The Nervous System's Greatest Weapon: The Vagus Nerve

Did you know the secret to calming the nervous system is the vagus nerve?

The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that connects in our medulla oblongata and runs all the way down through our abdomen. The medulla oblongata connects the spinal cord to the brain and is responsible for sending signals from the brain to the body and can be negatively affected by trauma to the brain.

It is part of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for our bodies involuntary processes like digestion, breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate. This is made up of 2 parts - the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. When we sense danger, our sympathetic nervous system is activated - this is fight or flight - and the opposite is true for the parasympathetic nervous system which provides calming signals.

If you’re autistic, and/or have trauma, your amygdala is likely much more sensitive to perceived danger, which means you’re predisposed to be in sympathetic activation much more often. This is why it is even more vital to have some methods to counter adrenal activation and restore vagal tone by stimulating the nerve to active our 'rest and digest' system instead.

Here are 8 ways:

1. Cold water immersion (remember - the regulation is in the relief!)

2. Diaphragm breathing

3. Singing

4. Exercise and dancing

5. Massage

6. ASMR and music

7. Laughing

8. Orgasm

And because I stan a good visual...

This said, many of the co-morbidities associated with autism are nervous system disorders and/or involve vagal nerve dysfunction, which is part of why I'm so fascinated with this facet of the nervous system. We'll keep diving into this a bit at a time so you can add it to your spiderweb brain to weave into your own webs.

I'm going to share information about diaphragm breathing next and will circle back to the neurology of the vagus nerve in the near future to talk about the areas of our body where it serves as a receptor versus where it serves as a messenger... which is unique in and of itself.

Stay regulated,

Shauna