathetic system (associated with the commonly understood "fight or flight" response) and the parasympathetic system which is referred to as our "rest and digest" system.


Our organs are connected to and receive information from each of these systems. In the heart, for example, the sympathetic system would cause our heart rate to increase while the parasympathetic system causes it to decrease.


The vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic (rest & digest) system and is the longest cranial nerve. It reaches the majority of the body's organs, branching out like the roots of a tree into a network throughout the body. Known as the "wandering nerve", it serves as a communication superhighway, carrying sensory information between the brain and our internal organs.


Why should we know and care about the vagus nerve? Keep reading!!



Dr. Stephen Porges developed a theory, called polyvagal theory, which can help us understand human behavior through the lens of what is happening in our ANS, specifically through communication via the vagus nerve. Stay with me here ...


The vagus nerve has two branches - the dorsal branch (a very old part of our nervous system reaching back to our reptilian ancestors) and the ventral branch (a more recent evolutionary addition and found only in mammals).


The dorsal branch regulates organs below the diaphragm and activates the "shutdown" of the body in cases of overwhelming trauma. When we experience our environment as threatening, we operate through this branch, in "fight or flight" response mode.


The ventral branch affects body functioning above the diaphragm - the muscles of the face, heart and lungs - the parts we use to interact with others. This branch facilitates social engagement which has the outcome of calming down the sympathetic system and our flight response. When we experience our environment as safe, we operate from the social engagement system.


While we are fortunate to not have to face daily threats to our lives from predators like our ancestors did, our brains are still easily shifted into "fight or flight" mode, especially if we have experienced traumatic situations or prolonged stress.


The GOOD NEWS is that we can impact this and actively take steps to "calm down" our sympathetic system. How? Breathwork (breathing from our diaphragm tells our bodies we are safe), yoga and meditation are all practices that help calm down the "fight or flight" response and activate our parasympathetic system.


If you want to read more about this, Google "polyvagal theory". I used THIS ARTICLE for some of the information in this post.


After reading this, what are your thoughts? Do you have a sense of whether or not you live out of a fight or flight space most of the time or do you mostly experience a feeling of calm and safety? What practices to soothe your nervous system could you try? HERE is a link to an article listing 13 ways to regulate your nervous system. Leave a comment to share one that stands out to you.

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2 комментария


E. Colpitts
E. Colpitts
27 янв. 2024 г.

I meant to type Cephalic, not Cerebral.

Лайк

E. Colpitts
E. Colpitts
27 янв. 2024 г.

I am so behind on your posts; however, this one caught my eye as I was scrolling through my neglected emails.

Recently, I learned that we have 3 Brains: Cerebral, Cardiac & Enteric (Gut) & that the Vagus Nerve is basically their Information Highway. It is fascinating, & I wish I had known about this earlier in life. (If I can, I'll attach a pic. that notes info. for each Brain.)

Also, I plan to read what noted for us. I hope they mention Freeze as a part of the Fight, Flight response. That one tends to be forgotten.

Thanks so much for sharing!



Лайк

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