Don't skip this or your life may be a living hell! Why it's so important to regulate the nervous system...

Regulating the nervous system can help you shift out of feeling stressed and into feeling calm. If you don't have a consistent practice of doing this, your life might be (or become) a living hell, like I'm not even kidding. So let's regulate, relax and live lovely lives that blow our fucking minds!!! Sound good? Good.

If you struggle with substances (or even just significant amounts of stress), it’s highly likely that your nervous system is begging to be regulated!! When we feel the safety and balance of a regulated nervous system, the drive to use substances or other self-sabotaging mechanisms decreases SIGNIFICANTLY. 

There's 2 major functions of the nervous system you should know about if you're not familiar:

• the stress response: the sympathetic nervous system

• and the calming response: the parasympathetic nervous system

Let’s talk about all the “bad” stuff first so we can end the post on a good note. :)

When we don’t practice regulating the nervous system, we live in a near constant state of worry, stress, anxiety, fear, sickness and all around struggle. 

You may have heard this state referred to as the fight/flight/freeze response, the stress response or the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). It’s a state of survival. 

An activated SNS is when we're on high alert, hyper-vigilant in our environment, scanning for threats to keep ourselves safe. We pump adrenaline, cortisol & other stress hormones through the body to react quickly in case of emergency.

It’s not a bad thing when this survival state kicks in. It does help us stay alert & alive, and is necessary SOMETIMES, but it does becomes detrimental if we continuously live with this state activated because:

• digestion decreases

• an excess of stress hormones throw us out of balance

• our blood pressure increases 

• muscles tense and more

Our bodies can't function efficiently or healthily when we're always on edge in the stress response.

If we’re living in this state for prolonged periods of time (many of us are), what do you think can happen to the body & mind? *Cue increased possibility of chronic illness & mental health issues.*

Living with the SNS activated can feel like we're:

• living on autopilot; stuck in habits

• lacking energy or burned out 

• easily triggered; having automatic knee-jerk reactions

• often ruminating on the past or worried about the future

• competitive, insecure, anxious, resistant, judgmental, jealous, doubtful, stressed

• focused on lack, fear & limits

NOW FOR THE GOOD STUFF!!!! 

So what’s the opposite? What state supports healthy functioning of our bodies & minds? How do we shift? 

When we regulate the nervous system and activate the calming response of the parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS), or the rest & digest response, we move into a state of restoration — feeling relaxed, safe, secure & supported. 😌😌

We become physically & mentally at ease. Within the body: 

• digestive activity is stimulated 

• heart rate slows & blood pressure lowers 

• hormones that build tissue and support the body are secreted 

• muscles relax 

We have a calm awareness of our environment, we're open to vulnerability, connection with others, creative states and we can experience feelings of safety/security/stability. This relaxed state is where we ideally want to condition our bodies to live and respond from.

Living with the PSNS activated can feel like we're:

• present & intentional with decision-making

• energized & inspired

• emotionally stable with thoughtful responses to our environments

• living fully in the present

• creative, cooperative, safe, supported, secure, observant, accepting, loving, intuitive

• focused on abundance, trust & expansion

Living with the PSNS activated sounds way more conducive to a happy, healthy, sober and successful life, right? Let's get there – and stay there!! Some of my favorite ways to spark the calming effects from the PSNS are through deep breathing, meditation, mindful movement, connection with friends and quality rest!

I’ve gotten really good regulating my nervous system through being sober and that’s why I made the Relaxation Ritual — to help guide you in regulating your nervous system. You will be able to move out of the chaos from stress into an empowered calmness from safety. This is crazy transformative if you’re wanting sobriety support!! 

You deserve to feel safe in your body & joyful in your sobriety, babes, and it's so possible to attain.

Listen to the Relaxation Ritual here.