The Nervous System’s Relationship to Stress 🧠
Those who have attended a Loto Wellness Collective event facilitated by our founder, Jennifer, know that we love to talk about nervous system self-regulation tools like breathwork. Understanding the role our nervous system plays in our experience of life and our ability to handle stress, and the ways we can self-regulate those systems, can help us to engage more fully with ourselves, each other, and the Holy Spirit from a place of internal safety.
Have you ever noticed that when you take slow, deep breaths that fill your belly, you start to feel more relaxed? That's because you're triggering your body's relaxation response. Your heart rate slows down, your blood pressure decreases, and those stress hormones take a backseat, all controlled by your nervous system
Have you ever noticed that when you take slow, deep breaths that fill your belly, you start to feel more relaxed?
To begin to understand how to self-regulate your nervous system in times of stress, you first need to understand how the nervous system works with stress.
The polyvagal theory, developed by Dr. Stephen Porges, is a neurobiological framework that explains how our autonomic nervous system (ANS) responds to stress and influences our social engagement and emotional well-being. The theory emphasizes the importance of the vagus nerve, a major cranial nerve that connects the brain to various organs and plays a crucial role in regulating physiological states.
According to the polyvagal theory, the ANS has three distinct branches or response patterns: the ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal vagal systems. The ventral vagal system, associated with feelings of safety and connection, supports social engagement and enables us to interact with others in a calm and regulated manner. It promotes a state of rest, relaxation, and positive emotions.
When we encounter a threat or perceive danger, the sympathetic system activates the body's fight-or-flight response. This prepares us for action, increases heart rate, releases stress hormones, and mobilizes energy resources to deal with the perceived threat. This sympathetic response is essential for survival and helps us respond to immediate challenges.
However, if the threat continues or overwhelms our ability to cope, the body may enter a dorsal vagal response, also known as the freeze response. This is a state of immobilization and shutdown, characterized by reduced heart rate, decreased blood pressure, and disconnection from the environment. It is an adaptive response when fighting or fleeing is not possible or successful.
In the context of rest, the polyvagal theory suggests that a healthy autonomic nervous system should have the flexibility to move between the ventral vagal state of social engagement and the parasympathetic state of rest and relaxation. Rest is considered an essential part of our well-being, allowing us to recover, restore energy, and rejuvenate both physically and mentally.
When we are in a state of rest, the ventral vagal system is dominant, creating a sense of safety, calm, and connection. This state supports restorative processes such as digestion, cellular repair, and growth. It also promotes positive emotions, improved cognitive function, and enhanced social interactions.
However, chronic stress or trauma can dysregulate the autonomic nervous system, making it difficult to access the restorative state. When the sympathetic or dorsal vagal systems are overly activated, it becomes challenging to achieve restful states and can lead to various physical and mental health issues.
Loto Wellness programming uses the polyvagal theory as a framework for understanding the complex interplay between the autonomic nervous system, stress responses, social engagement, and rest- highlighting the importance of fostering a balanced autonomic nervous system, promoting a state of safety and connection to support optimal rest and well-being.
In Him
Jennifer, Founder & Champion of Rest
