Three Simple Steps to Care for Your Vagus Nerve and Nervous System and How Safe and Sound Protocol Can Enhance that Care
It seems society has normalized stress as an unavoidable way of life that we just must deal with.
Along with this increased stress there has been a decrease in face-to-face social interaction. According to a 2021 Forbes article, Americans spend 1,300 hours per year on social media which equals a little over 3.5 hours per day. Some people feel that engaging in social media helps to lower (or avoid) the effects of stressful situations. People may think, “Well, if I can’t use social media to destress, what can I use?” I’m glad they asked.
The answer is that they can use tools to take care of your vagus nerve.
“A nerve called the vagus helps regulate most of the bodily functions necessary for our health and emotional well being.” Rosenburg’s work states that the vagus nerve must function properly in order for us to feel good emotionally (Rosenburg, 36).
Here are three simple tools you can put into practice to care for your vagus nerve:
Talk to supportive family or friends.
“Simple everyday social interactions with supportive family, friends and colleagues can help regulate our psychological state. We should not underestimate the importance of chatting, small talk, and simple social situations like eating together, having a cup of coffee, or taking a walk with some. Good social relationships help our nervous system to self-regulate” (Rosenberg, 140).
The Basic Exercise.
This exercise was created by Stanley Rosenberg. It calms the vagus nerve and can enhance social engagement. The great thing is that it only takes about 2 minutes to do. Please watch this video for instructions.
Engage with a therapist who is trained in The Polyvagal Theory.
Dr. Stephen Porge’s Polyvagal Theory states that the vagus nerve must function adequately to attain the desirable state of social engagement. Along with therapy, the Safe & Sound Protocol can enhance the results of therapy. Developed by Dr. Porges, the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) is an auditory intervention designed to reduce stress and calm your nervous system more easily.
A reasonable dose of social media can be fun and entertaining. However, it should not be the only solution used for stress reduction. For more information, we encourage you to read Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve: Self-Help Exercises for Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and Autism by Stanley Rosenberg. For more information on the Safe and Sound Protocol or how to connect with a therapist trained in The Polyvagal Theory please contact us here at Rooted Compassion!
Resources:
Rosenberg, S. (2017). Accessing the healing power of the vagus nerve - self-help exercises for an. North Atlantic Books,u.s.
Photos:
Couple hugging: Photo by Gus Moretta on Unsplash
Girl with eyes closed: Photo by Radu Florin on Unsplash
Man with headphones on: Photo by Roy Javier on Unsplash
Nakia Smith, MA, LPC is our Program Coordinator of the Safe and Sound Protocol. Nakia was drawn to the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) after reading about the benefits for people who have experienced trauma. She likes to take a holistic approach to therapy to help her clients heal their mind, body and spirit. We are thrilled to have her as an essential part of our team.
The Rooted Compassion team is made up of a group of counselors who have a variety of specialties in order to best serve our clients. We recognize that every person has his/her own personal and unique life experiences and that one modality will not work for every client. Listed below is a summary of our counselors’ specialties at Rooted Compassion:
Emotional Freedom Techniques
Grief Counseling
Somatic Focused Counseling
EMDR
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
Mindfulness-Based Practices
Trauma Responsive Care Techniques
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Motivational Interviewing
Gottman Couples Counseling
If you are interested in learning more about what Rooted Compassion is all about, please contact us today, look through our website, or find us on Instagram and Facebook.
Rooted Compassion Counseling is Ohio’s leading practice for trauma therapy through the lens of the nervous system. Our focus is to walk alongside clients as they heal from depression, anxiety, trauma, grief and/or loss. If you or someone you know are seeking to explore and build an inner sense of calm and safety, please contact us today. We would love to help you to find a counselor and counseling techniques that will guide you on your mental health journey to healing.
