In our anatomyand physiology course, the neurological system is very important to understand as so many of our students will work with clients who have a high level os stress. The human body is designed to be in a state of ease and balance (known as homoestasis). Otherwise our system can be overloaded and we go into a state of dis-ease or disease.
Most complementary therapies work in a preventative and restorative manner with the twelve systems of the body to maintain that homeostasis.
In the past, the response to stress has been perceived as two- pronged:
Part 1; Fight, flight and freeze is controlled by the sympathetic part of our autonomic nervous system which responds to a stressor by sending alert messages to many parts of the body including all our organs and many muscles including those of the legs, arms and face. The parasympathetic nervous system does the opposite and activates part 2;the rest and digest phase via the biggest nerve in our body the vagus nerve.
However, Stephen Porges’s Polyvagal theory proports there to be third part of the stress response which he calls social engagement.
Social engagement, according to Porges is a playful mixture of activation and calming that operates out of unique nerve influences. The social engagement system helps us develop, enjoy and find our way around relationships. If we naturally or through learnt behaviour shift into using our social engagement system we become more flexible in our ability to cope. It is not a case of try harder, but try different.
Trauma can keep people stuck in the fight or flight response and teaching people to stimulate the vagus nerve will help them shift from being constantly on alert to a more restful, thoughtful and effective way of living.
Do some of these, you don't need to do them all!
Exercise; a brisk walk for twenty minutes 3 or 4 times a week
Breath in for a count of 4, hold and breathe out for a count of 5/6 for 1-5 minutes a day
Splash cold water or even place ice on your face. In a and e, nurses use ice cubes to calm children
Sing or chant
Go upside down- yoga sun salutations or downward dog (encourage kids hang upside down on climbing frames and even on the sofa watching tv! )
Learn to Meditate- there’s loads of apps
Exchange love and compassion with family and friends
Breathe in for 4 hold for 7 breathe out for 8
Laugh- tell jokes, watch a comedy, have fun making funny faces, talking with funny voices
Have a massage view how to give one here
Go out in sunlight
Perform acts of kindness
Hook ups- put your hands under your armpits and cross your legs
Hold your forehead or heart
Carrying heavy backpack/books/jug
Do press ups against a wall
Do Wall squats
Stand on one leg- you can’t balance and be angry
Listen to music through headphones it stimlates the corpus callosume to connect right and left brain
Clapping/patting/balancing/
Progressive muscle relaxation- tighten and relax muscles of the body starting at the feet and working up the body
Do something physical; Go for a Walk, do the washing up and scrub a really dirty pan, pair the socks in the clean washing, beat a pillow, scream into a pillow
Good luck with staying regulated!
"I've already started the anatomy and physiology course and think its absolutely brilliant - why didn't they teach us like this at school!"
- Julie Perkins -
GM Tree Training Ltd
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Somerset BA11 2LG
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