This is so interesting to me and is probably the 4th time in recent days I have come across somatic work, I am always guided to what is useful to me or my clients. I have spent a good deal of time getting to know nervous systems as part of the ascension process and body upgrades can impact them wildly. Ancestral work can also set them off, so it’s been helpful to understand the connections. I am still learning and your explanations here are very helpful. 🙏💫
Your wonderful article has helped me realise what is happening at 3am when I suddenly become wide awake and remain so for several hours. I am in sympathetic activation and unable to drift back to sleep within minutes. I’m guessing I need to practise activating the ventral nervous system at this moment and more broadly have a daily practice to increase my vagal tone so when I wake in future I am not in the alert state, or at least can de-escalate quickly. I would be grateful to learn more about specific exercises for this practice.
Yes, that sounds like it would be very helpful. I think most sleep issues are connected to nervous system dysregulation. I'm hoping to record and share some practices in a few months time, but in the meantime there are many other sources out there. YouTube has a wealth of vagal toning practices, and I particularly love the practice of yoga nidra for assisting with sleep. Hope it helps Joanna.
I never knew there was a technical name for that relaxed, expansive state of mind. Your article makes me want to make a list of activities or times when I feel that way. I know that sometimes it comes after a physical activity that is fun - the physical seems to put me in the present moment in a nice way, often. Sometimes it's something mild like a slow swim, or sometimes it even could be a hard workout, as long as it's voluntary, fun, and I'm well rested going into it.
As others have mentioned this is a beautifully written piece and a lovely introduction to nervous system healing. I started on this learning/healing journey last year and discovered that I've spent over 60 years in highly functional freeze! As I've come out of freeze I'm super sensitive to so many things including TV, loud noises, bright lights and I can't do chaos and drama anymore.
Your second paragraph has me wondering if I've ever fully been in the ventral vagal state as I've never been able to completely drop in to a meditative state, certainly not to the extent that you mention. Maybe that will come with time and lots more practice. It's definitely a long and slow process learning to live comfortably in your body instead of whizzing around in an overactive mind. I am definitely convinced that my myriad of health challenges can be attributed to extensive childhood trauma and I wonder if they will improve when my nervous system is more regulated. One can only hope!
Thanks for sharing your experiences Ellen. Yes I have found a lot of improvement with health issues over time as I've come into a greater sense of ease and regulation. It comes and goes but definitely gets easier with practice. Wishing you all the best on your healing journey ❤️
Thank you for this interesting and beautifully written post. This is so relevant for me at the moment, as I am working through past trauma while trying to manage chronic illnesses and improve my physical health. It reminds me that everything is linked - calming the nervous system will have a positive effect on mental, emotional and physical health - which helps me feel less overwhelmed with it all.
Thank you Lisa, I'm glad to hear it was useful. I have another post on this same topic coming out this week. Nervous system regulation has been really key for me in putting my 15 year history of autoimmune disease into functional remission. Wishing you all the best with your healing journey.
Vicki this is brilliant. When I was first diagnosed with CFS/ME I was introduced to the concept of a 'disregulated nervous system' which was something I had no understanding of previously. This piece is a timely reminder to me as to how to manage it - something that often slips due to the multiple pressures of life, yet nothing is more important. Thank you 🙏
This is such a beautifully written, full and the most complete summary I have ever read of the nervous system and the gunas, bringing the eastern Ayurvedic/yogic understanding in a way that is easy for the western mind to understand 🙏🏽 I think the things each of us write will weave and overlap once I start creating my Ayurvedic and Peaceful Belly podcasts in the Autumn. I look forward to more of your writing on this. I think the nervous system, the Gunas, Ayurvedic health/nutritional approach, and yoga can bring such a profound healing — because we get to heal ourselves, and the world around us through how we bring ourselves. What wonderful work you are doing.
Thanks so much for your comments Lucy. Yes I agree, huge overlaps in all of these areas. I love how much Ayurvedic principles have contributed to how I've learned to ground and re-regulate myself over the years and likewise look forward to learning more from your writing ❤
This is so interesting to me and is probably the 4th time in recent days I have come across somatic work, I am always guided to what is useful to me or my clients. I have spent a good deal of time getting to know nervous systems as part of the ascension process and body upgrades can impact them wildly. Ancestral work can also set them off, so it’s been helpful to understand the connections. I am still learning and your explanations here are very helpful. 🙏💫
Thanks for your comments Louise and great to hear it was helpful 😊
Your wonderful article has helped me realise what is happening at 3am when I suddenly become wide awake and remain so for several hours. I am in sympathetic activation and unable to drift back to sleep within minutes. I’m guessing I need to practise activating the ventral nervous system at this moment and more broadly have a daily practice to increase my vagal tone so when I wake in future I am not in the alert state, or at least can de-escalate quickly. I would be grateful to learn more about specific exercises for this practice.
