Hi friends,
I bet you have seen those wellness girlies on their vibration plates, with their red light masks, wondering what on earth is happening. Maybe you have heard the term “nervous system regulation” thrown around, but still aren’t quite sure what it is or how it could affect or help you. It can be an intimidating topic to grasp, but fret not, friends, I am here to give you the full lowdown in an easily digestible way.
Welcome to the Nervous System Regulation Station! Here, I cover all things nervous system regulation, but we have to crawl before we can run. So today I will be breaking down what your nervous system is and what it means to regulate it.
Your nervous system connects your brain to your body. It is essentially your body’s safety and survival system. Think of it like your built-in security guard. It is constantly scanning for possible threats to your safety. It controls things we don’t always consciously control, such as tension in the body, heart rate, breathing, and digestion.
There are two basic states for your nervous system: Regulation/Safe State and Dysregulation/Survival State. Regulated looks like feeling calm, focused, and connected. Many people call this the “rest and digest” state. Dysregulation looks like anxiety, panic, irritability, difficulty resting, and trouble focusing. This state can also be called “Fight, Flight, or Freeze”.
The two states are not to be seen as “good” and “bad”. Both are essential to our survival, but it is important we are in each at the right times. Spending too much time in dysregulation or “fight, flight, or freeze mode” is an often-overlooked cause of many issues. I struggled with symptoms due to a dysregulated nervous system for nearly 10 years before I figured out what it was and started working towards healing.
Now, let’s talk about what nervous system regulation actually means. Regulation does not mean being calm all of the time. You do not regulate your nervous system, and suddenly become free of stress for the rest of your life. We still require the fight-or-flight or freeze response for survival. If you came face-to-face with a bear, you would want your body to trigger your survival instincts. That is your body using its survival state properly. Regulation means you can move in and out of that survival mode and return to a baseline after stressful encounters/experiences. So think less about constant calm and more about flexibility and resilience.
Next week, I will be diving into signs of a dysregulated nervous system, and in February, we will explore how you can work to heal and regulate your nervous system through simple steps and easy daily tasks! So make sure you subscribe and check back for those!
Until Next Week, My Friends!
P.S. I’m proud of you 😉