Spring Reset for your Nervous System: Gentle Regulation Tips

In the past 15 years, there has been an increased application of neuroscience knowledge in the field of mental health counseling. As I reflect on the integration of neuroscience and mental health, one of the most useful applications has been providing clients with practical tools to treat and alleviate unpleasant bodily symptoms associated with trauma, depression, and anxiety. Formulaic breathing, focused attention, and bilateral movements are some of the most common neuroscience based strategies used by mental health professionals. These grounding, mindfulness, or present moment awareness strategies are linked to regulating nervous systems responses.
If you ever took any course about the human body, you might remember that the skin is one of the largest organ and receptor for the nervous system. The skin constantly feeds information to the brain, causing our nervous system to respond to stimuli, which suggests both scientifically and practically, that because we live in bodies, we store our life experiences, good, indifferent, bad and any other perspective in our nervous systems. As we consider our body as a receptor, repository, and metabolizer of our life experiences, we might infer the importance of nervous system regulation to people's physical and mental well-being. So how do we acquaint ourselves with our nervous systems to promote wellness? A simple three step approach is found in most clinical theories that guide the integration of neuroscience and mental health: observe, describe, and participate. These steps are intended to increase awareness and understanding of one’s nervous system responses to make purposeful decisions on how to engage in the world. Observe often invites us to notice where we feel emotions and thoughts in our bodies. Some people observe the feeling of fear and describe tightness in their shoulders. Some people observe feeling content and describe lightness in their chest. With these observations and descriptions, people can then choose how to participate in their environment. Sometimes our nervous systems accurately receive what is happening in our environment and sometimes it does not. We feel scared, when we are safe, or disconnected when we are surrounded by people we love. These examples of incongruences between our nervous systems and our environments can disrupt our ability to participate in any situation. Learning to befriend our nervous systems supports our ability to intentionally participate in our lives. So, consider getting acquainted with your nervous system to move toward a healthier life filled with connection and belonging.
Learning about your nervous system can feel challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Our therapists are here to help you take the next step toward restoration. Reach out today!