Yes, that sounds like it would be very helpful. I think most sleep issues are connected to nervous system dysregulation. I'm hoping to record and share some practices in a few months time, but in the meantime there are many other sources out there. YouTube has a wealth of vagal toning practices, and I particularly love the practice of yoga nidra for assisting with sleep. Hope it helps Joanna.
I never knew there was a technical name for that relaxed, expansive state of mind. Your article makes me want to make a list of activities or times when I feel that way. I know that sometimes it comes after a physical activity that is fun - the physical seems to put me in the present moment in a nice way, often. Sometimes it's something mild like a slow swim, or sometimes it even could be a hard workout, as long as it's voluntary, fun, and I'm well rested going into it.
Yes! What a lovely idea to gather a toolbox of the things that take you into that zone 😊 Thanks for sharing that Fran.
As others have mentioned this is a beautifully written piece and a lovely introduction to nervous system healing. I started on this learning/healing journey last year and discovered that I've spent over 60 years in highly functional freeze! As I've come out of freeze I'm super sensitive to so many things including TV, loud noises, bright lights and I can't do chaos and drama anymore.
Your second paragraph has me wondering if I've ever fully been in the ventral vagal state as I've never been able to completely drop in to a meditative state, certainly not to the extent that you mention. Maybe that will come with time and lots more practice. It's definitely a long and slow process learning to live comfortably in your body instead of whizzing around in an overactive mind. I am definitely convinced that my myriad of health challenges can be attributed to extensive childhood trauma and I wonder if they will improve when my nervous system is more regulated. One can only hope!
Thanks for sharing your experiences Ellen. Yes I have found a lot of improvement with health issues over time as I've come into a greater sense of ease and regulation. It comes and goes but definitely gets easier with practice. Wishing you all the best on your healing journey ❤️
Thank you for this interesting and beautifully written post. This is so relevant for me at the moment, as I am working through past trauma while trying to manage chronic illnesses and improve my physical health. It reminds me that everything is linked - calming the nervous system will have a positive effect on mental, emotional and physical health - which helps me feel less overwhelmed with it all.
Thank you Lisa, I'm glad to hear it was useful. I have another post on this same topic coming out this week. Nervous system regulation has been really key for me in putting my 15 year history of autoimmune disease into functional remission. Wishing you all the best with your healing journey.
Great - I look forward to reading it! Thank you
Thanks for sharing this! I've ordered porges' book. I think it's a missing piece in my healing journey.
Yes, I think this is the missing link for so many people!
Wonderful piece! So articulate and inspiring.😍
Thanks so much Marie 😊
Beautiful Vicki. As always. Much needed much appreciated. Thank you.
Thanks so much Dee 😊
Vicki this is brilliant. When I was first diagnosed with CFS/ME I was introduced to the concept of a 'disregulated nervous system' which was something I had no understanding of previously. This piece is a timely reminder to me as to how to manage it - something that often slips due to the multiple pressures of life, yet nothing is more important. Thank you 🙏
Thanks for your kind words Emma. And yes, I need those reminders too (we teach best what we most need to learn !) It's an ongoing work in progress 😄
yes exactly!!! I know it but struggle to do it....
This is such a beautifully written, full and the most complete summary I have ever read of the nervous system and the gunas, bringing the eastern Ayurvedic/yogic understanding in a way that is easy for the western mind to understand 🙏🏽 I think the things each of us write will weave and overlap once I start creating my Ayurvedic and Peaceful Belly podcasts in the Autumn. I look forward to more of your writing on this. I think the nervous system, the Gunas, Ayurvedic health/nutritional approach, and yoga can bring such a profound healing — because we get to heal ourselves, and the world around us through how we bring ourselves. What wonderful work you are doing.
Thanks so much for your comments Lucy. Yes I agree, huge overlaps in all of these areas. I love how much Ayurvedic principles have contributed to how I've learned to ground and re-regulate myself over the years and likewise look forward to learning more from your writing ❤