The holiday season is coming faster and faster each year, and now it is already upon us. Are you ready? I know that I’m not! Sometimes when I think about the holiday season, I can feel my heart racing when I think about the meal prep, or the guest list, or the gift list. How many times did I over commit myself in just 4 weeks? This leads to the stress cycle or Vagus Nerve Hyperactivity, and most of us know this condition very well. What can we do to help? it is time to engage in selfcare, exercise, meditation, yoga, and mindfulness.
But what if this stress cycle has been going on for more than 4-6 weeks? What if you noticed that you are becoming more anxious or more depressed? Have you noticed that you are having increased stomach issues? What about your heart rate, have you noticed it increasing for no reason? Has your blood pressure increased? Have you been getting sick more often? Have you noticed that you aren’t breathing as deep as you used to? Do you find yourself yawning more throughout the day? How has your sleep been? Is it restful, or do you find yourself waking up more in the middle of the night? Or are you just waking up tired? Do you find your thoughts circling? Are you fixating on a certain problem and might not really be a problem, but you keep giving it attention so now it is a problem? If you have answered yes to a any of those questions, you have entered the: Stress Cycle or Vagus Nerve Hyperactivity as a condition.
We all have stress, but when it changes the way our body’s function, then it is a problem. The self-care that we have been instructed to perform may not be enough. What is Vagus Nerve Hyperactivity? The Vagus nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system regulates everything that we don’t have to think about like breathing, digestion, heartrate and more. Then the autonomic nervous system is broken down further into the sympathetic nervous system that activates the fight, flight, freeze, or faun reactions, or the parasympathetic nervous system that regulates the rest and digest responses. If the sympathetic nervous system is turned “on” for long periods of time without the break offered by the parasympathetic nervous system; damage can happen to our bodies.
Damage can take on many forms as the Vagus nerve directly affects our voice, lungs, the heart, the digestive system, sweating, and even some of our emotions. Our bodies can even become addicted to these imbalanced hormones and become stuck in the stress cycle. What can be done to reverse the damage? How can you break the stress cycle? Those selfcare activities like yoga, a bath, reading a book, exercise, meditation, and even mindfulness can help to elevate the parasympathetics and decrease the sympathetic elevation. But sometimes this cycle has been going on for more that two months and you need more than just a spa day. You need something to stop the Vagus Nerve from dominating your body’s functions.
There are some natural ways to address Vagus Nerve Hyperactivity. You can try dry needling physical therapy to force the chemical imbalances from taking place and elevate the parasympathetic nervous system. Sometimes it just takes a few needles in the ear to achieve this. Other times you may need needles up and down your spine to release the nerves and muscles. You can even try some herbal remedies. There are various plant allies that can be taken to support your body during periods of stress. It is important to remember that some herbs are effective within a month, and some herbs can take up to three months before you notice improvement.
The best thing that can be done is to realize that you are in a stress cycle. Try some activities that bring you joy, and practice them a few times a week. And if you don’t start feeling better, reach out to some practitioners that can help. The sooner that the stress cycle is broken, the better you will feel; and the less damage you body will have to repair from. And who knows maybe your New Year’s Resolution will include a community of events that circle around selfcare and healing.
Dr. Heather Setzenfand is the owner of A Total Healing Solution, LLC. She is a dry needling physical therapist with a dual specialty in head, neck, low back, and pelvis. She also has a Master’s Degree in Leadership: Training & Design and BS degree in Dental Hygiene. She is practicing herbalist and Reiki Master. Come and visit the Healing Homestead to Awaken the Power of Healing Within. She is accepting new clients, hosting events, and even has other practitioners who work out of the herbal farm’s space.
Understanding the stress response – Harvard Health
Understanding Overactive Vagus Nerve Disorder: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment – VagusNerve.com
Article Submitted By:
Heather Setzenfand
A Total Healing Solution, LLC
Email: [email protected]
