The human psychology is very impressive. Many think it is only related to our emotional or spiritual state. But that’s not the case. Our psychology and mood heavily depend upon the signals spreading in our body through the Vagal Nerve.
Our mind-body connection is essential to do almost everything in our daily lives. Emotional breakdowns or any kind of harm can significantly impact our nervous system. It can hinder our ability to work efficiently and even can interfere with our thoughts. So, it becomes crucial to strengthen our nervous system and retrain it to pass the difficulties. But how can you make your nervous system strong? How can you retrain your Vagal Nervous Branch after damage?
In this blog post, we will understand the role of the Vagus Nervous system using the ‘Window of Tolerance’ framework and How Play can heal our nervous system. Let’s get started!
What is Vagus Nerve?
The Vagus Nerve is the epicenter of the mind-body connection. It is not a singular nerve but a series of connections known as Vagal Nerves. These Vagal Nerve Branches are the parasympathetic nervous system’s primary components. The Vagus nerve starts from your brain stem and covers all your body parts throughout the neck, thorax, abdomen, and Colon. It is responsible for regulating brain signals and various body functions like heart rate, digestion, respiratory rate, etc. The vagus nerve is also involved in the body’s response to stress and relaxation.
Branches of Vagus Nerve
Vagus Nerve has several branches and components that serve various functions throughout the body. The main branches of the Vagus Nerve are:
- Pharyngeal Branches
- Superior Laryngeal Nerve
- Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
- Cardiac Branches
- Pulmonary Branches
- Esophageal Branches
- Gastric and Abdominal Branches
- Hepatic Branches
- Renal Branches
- Pelvic Splanchnic Nerves
How Is It Connected with Our Emotional State?
The Vagus Nerve is strongly connected to emotional well-being. It slows down our body whenever we feel stressed out. It is an autonomic nervous system which works to keep us safe. It reacts to our emotional changes and tries to minimize the impact by putting the body in a state of rest.
The reaction of the Vagus Nerve is not that accurate. It is like pulling the handbrake of a speedy car suddenly. The process will cause the body to freeze or shut down, making it hard to take action.
Let’s Understand it Better with the Help of Window of Tolerance!
Optimal Arousal Zone
The window of tolerance is a useful and accurate framework for understanding the connection between the emotional state and the nervous system of our body. It is a term used to define the state of a person in which the body stays normal. In this state, the Vagal Nerve Branches work correctly, and we feel calm and confident.
Hyper Arousal State:
When we feel stressed, the Vagal Nerves will make our energy mobilize. If we fail to deal with this increased energy in the Window of Tolerance, we will start to move up into the hyper state. This state is known as Hyper Arousal. This condition is like an accelerator, and it boosts our energy. A person in Hyper Arousal may feel anxious, angry, or uncomfortable in staying still. It forces the body to take sudden actions based on survival instincts.
Hypo Arousal State:
Furthermore, if the person fails to withstand this stressful situation, then the Vagal Nerves will move down the body below the window of tolerance. This state is known as Hypo Arousal. In this state, your energy drops down significantly. You may feel disconnected from your body, and a sense of fog will disassociate you from the world.
What Can You Do to Have an Adaptable Nervous System?
Remember that our moving between these states is not our choosing. It happens outside of our consciousness and in the lower center of our brain. Both the Hyper Arousal and Hypo Arousal states are something that we can’t control easily. One increases our energy level, and the second drains our energy completely.
So, what should be your goal?
Your goal is not to stay calm in every situation. It is to manipulate and use the energy flowing through your system. For example, you feel extremely angry in the Hyper Aroousal State. If you try to cut off from it and push it down, it will probably take us down with it. In that situation, we will be in Hypo Arousal with the feeling of being powerless and not being able to take any action.
We have to store that mobilizing energy and use it for required actions. We can awaken our true potential by matching the outside energy with the correct inner activation.
Play Zone of Nervous System
It is an energized yet balanced state of our mind and body. When we manage to bring ourselves into the perfect balance of Hyper Arousal and Hypo Arousal Zones, we can enter into our play zone. This is the zone where we feel powerful and connected. We can enter this zone by incorporating ‘Play’ into our routine.
Yes, you heard it right – PLAY!
The need for Play does not actually end in your childhood. Research has shown that people engaged in highly playful activities are healthier than people disconnected from the world. Play is not just playing games, watching TV, or reading books. It can be anything that makes you feel happy. It can be joining dance classes, swimming, going to the theater, bike riding, or anything that awakens your brain’s reward system. It releases the happy hormones inside your body and retrains your Vagus Nerve to withstand critical situations.
Conclusion:
The Vagus Nerve is a main part of our body and plays a crucial role in connecting our emotions and physical well-being. Understanding its function within the “Window of Tolerance” framework is essential for achieving emotional resilience. By incorporating Play into our lives, we can retrain our Vagus Nerve and find a balanced, adaptable state where we feel powerful and connected. Play isn’t just for children; it’s a lifelong tool for better emotional and physical health.