Like many modern cars that are equipped with an adaptive cruise-control with the capability to know when to cruise, accelerate, slow down or shutdown, the human nervous system contains an inbuilt adaptive mechanism that constantly evaluates risks and safety in your environment to determine whether or not it should cruise, mobilise or immobilise survival energy. In humans, the immobilisation defence system (such as, dissociation, numbness, passing out, frozenness, vasovagal syncope etc.) is as crucial for survival as the mobilisation defence system (such as, hyperarousal, hyper-vigilance, insomnia, panic attacks and anxiety, etc.). These two systems are designed to enhance your chances Continue reading
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Tag: polyvagal theory
[Please Note: This clip contains some background noises as it was recorded while on a trip to the beautiful Linton Falls in West Yorkshire] Stress is an adaptive response of the body to a perceived threat. Your stress response (fight-flight-freeze response) is an attempt of the nervous system to enhance your chances of survival. Although the neuro-physiological mechanism of your stress response is largely automatic, humans have an enduring capacity to mediate and influence the autonomic stress response through the power of mindful awareness and relaxation-based activities. You can learn to manually interrupt your fight/flight cycle by initiating a neurophysiological Continue reading