How to Regulate Your Nervous System

Hello My Friend,

Have you been hearing the word "dysregulated" a lot lately? It's so new, spell check doesn't recognize it and draws little squiggly red lines underneath it.

But I'm starting to see the word everywhere as the news is spreading... regulating your nervous system is the key to healing (more to come on this later!)

So, what does it mean to be dysregulated? 

It happens to all humans.

Imagine a toddler - losing it.  They are dysregulated. 

See, your nervous system's job is to keep you in a nice balance of energy, then rest and digest.  Energy, rest and digest.  A well functioning system cycles repeatedly, and you feel at ease most of the time.

A dysregulated system is when you are stuck in stress, overwhelm, anger, anxiety (these are fight/flight responses). OR you can be stuck in a freeze response which looks like you are incapable of getting up and getting anything done, or your brain is foggy, or you literally can't make your mouth say words.

Sometimes in life, dysregulation visits us because of a trauma or major grief.  Sometimes it comes around because of intense relationships or high stress. Sometimes it happens because we are not being true to ourselves. 

Whatever the reason, we can't throw a tantrum to release all that excess energy that comes with the activation. 

We need to know how to drop out of our heads and down into our bodies so that we can calm the nervous system and return to a feeling of safety. 

Wouldn't it be so great to know that you can do this for yourself?  To know that you don't have to rely on anyone else to get you back into balance?

Here's an example of a calming technique that nurses use to help patients who are experiencing a panic attack.  Hold your thumb out in front of you and focus on it.  Now name 5 things you can see beyond your thumb but keep only your thumb in focus. Breathe as you do this exercise. Notice how directing your attention allows your mind to slow down and feel the shift in activation in your body.  

There are different regulation exercises for fight/flight and freeze.  

I teach these tools with to my clients so often, I decided to create a resource to share with everyone.  I have found nothing else to be as effective in helping clients (and myself) finally begin to feel that they are in charge of their emotions.  

This course offers Nervous System Regulation tools in short videos along with a PDF quick guide.  I made this for YOU!

Curious?  Learn much more here!

Hope you have a calm, regulated, joy-filled day!

Gia